Rugby coaching tips to improve training intensity

By building intensity within a rugby drill, you can put more pressure on your players. You are then better able to reproduce the match-like conditions of a game. There are three key areas you need to look at to increase intensity.

Intensity can be viewed as focusing concentration or speeding up the pace of play. You are trying to put your rugby players into situations that might be replicated in the game.

1. Time

Setting time constraints creates performance pressure.

Lineout training: Place a ball on the touch line intersections with the goal line, 22m line and the rest of the lines up the pitch.

Time how long it takes a pack to successfully complete a lineout from each position. Use this time as a benchmark for the future, or challenge another pack to improve on it. Alternatively, complete six lineouts in three minutes.

Scrum training: Between consecutive scrums on a scrummaging machine, use a short run or a back row move. Count the scrums the pack completes in three minutes and use this as a benchmark, or challenge another pack to beat it.

Back line training: Place a ball on the 15m line intersections with the goal line, 22m line and the rest of the lines up the pitch.

Time how long it takes a back line to complete a first phase attack from each position. Use this time as a benchmark for the future, or challenge one back line to improve on another’s time. Alternatively, complete six attacks in three minutes.

2. Space

Reducing the space available for players to work in tends to increase the propensity for contact, which immediately increases the physical intensity of your rugby drills.

Conditioning the distance of the defensive line from the attackers will produce greater pressure on the attack or defence to succeed as appropriate.

Moving the offside line 2m further back in a rush defence practice, focuses the defenders to get up even quicker. Alternatively, permit them an extra metre in front of the normal offside line to reduce the space for the attackers to play in. Using a short narrow channel for forwards to advance the ball through before releasing it to a back line, promotes a go forward ethos. It also creates some intense close quarter attack and defence.

Reducing the pitch width available for backlines to attack in as they progress upfield promotes more precisely executed linebreaking running lines and the benefits of greater changes of pace.

3. Numbers

Varying the ratio of defenders to attackers increases the pressure on the players concerned to work harder, react better and concentrate on the technical aspects.

Run a drift defence rugby drill with fewer defenders than attackers to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system. It also avoids the laziness of inside defenders by demanding that they remain alert and working.

Call out how many players are to form a lineout as the forwards approach a touch line, requiring them to remain alert and react to the situation. In games of touch, changing numbers can produce constantly changing intensity. Call a bib colour and every defender wearing that colour bib must return to their own goal line before re-entering the game.

The game thus ebbs and flows with more or less players, intensifying the requirements of defence and attack it also prompts those rejoining the game to react while out of position.

Combining the pressure

Combining some of these ideas creates even more intense rugby drills. Six lineouts in three minutes, with you calling changing lineout numbers, really focuses the players on the task, having to react to the call, choose a lineout play and complete it.

Similarly, removing an attacker without warning during a timed multiple back line attack exercise forces the players to react to filling that position but also on which attack option to take.

Click the link to subscribe to Rugby Coach Weekly and get more rugby coaching tips delivered direct to your inbox.

Click the link for rugby coaching tips to help your players cope with match day pressure.