Rugby Drills

The player with the ball rolls the ball out for a player to run onto and collect whilst moving. They then pass the ball back before replacing the player that rolled the ball out. The player that rolled the ball out runs to join the back of the queue.

This drill will develop your players ability to regather difficult balls and make offloads.  Working in groups of three, one player is practicing the skill at a time.  The practicing player throws the ball to two other players who are holding balls. These two players bounce the ball back and the practicing player has to gather the ball without knocking it on. Progression   Now the practicing player holds two balls. He has to offload and then regather the ball with one hand.

-4 bags -2 sausages.  Put players on each bag, sausage and 2 defenders at the end of the grid.  There are 4 working attacking player.  Step 1 - Complete 2 shoulder clears on the opposing tackle bags.  Step 2 - 2 attackers nominate themselves to tackle the sauages.  Step 3 - the 2 support players pick the ball up and try complete the 4v2 (tackling players need to bounce up of feet quickly) 

The aim of the drill is to develop a strong profile, protecting the ball

Four attacking player start behind cones on the try line. Place an object a couple metres in front of each player, this can be a cone, pole, tackle pad etc. Attackers must pass the ball down the line and run on the inside of the object.

Front Rows coming together. Each prop touches the opponents upper arm and then pause before the front rows meet. The sequence should be: "Crouch, bind, set". Coaches should replicate this call when practising to help players develop their timing and to assist the Referee

Groups 16+  Cones  Attackers and defender line up at the start of the grid.  The grid is 3 chanels all of differnt widths.  attackers set off one way aorund the cone, defenders set off the other way. (2v1 or 3v2)  They must go up and down each channel (3 of them)  completing there passes, fixing the defenders.  Defenders must be passive or it will ruin drill. 

Set up the practice as shown inside a 30m x 30m Grid. 6 Shields and 1 Ball. Player 1 carries the ball before passing the ball to player 2 who bursts through the shields. Once through the other side, 2 passes to 3 and receives a return pass before bursting through the next set of shields Once they are through the last two players with shields can move and try and block the runners. Player 2 has the option to pass to either player or go it alone.

Ball. Groups of 3+ 2 attackers line up infront of a defender.  The 1st attackers takes the ball into contact  The defender makes a low chop tackle. The 2nd attacker resposibility is to clear away the tackler from the contact area and look after the ball. Progression : Add second defedner with a tack;e nag to test the stability of the clearer. 

Players stand back to back and await the coach's call. Whichever colour the coach shouts out are the mice (in the animation the coach shouts 'Blue'). Upon hearing the call the mice must try and escape by running out the far end of the grid. At the same time the cats (the other players) must turn around and try to catch the mice before they escape with a tag/tackle.

 The Moles want to turn the cones onto their head, and the Green-keepers want the cones the right way up. Let the kids play, you can start the game by shouting '123 Play Divots!'. After playing for some time, lets find out who is winning - but don't take too long counting. Now tell the players that they must do one press-up before turning a cone - let the game start again. Play for another minute or two.

Set up 5 cones around in a circle. The tackler works out from the first cone to make the tackle. The tackler then backtracks around the next and then comes forward to make the tackle again. Two tackles off the right shoulder, one front on and two off the left shoulder.

Normal laws of rugby apply; a knock on etc. results in a turn over. The attacking team gets unlimited touches. A player is touched only when the defender has made a two handed touch, you can change this to one hand if you wish. Defenders cannot hold the attacker, nor can the attacker use significant force to push through defenders. Defenders who make a touch go to the touchline where an assistant coach will have an activity waiting for them, doesn't have to be fitness related - a passing activity will be fine. They stay there until the attack scores. As each defender leaves the pitch, the attacker has an increasing advantage in terms of numbers and available space. If a player is touched: they stop, set the ball down, stand over it, and the scrum half is allowed to move the ball again to restart the attack. The defence must remain onside following a touch. Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence press up on the attack. If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters. Don't forget to switch the teams around and to count how many defending players are on the pitch when the attack scores. he winning team is the team that can score with the most defenders on the pitch. Tries only, no conversions - keep the game tempo high. There is no kicking.

Split your players into two teams, giving one group of players a set of coloured bibs to set them apart, and quickly tell your players the following laws: Keep the law briefing, brief! Get your players moving as quickly as you can. When touched a player has three seconds to make their pass, and they can keep running (reduce or increase this time depending on your coaching goals/targets). They don't need to set the ball down - just pass. You could change three seconds to three steps, change depending on your goals and the skill level of the players. No forward passes - normal rugby laws should apply. You might decide on 5 touches before the ball is turned over, but more or less is ok. Also - you might decide on unlimited touches. It all depends on your targets as a coach, and your players age and skill levels. Change the laws as you see fit, and let us know the variations that work for you.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Players sit back to back, arms interlocked and knees bent. The coach says left or right. The players must battle to pull their partner to the floor on the said side.