Competitive rugby rucking game

This 3-away game is an ultra competitive game, that creates situations where a slow ruck needs to be followed by a quick ruck and fast hands.

Use this game to follow up an intense tackling and rucking drills session. It lets the players practise the skills in a game-like scenario, in both attack and defence.

Set up

  • Players: 8 v 8.

  • Area: 20m square.

  • Equipment: One ball.
Game notes
  • Use normal rugby rules, but don't allow offloads and kicking.

  • Any infringement leads to a restart.

  • The player who receives the ball outside the box must not be further than 5m away from the edge of the square and has to take the pass cleanly.

  • Call out "SLOW" if the ruck takes more than three seconds.
Score
  • 2 points for three passes from a "quick" ruck (that is, no more than three seconds after a player from each team has bound over the ball), to a player outside the square.

  • 1 point for a try.
three part image to illustrate tackling, rucking game

What to call out

  • "Low body positions through the contact area."

  • "Leg drive in the contact."

  • "Lots of communication to set up a new ruck."
Rugby coaching notes
  • This game rewards quick rucks AND players getting into position to pass the ball wide.

  • Make sure you nominate a scrum half for each team to organise the players.

  • Trying overloading one team to see how each team finds solutions.

Rugby coaching tips


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