Rugby: track

Rugby Rugby Trends Women's Rugby 2025: A Record Year for Coaching

Women's Rugby 2025: A Record Year for Coaching

The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup featured a record 32% female coaches - more than double 2021 figures. Here's what this growth means for the sport.

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Rugby Rugby Trends Game Management: Decision Making Under Pressure

Game Management: Decision Making Under Pressure

Matches are won by the team that makes better decisions under pressure. Learn how to develop game intelligence and manage critical moments.

November 2025

DRILLS (32)SESSIONS (3) ANSWERS (12)

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track DRILLS

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Tracking hit Tackling - Rugby ...

Tracking hit (2 x 10 minutes in split groups) Set up3 different colour cones on the gain line. 2m spacing (set up 3-4 areas with 2 pads)Defender starts in the middle cone. Attacker has a pad. On "GO" the Attacker with the pad runs straight to one of the 3 cones.The coach can shout a colour to direct the Attacker to a certain cone. The Attacker must run straight to it. This drill will test Defender's front on and side on tackles: left and right.

General

Track Sevens - Rugby Drills, R...

One of the players in a group of 4 should be an attacker, and should take the pad. The other 3 players will be defenders. The attacker will start at the top of the grid, and the defenders start at the bottom, one behind the other, see the diagram. Tell the players the following..... The attacker will advance, trying to avoid contact. The opposite defender should track and hit the pad. They players reset, and the next player goes. Don't forget to change the player on the pad.

General

Track and Tackle 1v1 Tackling ...

In a grid an attacker is positioned on one end and a defender at the other end. Defender passes to the attacker who attempts to score against the defender within the grid.

General

2v2 track and tackle Tackling ...

10m wide channel, 2 attackers start with the ball while 2 defenders atart at the other end.when instructed the attackers attempt to score agaisnt them.Defenders must work together to try stop them.Attackers can throw dummies and switches.Do continuous reps.

General

Tackle Progression 1v1 Tacklin...

1. Tracking Create a V shaoped conned area. Defender at one end, attacker at the other end. Attacker attempts to score using footwork, defender has to track them and try stop them by gettign a shoulder on contact to there hips. (50% intensity)2. 1v1 Track and TackleIn a grid an attacker is positioned on one end and a defender at the other end. Defender passes to the attacker who attempts to score against the defender within the grid. 3. 1v1 Tackle Channel Players line up in two lines adjacent to the coned area.<br>Coach shouts go and the front two players run round their end to end up facing each other.<br>The coach passes the ball to the attacker who runs at the defender, and the defender tries to take them down.4. 2v2 Track and Tackle 10m wide channel, 2 attackers start with the ball while 2 defenders atart at the other end.when instructed the attackers attempt to score agaisnt them.Do continuous reps.

General

Pass and Follow Warm Up - Rugb...

They pass the ball around either clock wise or anti clock wise, you can decide to change the direction youself at any point during the exercise. After the player passes the ball they have to follow their pass, touching the cone of the player they passed to - then get back to their cone before receiving the next pass. The tempo of this exercise should be high.

General

Tackle square 1v1 Tackling - R...

Step 1: Both the attacking and defending players complete 2 chop tackles on the tackle sausages. Step 2: The attacking player picks up the ball, and attackes the opposing corner where the defender is coming from.

General

BacksMove - Slice Backs Moves ...

- Essentially 12+13 swap places.- This will make their opposite track them - The 13 runs an out and in hardline.-The 12 runs an out the back option then strightens up. - Read what option is best on, reading the defensive system.

General

One v One Warm Up - Rugby Dril...

Coach calls out a number/colour and that pair of players reacts, have the players decide who is the defender and who is the attack - this should change each time. One player attacks, and the other defends. The attacker will be carrying the ball. Keep the tempo of the exercise high.

General

Over the shoulder Catching - R...

Players work in pairs with 1 ball. Players throw the ball in the air but over the top of the player that has to catch the ball so the player has to run back and track the ball to catch it.

General

2v2 Tackle and Clear Out Tackl...

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.

General

Passing & Evasion Sevens - Rug...

Tell your players the following..... Trackers will pass the ball and tag the evades. Evade simply avoid getting tagged with the ball. If tagged, a player must join the tracking team. They must remove their bib. That's it - play.

General

Quick Hands - Warm Up Warm Up ...

Within a group there are two groups of 4 attackers and one chaser/scrum half. At the middle point, marked by a cones, the scrum half moves the ball to the first attacking line. The scrum half firstly tracks the progress of the ball, as the exercise progresses - the scrum half should apply more and more pressure to the ball carrier - working up to the point of becoming a full on defender. When the ball reaches the opposite end of the grid, the last player in the line sets the ball down. The scrum half then feeds the ball to the next attacking line, fulfilling their own role within the exercise. The opposite attacking line should realign in preparation for the next attack. The tempo of this exercise should be high.

General

TACKLE HEAD SAFETY TECHNIQUE T...

Groups of 2 Tackle Bags Cones1. Warm up light contactPlayers line up opposite eachother and run to meet each other in the middle. When the coach says so, the coach will leave it late to hold an arm out for the attackers to step too. The Defenders will make a late decision to tackle on either left or right shoulder. 2. Progress to adding bags & defenders turning.This minimalises the time for defenders to make decision and increaces the intensity. 3. Progress on to full live tackle. Increace the intensity and make sure the players back track back to starting point before starting next set.

General

Star Wars Passing - Rugby Dril...

The rest of the players are told to stand at one end of the field (they are the Space Pirates). The space police want to try and blow up the space pirates ship as they pass using their space bombs (I know - lots of childish terms there - but adjust the terminology to suit your players - they will enjoy it). Explain to the space police that they are to attempt to pass the ball at the space pirates and attempt to hit them below the shoulders. It won't be a completed pass as the pirates are just trying to avoid getting hit. The space police can move sideways along the edge of space, however, cannot move forward into space. (Police can only enter the space zone and get balls but cannot shoot until they are outside the rectangle). The space pirates can attack when they like, and if hit they can be out - or have more than one life. When an space pirate makes it through space successfully, with out being directly hit by a pass, they wait at the other end till all the other prates make it. You can change the police and pirates around or.... Note: Some younger players will love this game, and some may not! So think carefully about having different groupings that take into account players passing ability (in terms of speed), and if you have a group of players that might not like this game - have them attend a special pass development clinic with another coach.

General

Fan Out and Pass Passing - Rug...

Keep your player briefing, brief! You may decide to have a demonstration grid. On your call, all players fan out to receive a pass. Players initially attack half the space in the grid, that way the lines do not cross into each others space, as you can see in the animation. Players should then attack the full width of the grid, there will be intersection and some confusion. Players stay within the grid. When they finish an attack (the ball is moved down the line), the last player to recieve the ball should score a try just outside the grid - and the line should get set in their new location to go again. Player initially rotate in a clockwise direction. Change this after a period of time. Make sure that players change position in the attacking line.

General

One on One Race Warm Up - Rugb...

Tell the players: The player in possession of the ball when the coach blows their whistle has to run around the cone at the end of the grid to try and run the full length of the grid to score a try. The player from the opposition in line with the player that is running can try to stop the player scoring by running around the cone and tagging the runner before they reach the line. For tag rugby players, provide all players with tags. In other variations decide on touch or contact, depending on how warm the players are - and your training goals. Provide coaching on the go with encouraging feedback.

General

Rugby Ball Overhead Catching -...

The aim of the drill is to develop a high ball over head catch

General

High Kick Catching Catching - ...

Drill to practice catching high kicks.Set up a grid roughly 15m long and 10m wide.Get a line of players on one side of the grid, and a coach or kicker on the other side.The coach kicks the ball high into the air, the player at the front of the line runs into the grid and tries to catch the kick. Once they have caught the kick they pass the ball back to the coach and join the back of the line.The coach then kicks the ball for the next player in line to catch.PROGRESSION:Encourage players to jump as they catch the ballAdd in a defender to put pressure on the player catching the ball.

General

Join the attack: 2v1 - 3v2 - 5...

With a group of nine, tell two of them they are attackers - for now. The rest will be in defence. Allocate your defenders within the grid, one defender at defenders cone 1, two defenders at defenders cone 2, and three defenders at defenders cone 3. Tell the defenders that they can move side to side, but not forward and back. Also - tell the players on defenders cones 1 and 2, that they will join the attack when they have finished their defensive duties. So after the first 2 v 1, the 1 defender joins the attack to make the next attack 3 v 2, when this attack is over - the two defenders join the attack to make the last attack 5 v 4. Have your demonstration group quickly complete a walk through, then a run through. Now get the other groups working. Don't forget to give the last four defenders a chance in attack.

General

1v1 Tackle Grid Tackling - Rug...

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.

General

Turn-Over Game Sevens - Rugby ...

Tell the players the following...... We are going to play a game, the 7 defenders will stay in defence throughout, and the 5 attacking players will remain the attack. If for any reason the ball is lost, it is given back to the attack. The attack scores by scoring a try in the normal way. The defence scores by turning the ball over. That's it, play. As the game develops, increase the size of the playing area. Switch the attackers and defenders.

General

Passing Central Passing - Rugb...

Keep your player briefing, brief - and get the players moving as quickly as you can. You may consider having a demo group. On your go: The player acting as the Scrum Half passes a ball to the grid on his right and then another ball to the grid on his left, both passes will be from the ground. Upon receiving the pass - each grid begins their 2 v 1 attack and the player with the tackle pad presses up in defence. When the player acting as the scrum half has completed their two passes, they join the attackers on either the left or right grid. The first receiver of each attack becomes a Scrum Half - or simply returns to the start of the grid to join a new attack as the first receiver. Players rotate positions e.g. Scrum Half, First Receiver, Second Receiver. Defenders can move forward and back, and side to side. Change the defenders often to give them a chance in attack.

General

Simple Passing Grid Passing - ...

Brief your players one what you would like them to do. Start the activity by having all players pass the ball around the grid in any direction, they should moving around the grid as they do so. The only restriction is that they must pass in order 1 - 2, 2 - 3, 3 - 4, 4 - 5, 5 - 1 and so. Progress this exercise by having player 1 become a defender. The other players move the ball to avoid being touched by the defender. So in this example the ball would move in the following sequence: 2, 3, 4, 5, 2, 3, 4, 5. After some time, change the defender. Player 2 should now be the defender, the passing sequence changes to: 1, 3, 4, 5, 1, 3, 4, 5 etc. Progress this exercise further by choosing random defenders, attackers will quickly need to work out the passing sequence. If attackers get the passing sequence wrong, they do 1, 2, 3 etc. press ups - the defender does not.

General

Push Push 2 Sevens - Rugby Dri...

Tell the players the following...... When the attack advances the defenders PRESS UP on the attack. The attackers must pass the ball down the line, no inside passes. The defenders PUSH/DRIFT across pushing the attack towards the sideline. When the attack reaches the end of the grid, if it reaches the end - the attack turn and sets - as does the defence. The exercise restarts. This is a full contact exercise. Don't forget to switch defenders into attack.

General

Step Up Sevens - Rugby Drills,...

The attacker goes when ready, and must round either the top or bottom cone. The defender must mirror the movements of the attacker on the opposite side. They then compete in a 1 v 1, the attacker looking to score, and the defender seeking to stop them. This is full contact. When the first two have finished, the next attacker should go right away, followed by the defender. Swap the attackers and the defenders around when you feel it appropriate.

General

Defender - Round and Realign

Tell your players the following...... There will be one ball to each group, any player can be the ball carrier. Each group will have one defender, the defenfer will not have to go around the cone. On GO, the group moves towards the closest cone.At the cone, the players spread out and attack the line at pace and with width. They should realign following the attack left, to attack again right. When the second groups sees the first group complete their first set of passes, they should begin without waiting. The defender should swap with another player in their group. Variations: Make the training area small to force quick hands. Make the training area wider to increase the length of the pass. Allow players to be creative in attack.

Passing

Hit The Colours

Players start at the top of the triangle. Coach calls colours, 2/3 at a time. Player moves to the called cone, and returns to the start each time. Player should remain facing forward at all times, back tracking when they need to. Coach calls GO and players sprint 10 meters.

Agility & Running Skills

One on One Race

Agility & Running Skills

One v One

Agility & Running Skills

Quick Hands - Warm Up

Sevens

Touch The Runner

Put a group of 7 inside inside one of your grids. Tell them the following laws: The player not wearing a bib (the runner) is trying stay away from the ball - because if you touch that player with the ball they have to do 10 press-ups etc. (amend depending of players age etc.). Give one of the 3 man teams the ball; the hunters, it's their job to pass the ball to each other hunting the runner, trying to touch the runner with the ball. The other team of three is there to try and intercept the ball as it is passed between the hunters (they are interceptors). Ball carriers can run with the ball. The ball cannot be thrown at the runner. Passes can be in any direction. If the ball is intercepted by the other team, they now hunt the runner and the opposing team has to try and intercept the ball to get it back. Don't forget to change the runner by swapping them with a member of of the two teams in the grid. If a team has been good at keeping the ball, swap the ball over when you feel the time is right. If the ball is dropped or a pass goes outside the grid, it's turned over to the other team who then become the hunters. The team trying to intercept cannot push or have any contact with the hunters (ball carriers). Law Change: After a little time you can change the law to: the ball carrier cannot move with the ball or the ball carrier only take 2/3 steps upon catching the ball.

Sevens

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track SESSIONS

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track ANSWERS

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attitude issues with several p...

Hello, I have a real issue with certain players in my team, they are lazy, undisciplined, don't respect the coach or trainner. What should I do? how can I try to get them back on track?The problem is that we are a small club, our team is only 11 members and they feel they have their own position earned no matter if they train or not.Thanks!!

john mcmullen Coach, United States of America

Trouble gettng the ball to our...

We have two very fast wingers but we cannot get them the ball . Teams are coming up fast and we are lucky to get the ball to the O. C. We have tried setting up further back but too many times we are getting caught behind the gain lines when we do that. Any ideas?

why are they passing it after the skipped man is 'forward' of the ball ? - doesn't that make it obvious at that point that he (skipped man) wouldn't be getting the ball - and hence reduce his effectiveness as a 'decoy' ?

Player Empowerment

We have open this thread to continue the discussion on Player Empowerment started in the Coaches Hot Tip in this month's newsletter. If you missed it, here it is again. There is no doubt that if you want your team to be successful, you need the players to make decisions on the pitch for themselves. We know that if a team is used to getting the answers to problems on the field from the coach, it will mean that they will hesitate and look to the touchline before commiting to an action and that, of course, will be far too late! The coach can still influence things but once the game has started it is a fairly minimal influence, during the game it must be the players who react to situations as they happen and make decisions immediatley. Therefore, it is essential to have leaders in the team who feel confident about making decisons in the heat of the battle. They need to know that even a wrong call is better than no call. They should feel that their coach will support them in making a call and, if it was not necesarily the best decision, will help them make a better one next time without being too critical. Ideally, the leaders and decision makers will be at key positions in the team where they can communicate with other players as well as influencing play themselves. Key positions are Numbers%3A 2; 4/5; 8; 9; 10 and 15. This is often referred to as "The Spine or Backbone" of the team. This is not to say that a good captain and leader can't be in another position but if they are, for instance an 11 or 14, they will need good co leaders in the key positions to communicate their decisions during a game. To develop this spine to operate as leaders, the coach should involve these players in discussions about how the team are playing - making them feel some ownership and responsibility for the teams performance. They could also be involved in unit practises, for instance the 2 and 8 could Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 occasionaly lead part of a line out practice, once the coach has agreed with them what the practice needs to achieve. The coach is not giving the players complete control but rather, allowing them to be involved in the process of team development. Obviously, the age and ability of your team can affect how far along this path you can go but, even with players as young as Under 8's, I have found that delegating some responsibility is a really effective way to build a cohesive and well functioning team! Let me know your thoughts on this type player empowerment. Good luck Simon

Anyone have a for they use to keep track of match data?

Anyone have a for they use to keep track of match data like lineouts/scrum won/lost? We have our first match and I want to be able to keep some statistical data to use for post gae analysis.

I would like to gather some simple stats during games?

I would like to gather some simple stats during games to give focus to training after, does anyone know of a computer packege,preferably free, that can do this

Chris Bulman Coach, Ireland

Any view on counter attacking a full back entering?

Any view on counter attacking a full back entering the line against a man to man marking system?

David Coach, England

10 answers

Any ideas on a session I can do on an athletics track?

Any ideas on a session I can do on an athletics track for a senior team. It's the first session back after the Christmas break and we've got an important game coming up on Saturday if the weather holds up.

Baird Blake Coach, United States of America

Flooding the zone with both the weak side wing and fullback leaves you vulnerable

If one were to really flood the back line by bringing in the weak side wing AND fullback (off a scrum), who would you recommend using to cover for kicks on turnover ball? I'm thinking the blind side flanker could loop around to do it, but then you lose his services at the breakdown. Thoughts?

i coach collegiate womens rugby...any suggestions for?

i coach collegiate womens rugby...any suggestions for tackling sessions in practice - my girls are very hesitant to "hurt" each other. we have tackle dummies, but that just isn't the same...

7 answers

What do alignment and go forward options mean...

in a 2v2 or 2v1 options

Dennis Wright Coach, England

How to rebuild morale?

I have a new team of high school girls who exceeded expectations but have lost their confidence after a weekend of loses at a 7's tournament. How do I rebuild their morale so they can get back on track?

Mimi Coach, Canada

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