Rugby | Tackling Drills

Players stand 5 metres apart, only the attacking player moves in this drill, the tackler remains still as their partner approaches. As the player gets close the tackler should keep their head up and engage the runner with either their left or right shoulder. Holding around their knees tightly and driving with their shoulder they should allow the player to fall over their shoulder to floor.

Teams of 3 against 1 Defender. The team of 3 start running and have to try and get to the other side. If the defender tags them they have to pass the ball, if a try is scored then then one point is awarded. Defender swap around with the judge - person that calls pass after every tag.

Groups of 6. Tackle Suits.  Ball  1. 1 v 2 - Shoulders on 1 attacker must run in the middle of 2 defenders, in a small grid.  the first defender performs a chop tackle. the second defder makes a chest hit, aiming to stop the offload.  2. 1 vs 3 - ball involved - full contact.   In groups of 6, have 3 attackers 3 defenders.  Attackers pass a ball along the line back and forth until whistle goes.  Defenders in tackle suits, line up opposite the attackers, when whitle goes the attacker with the ball runs at the defence aiming at the gaps inbetween the defenders.  the defenders come up as a line. The first defender (usually inside) makes a low chop tackle, while the other second defender aims for man and ball. 

Tackler must remove both tags simultaneously

Tackler starts on their knees. As the ball carrier gets closer the tackler steps up to give them more power and punches through to give them more power. The tackler drives through and finishes on top.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION* A great drill to get your players tackling low. Set up two cones about 2 metres apart with a player on each cone. One player stats holding a tackle pad horizontally at waist height. The player with the pad jogs forward and the tackler must make a tackle below the pad.

One player lies on their tummy, the other lie on top. The bottom player has to try and stand up whilst the other tries to keep them down.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON*   In groups of 5 tie a bit of tape or string around the two posts approximately 0.5 to 1 meter above the ground.   Two players hold the sausages behind the tape on either side and one holds the bag in front of the tape. Change the man with the bag every few reps or hold the bag as the coach.  The players will rotate around with each rep.   1 Full Repetition:    The player starts on the ground, hits the bag with either shoulder and then powers past the bag. Player then gets into a low body position and moves under the tape to complete a tackle on the sausage. Next, they should get into a strong body position as if they were contesting at a ruck. They then pick up the sausage and the previous holder moves around.   

Groups of 10+  3 Bags  balls  Cones   1. With bags  3 Attckers with bags are given a number, 5 defenders line up opposite within the grid.  When coach says so he shouts a number (this is the attacker that the defenders will tackle and adjust too)  when the number is shouted both attackers and defenders shoot off the line to meet in the middle (green cones)  Here a tackle is performed on the given number and players will adjuest and stay connected accrodingly.  2. With a ball not bags.  This progression makes it more realistic, and means the 5 defenders have to adjust to the differnt moves the attackers throw at them. 

The player with the ball jogs in a straight line with the tackler coming in form the side to tackle them.

In pairs, one player starts on their knees. The other player runs towards one shoulder, the tackler makes contacts with their shoulder, puts head on the right side and wraps around to make the tackle.

Correct way of going down with the ball in a tackle. Person being tackled should 'twist' their body so that they land on their back.

Groups of 6+ players.  3 tackle shields per group.  1 Tackle Sausage per group.  3 people with bags act as attackers, 1 by 1 they run at suausage stepping to a side of there choice when at the sausage. Defenders start running when the attackers do, when the attacker steps, the defender makes quick decison in reaction to what shoulder he/she hits with.  NOT FULL TACKLE - Focus on impact, and leg drive. Progression: Get rid of the tackle bags and use balls - progress to full tackle. 

Groups 6+  Cones. Balls 1. Warm up - Non Contact. Players start on the corner of a square grid. They then in turn run to meet in the middle of the square. The Attacker side steps, while defender tries to get a shoulders on contact on the attacker.  2. Contact introduced - Attakcing Player Focus.  Attacking player after being tackled must land on top of the ball. Then must release the ball, then fire up as quickly as possible to re-gather the ball and keep running.  3. Focus on the defender.  After making a good tackle, with focus on body height, squeeze and foot in close, the defender must return to feet as quiclkly as possible to compete for the ball again.   

Good for younger rugby players to learn how to go into contact and set up the ball at pace, you can use it as a competition between the team with a limit of time etc. 2 tackle shields 1 ball 2 people are on the tackle shields about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders. Ball carrier runs in to one defender and places the ball, once placed, he gets to his feet quickly and runs into the next defender doing the same. This process can continue for as short or as long as you like, a good challenge would be 30 second limit to get in as many hits and ball placements as possible.

Groups of 4    Focus on foot placment against the attacker.  One player stands on his own, opposite another player.  the other 2 players link up to one of the players and act as resistance against the player pushign the attacker.  When the whistle goes the attacker and defender(with players holding on to him/her) runtowrads eachother. The dfender focuses on gettign foot inclose and then getting leg drive going.  The trialer players give some resistance to encourage the leg drive. 

Groups of 4    Focus on foot placment against the attacker.  One player stands on his own, opposite another player.  the other 2 players link up to one of the players and act as resistance against the player pushign the attacker.  When the whistle goes the attacker and defender(with players holding on to him/her) runtowrads eachother. The dfender focuses on gettign foot inclose and then getting leg drive going.  The trialer players give some resistance to encourage the leg drive. 

Static tackling. Every time the player with the ball is tackled, they have to release the ball and quickly pick it up again and stand up, ready to be tackled again. Time how long it takes to happen 5 times in succession.

Groups of 6+ players.  3 tackle shields per group.  1 Tackle Sausage per group.  3 people with bags act as attackers, 1 by 1 they run at suausage stepping to a side of there choice when at the sausage. Defenders start running when the attackers do, when the attacker steps, the defender makes quick decison in reaction to what shoulder he/she hits with.  NOT FULL TACKLE - Focus on impact, and leg drive.

The first player moves forwards, makes contact with the tackle bag and retreats diagonally to the line of cones. The next player joins the line and both the players move forward and hit the tackle bag or shield before retreating back to the line again. The third player then joins the line and all three players go out to meet the tackle bag, shield or fall on the ball. Drill continues with all players involved.