Add pressure to rugby passing drills

Get your players practising rugby passing skills so they have to pass and handle the ball within a confined space.

What you tell your players the rugby drill is about

Creating space in a narrow area by changing running angles.
Allowing supporting players to attack space in a narrow area with short passes.

What you tell your players to do in the drill

Ball carriers - keep changing your running lines to exploit every bit of space.
Receivers - read the ball carrier's movements and be prepared to explode on to the ball.

What you get your players to do

Set up a 5m long channel with four or five players in a line and a ball at the front.

Practice 1: The first player (P1) runs forward, then steps outside the channel. He passes the ball back inside and the next player (P2) accelerates on to the ball.

This player immediately changes direction to run outside the other edge of the channel and passes the ball back in to the third player (P3). Repeat until every player has passed the ball twice.

Practice 2: Develop the drill by making alternate players go out and back into the channel before passing the ball.

Rugby drill to develop passing and handling skills

Developing the rugby drill skills

The training session can be developed as follows:

Shorten the length of the channel so players have to perform angle changes and passes quicker.
Have two channels running side by side. The players have to run through a different channel after a certain distance.

What to call out

"Pass for the supporter, not to them."
"Exaggerate your changes of angle."
"Receivers - hold your run and react to the passer's movements."
"Receivers - accelerate on to the ball."
"Passers - give the ball some loop."

What to look for

Forward passes. The change of angle has meant the passer has turned their shoulders away from the direction of the pass – players should extend their arms in front of their body and flick the wrists to deliver the pass.
Players receiving the ball outside the narrow channel – keep the discipline of the exercise to explore the techniques in depth.

For more passing and handling tips and drills, click the link to order Coaching Rugby manual, specially created for coaches of junior players.

Click here for a passing and handling rugby drill aimed at improving the skills of 5 to 8 year olds.