Touch rugby game to develop realigning and support

How to play

• Divide your squad into three equal groups.
• Groups 1 and 2 start in attack and 3s are the defenders (in bibs).
• No kicks are allowed.
• When a touch tackle is made (see Fig 1), the touched player has to get in a low front-on position and WALK slowly forward. The tackler has to get in front of him and put two hands flat on his back, while walking backwards (see Fig 2).
• Two support attackers must drive the tackler away. The tackled player can then either feed to a support player, go to ground and place the ball, or pop (see Fig 3).
• Encourage the defence not to allow the attack through holes between them. A try from a breakthrough is worth two points. A try from a break around the outside is worth one. The defence is outnumbered, so it is important they try to make the attack make as many passes/cover as much ground as they can as this increases the chances of mistakes in attack.

Tactics, timing and thinking

From this standpoint you can now introduce technical and tactical aspects into the game.

These include:

• Slow ball v fast ball – which side should we choose to go?
• Depth of support runners and width of attack.
• Different ways to go forward – pass, pop or place.
• The communication of the defence and defenders inside the ball staying switched on and in line.
• Attacking success and the gain line.
• Getting off the ground and back in the game quickly.
• Counter attack with fewer numbers (keep the ball alive) and counter rucking weakly defended rucks.

Conclusion

Highlight strengths and weaknesses in attack, defence, or individuals, that can be addressed in more detail through games and activities.

Players enjoy games and the trade-off here is the chance to have fun but with real purpose and value.

1. The ball carrier is touch-tackled.

2. The touched player walks slowly forward and the tackler puts both hands on his back.

3. Two support players drive the tackler away, allowing the ball carrier to place or offload.

This session originally appeared in Rugby Coach Weekly.