Rugby: rugby ruck defences

Coach controls defence with calls up and back between cones placed 1 - 2 metres apart. On the call of "LIVE" the defence stays on offside line at base of Ruck (marked by cones). Scrum Half is then free to feed any of 5 attacking runners at any time. Objective - WIN THE CONTACT.

<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set a cone 2 meters from the defensive line. This will mark where the ball will passed from (feed) preferably from a scrum half.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set a cone 0.5 meters each side from the mid point of the passing cone to simulate the sides of the ruck.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set a cone a cone 5 meters from the ruck on the defensive line. 4 players start as attackers3 defenders start on their stomaches on the other side of the defensive cone (ruck) and 1 player on the defensive cone 5 metres from the ruck<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The player on the 5 meter cone (defence) starts the drill by shouting ‘FOLD’ (or whatever call your team may use).<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Defenders on their stomachs get up and fold around the ruck to take up a defence position. Players fold wide first, and ensure that 2 players are close to the ruck (Guard and Body Guard). <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The player on the defensive cone bounces out (takes space in the defence line), the first player who folds takes up a position on the 5 meter defence cone (or inside the first attacking player)<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Once the defence line is set the scrum half can pass the ball.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The attackers work to beat the defence, setting up a 'tip' (running a hard line) and 'pull back' option. They should read the defensive movements and make a decision to hit the tip option or pull out the back<br><br>

This is a quick drill to prime your players in your defence organisation on the short side and its an opportunity to ingrain you defence principlesThe aim of the drill is to develop your teams good habits in defending the short side whilst changing the attack picture continuouslyAfter each set, player resetSet 4 cones up in a square 1m apart 15m from the touch line, this will mark the break downDefending players line up on the far side of the ‘ruck’ and these players will be players who will ‘fold’ on the coaches call3 or 4 players will act as attacking players2 other defending players are positioned 5 meters back from the gain line and on the touch line.These players need to connect with the players folding around the ruck

Excellent way to develop the different rucking techniques. Works concept of leg drive, body positions in contact, ball placement and desire to get go forward ball. Pad holder roles ball 1st man down and up into contact 2nd man clear 3rd man picks 1st player pumps legs and ends up long and is active on the floor. 2nd man is low and drive beyond the ball. 3rd player stays low and powers away. 2nd man may have to and Leach on. The idea is for them to work on getting going forward. Keep changing handball is taken by the 1st player.

Player 1 runs out with ball but player 2 has stepped up to meet them halfway. Player 1 drives into player 2 - goes two steps before then going to ground. Player 2 steps over the player on the ground, picks up the ball and runs on to be met by player 3 who takes the next contact. Repeat.

5-7 players run around in a rectangle shaped grid. They must move very fast within it awaiting the whistle, but they are not allowed to touch the other players. Once the whistle goes they must occupy the closest cone to them, facing the coach. Then they must shift, heavies to the inside and speedsters to the outside. On the next whistle they then press in one line.

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defense. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack. When you start playing this game make sure that the defense is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck. As the game develops consider telling the defenders that they must have one or more players at the back of the ruck, if they are not fast enough to do this - push them back 10 meters. Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

Set an area with two different coloured cones on the touch line in the middle, one for defenders and one for attackers. At the prompt of the coach the players run around designated cones and attack the defenders to score. Ball carrier should initiate the attack by attacking the inside shoulder of the first defender to stop a drift defence. Draw the first defender and make the pass to your next support runner who should do the same to pass to the outside runner who can go and score. Once attacked three or four times players should swap to defence but not every single time to create continuity and positive development.

On the shout of &quot;GO&quot; the scrum half passes to the player on the first cone, who attacks the 1st bag. Once the bag is attacked and cleared out, the scrum half then passes to the player at the 2nd cone.<br /><br />Once the player at the 2nd cone has attacked their back, the scrum half then passes the ball to the person on the 3rd cone who repeats the exercise.<br /><br />Once the last bag is attacked the exercise is repeated.

Groups of 6 Balls 2 attackers start with the ball the complete a simple 2v1 catch and pass. The first defender then has to scramble his way back to prevent the defenders scoring the 2nd 2v1 situation, from another defender a few meters behind.

<div class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. </div> <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>This is not a contact game. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>One team goes to attack, and one to defence. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>There is no kicking in this game. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck. As the game develops consider telling the defenders that they must have one or more players at the back of the ruck, if they are not fast enough to do this - push them back 10 meters. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>It’s important that defenders are employing their defensive pattern behind the primary defensive line. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>When you feel the time is appropriate, usually during a ruck, blow you whistle and should FLIP IT – kicking in or throwing in a second ball to the back 3/2 defenders on the team currently in defence OR just kick it behind the defenders. The defensive team goes, without hesitation, into attack. The team that was attacking goes into defence and you or an assistant coach remove the other ball from play when you can. Ideally you might have two balls with different markings. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

Two players from the same side run with the ball towards a single defender. When the ball carrier is in front of the defender they should go to the ground and place the ball, rotating themselves 90 degrees so that they have their back to the defender and the ball is on their team's side. The supporting attacking player should ruck with the defender and apply enough just pressure to the defender to keep the ball available for other players on their team.

Offensive players (blue), line out in one deep line while the defence (red) line up opposite in a straight line, slightly inside player from the player that they are marking. The offence will attempt to pass the ball across the line at speed. Defenders will move up to stop them but do not tackle, simply press. This teachers the attackers to pass under pressure, as they try to pass across the line without making any mistakes.

2 defenders work together to force 5 players to pass and work them towards touch.The golden rule is for them to keep their spacing even, ensure that the inside defender covers the outside defenders inside, and that they do not rush up to commit to the tackle, but hover across and &quot;swim&quot; past the passer to reach the next and the next attacker. If an attacker draws and passes so well that he then tries to block the defender, he needs to work hard and swim across that blocker to return to his defending role.