Seal off - legally - Rugby Training Session & Practice Plans

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“Seal off!” “Bridge!”. Either expression seems to be the current standard phrase for coaches to shout out during matches. Sealing off is essential, as it protects the tackled player and the ball from defenders. This session will show your players how to do it effectively and legally.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7

What to think about

The crucial part of this session is to check your players are “legally sealing”. That means they are supporting their own weight on their legs. If their hands are on the tackled players, it is not illegal, BUT they must not be grabbing them or putting weight on that player. Ideally, their hands are free to help them deal with incoming defensive threats. Check that the sealer is legal by pulling the ruck pad or tackled player away.

set-up

Put yourself over the ball, over the tackled player but stay on your feet.
Push your backside towards the ground, spread your legs and look up.
Be ready to move forward to meet opposition threats.

What you get your players to do

Start by demonstrating the correct and incorrect body positions to legally seal the ball. Check that the hips and shoulders of “sealers” are about the same height, the legs are bent and the feet are spread. Test the players by pushing and pulling them around at the shoulders. After splitting the players into pairs with a ball, they must then run around until you shout “TACKLE”. The player with the ball goes to ground and the other player “seals”. Ask the players to hold the seal and check their body positions are legal. Repeat.

Check that the players are using the correct body positions. Gently push and pull them to see how well balanced they are.

Development

Spread out three ruck pads as shown in the middle picture. Put a defender about 2m back from each pad with a ball on the other side. The attacker runs out to the first ruck pad and adopts the “seal” position. Once he seals, he has to hold the position for 3 seconds as the defender comes forward to push him away. Shout “break” and the player moves to the next pad, while another player moves to the first. Repeat and cycle through the players.

Related Files

Core-199-seal-off-legally.pdfPDF, 310 KB

Attackers move forward to each ruck pad to seal off the ball for three seconds. Defenders put them under gentle pressure. Cycle through pads.

Game situation

Put two defenders and two attackers in channels A and B, and another defender in the middle channel. The attackers must then move forward to score at the other end. Shout a channel letter. That now becomes the “live” channel, and the attackers in the other channel drop their ball and move to help their team mates. Only the defender in the middle channel is allowed to help the “live” channel defenders. Play normal rugby and stop on any infringements or tries.

Both sets of attackers move forward. Call the name of “live” channel. Everyone but the defenders in the non “live” channel, compete for the ball.

What to call out

“Touch the tackled player with both hands and then look up”
“Short steps before dipping into the seal”
“Be strong over the ball”

Dan Cottrell

Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is head coach of Bristol Schools U18s and the Rugby Performance coach for Bristol Grammar School.

He was head coach of Swansea Schools U15, Young Ospreys Academy, assistant coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup, director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. He played for Bath, Bristol, Esher and Clifton, South West division, Gloucestershire and Surrey.

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