Rugby rucking drill for flank support

Set-up

A ruck pad, ball and two 5m channels side by side.

What you get your players to do

Put a ruck pad holder by the side of the channels with a “flank support” player about a 1m in front of him. Put another player just behind the “flank support” player. Put an attacker and defender in the middle of the two channels, with the defender in line with the ruck pad -as in picture 1. Get the flank support player to drive the pad back 2m. In the meantime, the ball carrier passes to the attacker who aims to beat the defender in either channel - as in picture 2. The play must stay in that channel. The flank support player has to support after the drive. - as in picture 3. This can mean receive an offload or protect the ball in the tackle.

Look for

The flank support player doing his first job well before supporting. Communication to help the ball carrier feel confident of the right support. The ball carrier not forcing the pass.

Development

Add another defender in line with the original one. Or let the pad carrier drop the pad after the contact and join in. Start the play further from the channels. Let the first passer act as another support player.

Notes

This is a quick-fire activity, so players can change roles quickly. Run at high intensity for 90 seconds before giving specific feedback. Have forwards in flank support roles.