Fun game to coach core rugby skills

Make practising core rugby skills part of a fun game for players with the Tiger Tails game. This is a useful game for a training session where bad weather forces play indoors.

How to play Tiger Tails

Each tiger has a tag belt or “tail” tucked into the back of their shorts. The tail must be visible so that other tigers can grab it.
The tigers run around inside the playing area, collecting each other’s tails by pulling them out of another tiger’s shorts.
When a tiger collects a tail they add it to their own in their shorts. Other tigers can now collect however many tails they have.
If a tail drops to the floor, any tiger can collect it. However, the first to touch the tail wins it to avoid a tug-of-war.
Tigers cannot grip their tail to stop it being collected. They need to protect their tail by sprinting away, turning, using evasion skills and screening instead.
The game can be played to a time limit (two minutes, for example) and see which tiger has the most tails at the end.

Set up game

Prepare a 40m by 30m playing area or small gym/games hall. Use tag belts (if available) or old bibs or strips of material for the tails. Player numbers can extend to a class or squad size.

Scoring

The tiger with the most tails in their shorts wins.

What to call out

“Look for space and move into it.”
“Take short steps when changing direction.”
“Keep your head up to see what’s going on.”

Tiger tails core rugby skills game

For more games to coach rugby skills for youngster, order a copy of Fun Mini Rugby Games, the easy-to-follow manual that helps you introduce the essential core rugby skills to young children in a fun, safe way.

Click here for another fun game to coach basic rugby skills.