Rugby drill to practise lineout lifting

This rugby drill aims to help improve your team's lifting pods at the lineout.

Two lifters take up a lifting position directly opposite each other, leaning in slightly and with the palms of their hands touching.

This activity requires the lifters to carry out a lifting action on a trigger call of "set up". Players need to co-ordinate their actions as they drive from their legs and extend upwards. Players must finish with their chests touching.

lifter mirroring drill

What to call out

  • "Legs drive first."
  • "Snap the hips through and extend the arms."

Develop the rugby drill

  • Place a contact shield between the lifters. The shield is then pushed up and brought back down to end the lift.
  • Replace the contact shield with a tackle bag. Encourage the lifters to grip the bag and lift it as usual, before bringing it back to ground.

Rugby coaching tip

Lifter mirroring is a good rugby warm-up drill for all lineout sessions.

Click the link to order a copy of The Lineout and How to Win It and get more tactics and rugby drills to improve your players' performance in the lineout.

Click the link to get coaching tips for lineout lifting.

Rugby coaching tips


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