Warm up rugby drill to focus players

Players can sometimes take time to focus their minds when they arrive for a rugby coaching session. Add a simple decision-making game to your training drills to warm up the team.

Rugby drills and skills

Organise your squad into teams of no more than 7-a-side. Set out a suitably sized box (say 30 metres by 30 metres) with four pairs of poles or markers (gates) on the sides of the pitch. The gates should be about 4 metres wide at the most. If possible, run more than one game at the same time.

Players can pass and run in any direction, with possession changing sides when the ball is dropped or when the ball carrier is touched. The players score by running through a gate in any direction. Once they have scored, they keep possession and can continue scoring, but only through different gates. Swap around the sides after a minute.

Add a second ball to really liven up the action. With the help of these rugby drills, skills and tips your players will develop a “switched on” attitude, making the rest of your rugby coaching session more effective.

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