Rugby coaching session to improve technique at the ruck

What you tell your players the session is about:

• Help players make quicker decisions at the ruck.
• Improve body positions and angles entering the ruck.

What you tell your players to do:

• Look at the situation and decide whether you are going to drive through, protect or stay out.
• If you are going to enter the ruck, go through the “gate”, not in at the side to make a difference and stay legal.

What you get your players to do:

• In the middle of a 7m square, set out four cones in the shape of a rectangle – three strides wide, by two deep.
• The cones represent the tackle “gate” and players cannot enter from the sides of the box. Place a ball in the middle of the cones. Split the players into groups of four and two and put them outside the box.
• When you shout "GO", both teams try to win the ball. The team with four players has to work out how many players they want to commit.

Development

1. Add players to both sides.
2. Only put two players from each side in the box and put equal numbers of attackers and defenders outside the box (and perhaps make the box bigger).
3. Develop attacks after the box.

How would I put this into a game situation:

Play a 10v10 (depending on numbers) game on half a pitch. Use uncontested five-man scrums, allow kicking, and if the ball goes into touch, have a contested two-man lineout.
For penalty offences, have a free kick with the opposition standing five metres back.
Otherwise normal rugby laws EXCEPT you judge whether players are making a difference at the ruck. Blow the whistle and question players if necessary. Have spare players shout judgments from the sidelines.

What to shout:

• "Hips below shoulders."
• "Eyes open in contact."
• "Drive over the ball."
• "Take out a defined target."

What to look for:

• Too many or too few into the ruck – trial and error, followed by questions on when and how will help players become more aware of the times to go in or stay out.
• Not effective at the ruck – are your players using the right techniques: Low body positions before impact, heads up to focus on target, getting their shoulder into chest of opposition players.

What to think about:

• How many players do you want to compete for the ruck ball (think defence and attack)?
• Do you want players to ruck over and stay or ruck over and through the ball?
• Ruck decisions are a balance of thinking wisely and then making the maximum impact over the ball – can your players distinguish between the two?
• Can your defenders slow the ball legally by their decisions to ruck?

This article is from Rugby Coach Weekly.