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Rugby: Contest The Tackle

Sportplan rugby has played a large role in my team's love for the...

Heather, Rugby Coach

Groups of three, the aim of the exercise is for the second defender to contest the tackle.
One player starts with the ball, standing still.
A defender is on one or both knees preparing to tackle the attacker.
A second defender is stood ready behind the first defender.
The first defender wraps their arms round the attacker and tackles them to the floor.
The attacker presents the ball as if to the scrum half.
The second defender rucks over (contesting the tackle) and should steal the ball.

The tackler needs to wrap their arms round the attacker just above the knees in order to bring them to the floor.
The second defender should ensure they are in a low rucking position and may need to help the first defender to tackle the attacker to the floor.

To progress the drill further, an extra attacker is added, holding a tackle bag.

This player contests the second defender as they ruck over and try to steal the ball.

The player with the bag should try to clear out the second defender by forcing the bag into them.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

1. Wrestling

Players link up, one arm under & one arm over each shoulder.

Players then pick a side to wrestle to, then give a count down and fight to force opposition on the side they chose to wrestle to.

2. Tackle on Knees

Each player takes turns to complete tackles on there knees.

3. You can make this fun and competitive by counting how many tackles a player completes in a certain amount of time.

Tackling

*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.

Tackling

2 on 2 tackling and clear out game.
Players line up in two lines, adjacent to the coned gameplay area.
The coach stands opposite the two lines with the ball and passes to the front player of either team.
The front two players of each team run round the back of their cones and the ball carrier takes the ball into contact.
The two secondary players then ruck over and attempt to clear each other out.
One team comes away with the ball.

Tackling

Small playing area, for 1 v 1 tackling.
Players line up in two lines adjacent to the coned area.
Coach shouts go and the front two players run round their end to end up facing each other.
The coach passes the ball to the attacker who runs at the defender, and the defender tries to take them down.

Tackling

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