The Importance of Basic Breakdown Skills

Continuously we see that the best teams are those that perform the basic skills better than their opponents. Basic skills such as passing, catching, running, tackling, and rucking. The breakdown is an essential element to the game as teams look to control momentum. Mastering the basic rucking and clearing techniques gives many teams the edge, and the quick ball that is required to enable their attack.

Tony Rea - Importance of Basics

Tony Rea reinforces the professional coaches opinion that basic skills are the most important factor in player development and planning a training session. Coaches should focus on the detail of execution and targeting "Best practice"

Paul Gustard - The Importance of Basics

Paul Gustard explains the importance of basic skills.

Breakdown Skills for Mini age groups

Introducing contact and breakdown skills to younger players can be a challenge for many coaches, in this clip the Northampton saints community coaches explain some of the technical points and use some simple practises to help them learn

Breakdown Skills - Progressions

The Breakdown Battle

The breakdown is becoming more important in rugby and elite coaches are delivering more detailed training sessions to teach the basic skills required to be effective and make decisions quickly and accurately

The Importance of the Breakdown - Youth

Conor O'Shea discusses the importance of the breakdown and why coaches should pay attention to it at training.

Why are skills important?

The London Scottish Skills Coach explains why skill work is important and why you should incorporate them into fitness.

Quins - Turnover Skills at the breakdown

Harlequins players work on a variety of techniques to "Turnover" ball and this clip shows some of the exercises they use. Coaches can choose to use similar practise's or adapt slightly for your own players