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Retain more possession in the tackle contest to generate more quick ball. Make the nearest support player to the ball carrier get closer and make better decisions. This works well in close quarters where there are lots of defenders. Use this session to improve awareness and communication skills.

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

What to think about

Lots of rugby is played in congested areas, where the ball carrier might find himself facing a wall of defenders. To pass the ball simply moves a problem on and puts another player under pressure. Use this session to work on the role of the first support player. He needs to be very close to the ball carrier. This gives the ball carrier confidence as well as immediate support if there are two or more defenders attacking the ball carrier.

set-up

Support: Get close to the ball carrier and tell him you are there.
As the ball carrier goes into contact, identify the threats and decide if you are going to: Latch on and drive, rip and roll, or protect the ball carrier if he goes to ground.

What you get your players to do

Put a ball carrier and support player about 5m away from a ruck pad holder (see picture 1[1]). Get the ball carrier to run forward, step either side of the ruck pad holder and go to ground. The support player has to drive away the ruck pad holder before he has a chance to go over the ball carrier (see picture 1[2]). Develop by getting the support player to rip the ball away on contact, or latch on and drive the ball carrier through the contact area.

A ball carrier running at the edge of a ruck pad, going to ground on contact and the close support player driving out the pad. Develop by the support player latching on or ripping the ball away.

Development

Put defenders in 1m gates spaced about 3m apart. Call out which gate two attackers must go through (see picture 2[1]). The ball carrier aims to get through the gate while the defender tackles him. The other defender runs back to a cone 5m behind before supporting his team mate (see picture 2[2]). The close support player needs to decide how best to support the ball carrier. Do not allow offloads.

Two attackers running through one of the gates. The ball carrier tries to get through the gate (no offloading). The nontackling defender runs back and around to support.

Game situation

Put two attackers in the middle of an 8m x 4m box and two defenders at each end of it (see picture 3). Give the attackers one minute to score as many points as possible. They run at the defenders. If they score a try they get two points. If they make contact but retain the ball (inside the area) for five seconds they get one point. If they are tackled out of the box, or lose the ball, they turn and attack the other way. Defenders can only come forward once the attackers have crossed the halfway line. Adjust the dimensions and timings of the box to suit your players.

Where two attackers have a minute to score tries (2 points) or hold on to the ball in the area for five seconds after contact (1 point). After attacking one end, they turn and attack the other end. They must stay inside the area.

What to call out

“Tell the ball carrier what to do: Stay up; my rip; go to ground”
“Don’t dip too early – stay balanced. Drive low when the ball carrier goes low”
“Ball carrier – beat the defender first. Listen to the support player for instructions”

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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