Rugby coaching game for footwork and ball manipulation

Set-up

Players: Eight defenders v 10 attackers (or fewer but in a similar ratio EG. 6v8). Attackers are split into two groups each with a different shirt or bib – one that passes the ball and one that rucks and mauls.

Area: 40m wide by 20m long pitch.

Equipment: One ball.

Game notes

• Play normal rugby rules.
• Restart the game if there is an infringement, turnover or a try is scored.
• An infringement also occurs if one player from a group performs a task that he is not assigned to do.
• Give the attack three attempts before swapping the teams. Mix up backs and forwards among the groups.

Score

One point for a try.

What to call out

• “Don’t get sucked into the ruck. You might need to support from the next phase”
• “Vary the points of attack”

Coaching notes

• Utter confusion may reign for the first couple of attempts. However, the game will start to give the players a sense of their roles in a match.
• You should emphasise that these roles are the responsibilities for certain plays but not for all. For instance, you might need a centre to ruck and a prop to act as the passing pivot from a series of plays, but not in another phase.
• Use bibs to identify who is who.

This article is from 48 Rugby Skills Games.