close
LOGINAttack the weak point
Line breaks occur because there is a mismatch, a deception or a defensive error. This activity helps your players identify these situations.
WHY USE IT
Heads-up rugby means looking for opportunities to attack.
set up
A 20m wide, 10m long box, two ruck pads and a ball. A 30m box for the game.
HOW TO PLAY
ACTIVITY: Put four defenders, two with ruck pads, at the side of the box and four attackers and a feeder on the same side, near a corner. Have the players run into the box and the feeder release the ball. The attack has to get to the far end of the box without being held (or tackled, if you want more contact) by a non pad-holder. A ball carrier can bounce off a ruck pad if they want.
DEVELOPMENTS: Add to or subtract from the number of ruck pads. Change the width of the box. Start the attack and defence inside the box. Lengthen the box and add a defender at the back.
GAME: Split into teams of five, giving each player a letter from A to E. Play a normal game of touch or full-contact rugby. After a tackle, the ball is played from the ground, with the tackler on their front. When you call out a letter, that player in defence has to go down on their chest and back up.
COACHING POINTS
- Identify the mismatch and attack it ruthlessly.
- Support players: Anticipate the possible mismatches and change your running lines to meet possible breaks.
- Two ruck pad-holders and two other defenders run around the corner into the box
- Four attackers run into the box
Related Files
-
A 9 feeds the ball into the attackers
- The attack aims to get to the far end without being grabbed by a non pad-holder. They can bounce off pad-holders
-
Play a normal game of touch rugby
- Call out a letter (or letters): That player has to go down on their chest and then back up
- If there’s a touch, the tackler goes on their front and ball is played away from the ground
Dan Cottrell
Latest Issue
Subscribe Today
Subscribe Today
Newsletter Sign Up
Coaches Testimonials
Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club
Paul Butler, Florida, USA
Rick Shields, Springboro, USA
Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada
Subscribe Today
Latest Issue
Be a more effective, more successful rugby coach
In a recent survey 89% of subscribers said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more confident, 91% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them a more effective coach and 93% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more inspired.
Get Weekly Inspiration
All the latest techniques and approaches
Rugby Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use rugby drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice.
We've been at the cutting edge of rugby coaching since we launched in 2005, creating resources for the grassroots youth coach, following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.
