Rugby front-on tackle footwork

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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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Help my Players Can't Tackle

What do we recommend to coaches who ask us "Help! My players can't tackle!"?

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Behind the scenes with: England U18s

Saracens Academy: Behind the scenes with the Wolfpack

Inside the plan for an international match

My best tackle drill

Contact attack and defence, with “ultras”

Tackling

Defence boxers

This practice uses boxing-style footwork and arm movements to improve your players’ positioning and timing when making tackles.

3v3 chop and turnover

Use this game to develop good defensive line speed, with the aim of getting the ball carrier to ground quickly and regaining the ball.

Tacklers into jacklers

Practise the risk-and-reward elements of trying to turnover the ball in the tackle area. It starts with good tackling, then deciding ...

Sock it to 'em!

Improve tackling by teaching players to make more shoulder contacts. Rolled-up socks reduce players’ inclination to grab in the tackle.

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Goal-line D twos

With strong goal-line defence comes the need for absolute clarity in the system, particularly the role of the tackler and tackle assist.

Tackle target practice

Use this simple exercise to help coach how to engage the shoulder first, with the arms wrapped around the ball carrier’s legs to form a ...

Tackling interceptors

This low-impact activity works on the defender getting to the tackle as they attempt to intercept the ball carrier, who is making a sprint ...

Aggressive tackling

Work on the front-on tackle, which represents the best opportunity to dominate the ball carrier and win the battle for the gain line.

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