Johnny Zhang - Getting Started in Rugby

Johnny Zhang describes the essential skills to get started in rugby, and the best ways to learn and improve.

Johnny Zhang - Rugby and Me

Johnny Zhang discusses his introduction to rugby, and how the sport has helped him to develop as a person.

Johnny Zhang - Mental Preparation for Rugby

Johnny Zhang explains how he prepares for a big game.

TAG Introduction to get started

Owen Davies from Saracens gets a TAG session moving quickly and straight into a simple game where each individual tries to collect as many TAG belts as possible

Lineout Lifting Fundamentals - Get started

An effective line out is based upon the fundamentals of movement, jumping and lifting. James Cannon from London Wasps takes some amateur players through the basic skills and techniques

Learning to Lift for the Lineout - Get started

Some slightly different progressions in building upon the basic skills for an effective line out

Breakdown - Getting started

The contest at the breakdown is always changing and new techniques are often introduced however there are some fundamental skills required and this clip explains some of them

The switch - getting started

To develop an understanding of the switch

Quins - Rugby Netball Game

Rugby netball is a ball game that is great for warm ups and getting a session started. The coach can set targets for the number of passes or set up goals to score through, just set the conditions you want to work to

CCRU Game - Rugby Rounders

Aim of the Game: The batting player kicks or throws the ball forward into play. Make sure that the size and shape of the ball is appropriate to the age of the players. To get the batter out, the fielders may catch the initial kick or throw before it bounces or complete three passes before the batter gets all the way round the cones and back to base cone. The fielders develop their passing, catching and communication skills. The batter is encouraged to think tactically with regard to their initial kick or throw and subsequent running decisions

L2 - Continuous Rugby

Skill Practice Description • Play 7 v 7 Continuous Rugby i.e. after a score, the team who has just scored, keeps possession and immediately starts attacking the far try line. • This allows attacker to play against broken defences (defence not spread in a flat line across the field of play). • This will help players to use evasive skills and maintain continuity, with more passing before being tackled (3 second recycles after a tackle or it becomes a turnover). Key Coaching Points • Communication • Quickness of attack at a disorganised defence • Skills to attack space • Footwork and evasion skills • Scanning skills Relevance to the Game • Great for coaching counter attacking and challenging speed in organisation of both attack and defence. • Any player can be ball carrier and communication is vital as is decision making in identifying space and the best way to attack it successfully

Rugby-Football Game

A great fun game that combines rugby and football, that also tests the players skills for catch & pass, awareness and support play. This can be played with age groups from 13 / 14 upwards

Rugby Netball with 4 Goals

A great game to get players passing, talking and moving into space. The game is spread wider by having four possible goals to attack.

Breakout Touch Rugby Game

Breakout Touch Rugby Game

Interview - Dean Ryan: Core Rugby Foundations

Dean Ryan explains the importance of rugby's foundations and how they shouldn't be overlooked by coaches.

Scrum Factory - 3. TOP With Rugby Balls

Expensive training equipment is not necessary and the simple rugby ball can provide an excellent technical and conditioning work out

Warm-up with Games and Handling (Rugby ready)

A rugby ready style warm up with games and handling as they focus prior to moving on to more technical skills. The game centres around the teams trying to make 10 passes

Rugby Netball with 4 Goals

In this game of 'rugby netball' (or 3D touch), use four goals instead of 2, to encourage more movement around the pitch and for players to learn spacial awareness and communication.

Fun Sessions for Young Players - Start with Safety

We all want our sessions to be fun, but it all starts with the set-up, safety and reassurance from coaches. Particularly for young players. Achieve that and you will have a fun, productive session.

Tips for Coaching Sevens Rugby

Sevens expert Russell Earnshaw talks through his coaching philosophy and approach to drills, exercises and games

Core Stability for Rugby Players

Becoming stronger and more powerful is important for rugby players of all standards. However, it is important for players to have a strong core before they progress into lifting weights. Here are some simple core exercises that can be done anywhere without any equipment.

Rugby's Groundhog Day

Are your club coaches facing the same questions and problems year after year? Make sure knowledge and ideas are shared among your coaches to further develop them and the players!

Chapter 1 - Playing Tag Rugby

Introduction to TAG

Tackling 2 - Rugby Kibadi

Dean Ryan: Core Rugby Foundations

Dean Ryan talks through what coaches should focus on and why improving the basics are the most crucial areas

Interview- sir Ian McGeechan - Kids in Rugby 2

Drop off touch - start with a game

Chris Kibble of Esher RFC & Whitgift school says to start your sessions with a game. In this clip Chris runs a game called "Drop touch" where the players run back to a line when they make a touch. This is good for fitness and creating wholes to attack

Tag Game - Tag Rugby 1

Tag Game - Tag Rugby 1

Tag Game - End Ball and Rugby Netball

Tag Game - End Ball and Rugby Netball

STG - Rugby Rounders

A fun an active way of integrating rugby's core skills into another familiar game.

Expert - John Neal - Getting Your Message Across

John Neal discusses the role of rapport and empathy in getting your message across to your players.

Interview - Getting Your Message Across

John Neal explores the importance of rapport and empathy with your players, in the interest of getting your message across

Turnover session - 1 Game to start

A full contact game, conditioned with channels on either side of the pitch. The attacking team must get the ball to both channels before they are allowed to score a try.

This is to spread the attack out, and create more opportunities for turnover ball to occur.

NB - Please ensure players have completed a full upper body warm-up before going into this full contact session.

Premiership Rugby Camps

Premiership rugby camps are a great opportunity to test & challenge young players, learn new skills & have great fun. New environments, elite coaches and new friends are just a few of the benefits in attending

Dean Ryan: Rugby's Foundations

Dean Ryan: Rugby's Foundations

Tony Rea - What makes rugby special?

Tony Rea - What makes rugby special?

Offside Touch - Heads Up Rugby

Use this game of offside touch to force your players to play with their heads up to identify space. One player per side can play in an offside position and players are allowed to kick.

Continuous Rugby

QBE - Continuous Rugby

11. 4 v 2 Continuous Touch Rugby

Expert - Sir Ian Mcgeechan - Children in rugby

Sir Ian Mcgeechan gives his thoughts on how to introduce rugby to children

Interview - Dean Ryan: Rugby is Special

"Good people make good rugby players, who make it fun to be involved" - Dean Ryan

Step 1 - Playing Tag Rugby

Neil de Kock - Favourite part of Rugby

Neil de Kock highlights his favourite part of rugby training when he was young.

Premiership Rugby - Sharing Ideas Online

Elite coaches from the Premiership explain why sharing is important and how as visual learners most coaches benefit from tips and ideas in video format

Interview - Sir Ian Mcgeechan - Kids in rugby

Ball Balance - Core Stability

Get in pairs. One player starts in a plank position with a rugby ball placed under each hand trying to stay in the plank position. The other player walks around a gently nudges and pushes the player working. The work aims to stay stable on the balls.

Players First - Circle & Caterpillar Game

A great fun game to get training started and integrate new players into your squad. Lots of progressions and a variety of skills on show

Speed Training - Speed Off The Mark

All players can train to get quicker & being quicker off the mark is a great asset to have when playing rugby. Tom Varndell one of the quickest players in the game goes through some acceleration drills

Get in Close - Boxers Hands

Exercises aimed at getting players to get close in before making tackles.

Player Welfare and Tackle Technique

Head injuries are a serious consequence to rugby and an area that deserves the attention of all players and coaches. Be proactive by coaching and re-coaching tackle technique to reinforce good habits.

Contact Conditioning Intervals

Get your players ready for contact with these exercises, warming up the body for a season of collisions. Start with 1 minute on 1 minute off and play about with the intervals!

RCD - Club Development

RCD can help you develop and improve the level of coaching at your club. Set up your club and get started today.

Catching is the First Skill of Passing

Being able to catch is fundamental to rugby and the majority of sports. Catching in rugby is slightly different due to the shape of the ball and understanding the technical points of "How to catch" is a very important area for all young players. This clip explains some of the finer points and why a good catch is the basis of a good pass

Sausage Pad Tackling - Getting Low

Make sure players are getting low early and close to tackle the sausage pad, they shouldn't be diving into the pad.

Sausage Pad Tackling - Getting Low

Make sure players are getting low early and close to tackle the sausage pad, they shouldn't be diving into the pad.

Conor O Shea - is rugby changing

Conor O shea discuss the rapidly changing world of Professional sport and rugby

Paul Gustard - Where To Get Coaching Tips

Where do you get your inspiration from to add new things into your game and why change is good

Rugby Rewards Programme

Rugby Rewards to motivate players

Stretch attack from re-start

Filton College claim the re-start and move the ball wide attack the space and stretch the defence. After recycling the ball quickly, they attack wide in the other direction where a 3 v 1 has been created.

Rugby Netball

Rugby Netball

Training for Power

Power is essential for performance on the rugby field, and should be a part of every rugby player's physical training. Here are some 'power jump' exercises that you can include in your personal S&C programmes.

L2 - Conditioning Circuit

Using the full length of the pitch the practice is a continuous 3 v 2 scenario. • 3 attackers knock over a bag to collect a ball and attack 2 defenders in the 5m channel. • If they fail to beat the defenders (touch/grip), the attackers run back to knock over another bag and start again. • Having beaten the first defenders they carry on with the same ball to beat 2 further defenders who may choose a colour and start from the appropriate cone. • If the attackers fail to beat the defence they run back to the bag and start again with another ball. The defence can choose another colour to start from. • The next challenge is two free roaming defenders. If the attack fail they go back and knock over another bag to start again. • Finally the defenders choose a colour to start from and if the attack fail they get another ball and the defence choose another starting colour. • The objective is to complete the attack with the starting ball and restarts. Keep score to create competition

Conor O'Shea: Why is rugby important to you?

Conor O Shea - Harlequins DoR

Interview - Conor O Shea rugby is special

Ruck Touch Rugby

Coaches can use games to introduce all skills for your age group. If you are very specific about the conditions you apply then players will learn these skills in a fun and enjoyable game

Strong Body Position for Scrummaging - Full Session

Revisiting the finer techniques can help to build the overall strength of your set piece, and your attack. Before even getting to the scrum machine, you can develop your players strength through their body position.

Learning to squat

Squats are regarded as a key fundamental to improving a players strength & flexibility for many of the movements involved in playing rugby. Any exercise that can involve adding weight needs to be done safely and using the correct techniques

Conor O Shea - Basics of the game

Conor O Shea discusses what constitutes the basic aspects of rugby union

Fitness - Bear crawls

Groundwork fitness has been introduced by professional clubs over the last two seasons. Getting players fit for the contest at the breakdown is about specialist conditioning and these exercises are very tough when done properly

L2 - Back Line Attack from Set Piece

Skill Practice Description • The objective of this game is to score from first phase. • The defence start on the try line and can only advance to the five metre line (gain line). • The attack must start from the 5 metre line if simulating a scrum and vary the starting points i.e. centre field. • If simulating a lineout start, use the 10 metre line to half way. • If the attack can score from the set piece they are awarded five points. • If they score after one phase they are awarded four points. • If they score after two phases they get awarded three points and so on. • If the attack fails to score after four phases they turn around and defend. • Kicking options may be introduced. • Five attacks each team. Key Coaching Points • Appropriate passing (short, long, flat, deep etc.) • Appropriate running lines; decoy / option / creating spaces / accelerating into space. • Support and reaction. • Look-Think -Do Process • Allow the players to self correct before intervention from the coach Relevance to the Game • Accuracy in decision making scanning and decoy / option running lines

Selection - The Most Important Policy

Get selection right and you will have a vibrant, busy, energised and happy rugby club but get it wrong and your whole club could be on a slippery slope. International coaches can loose their jobs but it is just as important for club coaches to take the time to understand how important this can be

Agility Games for contact warm up

Saracens community coach uses games and competitive activities to introduce the contact elements of rugby. This builds confidence in players prior to actual contact skills

Sevens - Uncovered - The Aerial Battle

Re - starts are as numerous as scrums in seven's and coaches should put as much emphasis on the kick off as any other facet of the game. Possession is crucial in seven's and an effective re - start strategy can win not only matches but tournaments for teams. You must posses players who can kick and contest the ball in the air becasue if not you will be competing without the ball for long periods of the match. Listen to the top coaches on how important they think the kick offs are

Speed Training - Warm Up Exercises

All athletes and especially sprinters use agility drills to get the body ready for speed training. Tom Varndell outlines some of the essential techniques players go through before the sprinting starts. You MUST WARM UP

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Flat 6 with sweeper

In Defence:

Stay alert, keep on toes, specific communication, react, work hard

Defend what is happening – not what you think is going to happen

Trust the defence system, trust your team mates – trust yourself

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Choice Touch

This small sided game is design to develop intuitive decision making.

The players need to recognise the situation and react accordingly.

Practice through a conditioned game is the most effective way to develop the necessary skills to recognise a situation as it unfolds and to react appropriately and without hesitation

Rugby Netball using goals on wide pitch

A game for developing players understanding of space out wide.

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Restarts; kicking short

As possession is king, gaining possession from a kick off is vital for effective 7s. Especially considering that the team that scores takes the kick off.

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Restarts; kicking long

The objective for the kicking team is to back their defence and force a turnover ball

Also utilised the long kick if you do not have an accurate and consistent kicker

If you are the receiving team, have four players up near the 10m line

8v4 one touch rugby game

In attack Looking to develop creation and identification of space and ability to keep the ball - defensively looking to work hard on the overloaded situation

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Side line press

In Defence:

Stay alert, keep on toes, specific communication, react, work hard

Defend what is happening – not what you think is going to happen

Trust the defence system, trust your team mates – trust yourself

Touch rugby - ball presentation

A game for understanding how the presentation of the ball can affect the speed of the game and the ability to attack space

Touch rugby - roll ball back

A game for understanding

Touch rugby with press up variation

A game for understanding space & movement

One touch - touch rugby

a game for understanding space & time

Touch rugby with press up variation

This variation allows the attack to be more successful - and for the defence to work hard to cover the attack

One touch rugby

A game for understanding space

Touch rugby with an immediate pass to support

A game for developing understanding of space and support.

Touch rugby - one touch on forwards

A game for understanding

Touch rugby with offload after touch

A game for understanding the importance of support.

Rugby netball variation

Play a game to develop understanding - here the ball carrier cannot run with the ball.

Rugby netball

A game for warming up and to develop players' awareness of space.

IRB - Rugby Sevens Reaching Out

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - 7 up defence

In Defence:

Stay alert, keep on toes, specific communication, react, work hard

Defend what is happening – not what you think is going to happen

Trust the defence system, trust your team mates – trust yourself

Conor O Shea - what can rugby teach us?

Conor O Shea - Harlequins DoR

Sir Ian McGeechan: Technology in Rugby

Sir Ian Mcgeechan discusses how technology has developed the game at all alevels but especially the professional aspect

Team Patterns - Warm up touch rugby

Using games with a purpose is great preparation for the session

Teaching minis to pass backwards - full session

Learning to pass backwards is fundamental to rugby newcomers. This session brings minis out of a game for a few minutes to focus on that key skill, before taking them back into the game. Note the emphasis on questioning, development and how feedback changes depending on the ability of the child.

Defence - Tackle Progressions

Understanding tackle techniques and the progressions is integral for all coaches as a basic fundamental in coaching contact. The IRB "rugby ready" course provides a step by step approach to compliment the technques in this section

What the Coaches Look For

Premiership Rugby coaches talk about the signs they look for in assessing a team or unit and translating this into practical coaching points and plans. Log in to see more.