Simple rugby tactics for returning kick offs
Receiving the kick off is both an opportunity and a threat. A poor kick off reception can mean a lost psychological advantage. A solid take can give your team a lift. These three tactics are designed to give you options for what happens next.
Tactic 1: Short and wide
Once the ball is secured, the scrum half (9) either passes to a forward or the fly half (10), who pops the ball to a player on either their inside or outside. The ball is quickly rucked over, before being moved wide immediately.
This can be effective because defenders are moving into position from an unusual restart situation. It could be that certain of their players are out of position, notably the fly half or centres (12 and 13).
Tactic 2: Short infield and then blind
The ball is secured and taken infield, probably at more of an angle than just going forward. If the ball is more than 15 metres in from the touchline, then the attack is taken blind into the 15 metre gap between the ruck or maul and the touchline. If this gap has not appeared immediately, then the next phase takes the ball further infield to create the blindside.
Again, with opposing players out of position there is a good chance that your quick backs could be running against slow forwards.
Tactic 3: Wide, wide, wide
Immediately the ball is secured it is moved wide. The scrum half (9) may even miss out the fly half (10) with his pass. The key is to have designated players to be part of the quick movement of the ball. Everyone in the team needs to knows where the ball is going, they then simply move across to support.
A decision maker half way across the pitch should be ready to decide whether to continue to pass or kick for touch. If the kick is used, then it is possible, maybe even be likely, that the chasers will outnumber the receivers.
The tactic works for good passing sides, when the majority of the defence is concentrated on one side of the pitch.
The "bail out" decision
Each tactic is based on the ball being secured and the second action occurring as planned. If either does not work, then the scrum half and fly half should have an effective bail out plan, such as to kick to a certain part of the field. Your chasers need to be aware both of the bail out plan and any calls associated with it.
If you're looking for more ways to attack from set pieces and in open play, then my Rugby Attack! manual could be the answer. Containing 27 pre-prepared plays, Rugby Attack! will help you produce co-ordinated attacks that suit your team's strengths and target weaknesses in the opposition.
Click here to read more and download a sample move, and to order and download your PDF copy today.
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