Touch rugby - one touch on forwards

A game for understanding

One touch - touch rugby

a game for understanding space & time

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

One touch rugby

A game for understanding space

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.

Breakout Touch Rugby Game

Breakout Touch Rugby Game

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

11. 4 v 2 Continuous Touch Rugby

Touch rugby with offload after touch

A game for understanding the importance of support.

One handed passing touch

Here the aim is for the player to pass the ball one-handed to support once they are touched.

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

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

Touch rugby - roll ball back

A game for understanding

Touch rugby with an immediate pass to support

A game for developing understanding of space and support.

Touch rugby with press up variation

A game for understanding space & movement

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

Team Patterns - Warm up touch rugby

Using games with a purpose is great preparation for the session

One touch turnover

An advanced game for developing spacial awareness

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.

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

Breakdown Touch

This is a game which can be used to introduce contact gradually into pre-season training. With each touch, one player from each side must compete at a controlled breakdown situation. It is important for players to maintain good technique when they are fatigued, and for the coach to manage this.

Quins - Two touch Game

This conditioned game allows attackers two touches so that they can isolate one defender, the game encourages good support play and can be used to improve fitness

Offside Touch

Try this offside touch game from London Scottish. Gets your players working hard whilst developing their technical skills.

CCRU Game - Ball Touch

Aim of the game: Touch as many players as possible with the ball in one minute. The ball must be held in both hands at all times

American Football Touch

Creating new games challenges and motivates players. This game is about getting players to scan and use space

Tackling 2 - Rugby Kibadi

Two Touch With Tackle Practice

This game has multiple conditions for both attackers and defenders. Dropping defenders to practise their tackling while working on support lines and groundwork for the attackers. Great for the first half an hour of your session

L2 - Numbers Touch

Skill Practice Description • Players are given numbers (1-6 for Example). • At any time during the game, the coach calls a number and the defender with that number kneels. • Once the attack has gone behind the kneeling defender, they may get back into the game. • The attack should identify the opportunity quickly and take advantage of the space created. • With larger numbers in a game the coach may give numbers 1 - 3 for example so several defenders will have the same number. This results in several opportunities arising at any one time. • Play is continuous. Key Coaching Points • Spatial awareness. • Listening and cooperation. • Intuitive decision making. Relevance to the Game • This game will develop the intuitive decision making and clinical attacking skills

Tag Game - Tag Rugby 1

Tag Game - Tag Rugby 1

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

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

Continuous Rugby

QBE - Continuous Rugby

6v4 Touch (2)

A simple game of touch rugby with more players on the attacking team, and the defenders are required to retreat 5m after each touch. This should give more opportunities to the attackers and promote quick decision-making.

6v4 Touch

A simple game of touch rugby with more players on the attacking team, and the defenders are required to retreat 5m after each touch. This should give more opportunities to the attackers and promote quick decision-making.

L2 - Bozo Touch

Skill Practice Description • There are to be three teams. • Two teams play while one wait by the touch line. • When a score is made, the defence pick up the ball and attack immediately. • The scoring team leave the pitch while the waiting team run on and defend. • Turnover of possession is via a score, a forward pass, dropped ball, intercept etc. • The rules may also stipulate a six touch turnover for example. • The coach to observe how the waiting players spread when in the off pitch area in order to cover space when called onto the pitch. It may not be the team in possession at that time that scores. Key Coaching Points • Speed in scanning and communicating the spatial opportunity. • Development of foundation skills, passing and running. • Innovation in positioning when planning to enter the pitch from outside. • Develop team work and commitment to each other. Relevance to the Game • Develop the understanding of inviting multiple defenders into a tackle area in order to create space elsewhere.

13. Drop Down Touch

Reptile Touch

Another great conditioned game for pre-season training. With the addition of 'reptile crawls' for players who have made a touch, you incorporate an excellent core strength exercise that requires concentration under fatigue.

L2 - Colours Touch

Skill Practice Description • Each player is given a colour. • The coach will call out a colour at any time during the game. • The defender/s who have been given that colour need to leave the defence line, run round the nearest cone of that colour and rejoin the defence. • The attack should identify where the spatial opportunity has appeared and take immediate advantage. • The frequency of the call depends on how much the coach wants to work the players. • The coach may call for all players, both defence and attack, to run around an allotted cone colour. • Coach should have two rugby balls to ensure a fast game and a change of defence to attack at times. Key Coaching Points • Visual Acuity-Looking for space • Spatial awareness • Communication - highlighting spaces and mismatches • Evasion skills and footwork • Decision making Relevance to the Game • Spaces are created by the leaving defenders, which the attack has to identify, decide on the appropriate action and attack accordingly. • By using the second ball, the coach can also develop counter attack

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

Conditioned touch - Defence press up

Allow your players to put what they've learned into action. In this example, one attacker and one defender must take a knee at the tackle area to resemble the breakdown.

CCRU Game - Chaos Touch

Aim of the game: Teams of three or four players attempt to score points by passing the ball to team mates when they are in one of the scoring zones. Defenders attempt to prevent the attack from scoring by intercepting passes. There is no contact between attack and defence. Passes can be made in any direction and players are encouraged to recognise and move into space to receive a pass. If the defence intercepts the ball they can attack. Coaches can involve the players to devise a scoring system i.e. first to five points and so on

Bear Crawl Touch

During pre-season, it's a great idea to keep training fun, but with emphasis on building fitness. Conditioned games are an excellent way to do this. In this game, defenders who make a touch must run back to their own try line and complete a bear crawl before rejoining the game. This gives opportunities to the attacking team.

Number Touch Game

Number Touch Game

Conditioned Touch - Tackler drops to Knee

The condition in this game is for those making the 'tackle' (or touch) to drop to their knee for four seconds before re-joining the game. This should give more space for the attackers to exploit. A good game if you have been working on 2v1 or 3v2 handling exercises.

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.

Colour Touch

In this game, defenders in coloured bibs are called back to touch their try line, creating space and opportunities for the attack to exploit.

Drop touch

Drop touch is perfect for Pre-Season and as a coach you can set a wide variety of conditions just based on this simple game. Add extra fitness drills and set challenges for the attackers, its your choice

12. Kneel Touch

10. Number Touch

L2 - Anxiety Touch

Skill Practice Description Two teams play normal rules touch or contact. • Separate to either team are two rogue players to whom the rules do not apply. • These two players may be anywhere at any time including from set piece and their role is to disrupt the attack or the defence in any way they can. • A progression may be for the defence to be allowed to be a metre off side at every tackle and set piece. • These actions will place players under an exaggerated state of pressure they will not be under in a match. • Therefore the match may appear more manageable when the laws of the game are applied as normal.

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.

STG - Rugby Rounders

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

Kick Out Touch

This game simulates a counter-attack situation. The attacking side must gather the ball, look up to assess the defensive line, and attack the right areas. Start with fewer defenders, adding one on each attempt to increase difficulty. Progression: Defensive lines should vary between a wide or narrow alignment, to test the decision-making of the attackers.

Game - Defence Touch

Another conditioned game that will test your players' fitness. This requires all defenders to perform a 'down-up' after each touch, before re-aligning. As players become tired, more gaps will appear, testing the defence even more.

Tag Game - End Ball and Rugby Netball

Tag Game - End Ball and Rugby Netball

18. Wide Touch

Rugby Netball

Rugby Netball

Game - Tackle Touch

Whether you're introducing tackling to young players for the first time, or re-introducing it to senior players after a summer away, this is a great game to play to ease back into it. It isolates the 1v1 tackle and puts emphasis on technique without the high speed impact of a full contact game.

QBE - Numbers Touch

L2 - Mis-match Touch

Skill Practice Description • Two or three players (depending on numbers in each team) wear bibs of a different colour to the others. • The players in bibs can participate in every way except their tackles do not count. • The objective is for the team in possession to attack the areas these players defend. • If other defenders move to cover the players in bibs, that will open space elsewhere. • The defence may position the bibbed players in order to protect them or limit the spatial options. • Any strategic thinking is to be encouraged. • A progression may be to remove the bibs and nominate players to role play as non tackles or loose tackles if playing full contact. • It is the job of the attack to identify and find these weaker areas in the defence and take advantage. • It is the job of the defence not to leave these players exposed in too much space. Key Coaching Points • The attacking team are to scan for weaker defenders. • Once identified, keep working the attack to these areas. • If the defence cover the weaker defenders the attack should scan to seek out alternative opportunity as a result

QBE - Mismatch Touch

Conditioned Touch - Linked defenders

In this game, two defenders must link up, slowing them down and creating more opportunities for the attacking side. This can create the overlap necessary to put 2 v 1 and 3 v 2 techniques into practice.

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

Quins - Support Touch Game

The coaches use games to teach techniques and allow players to experiment in game situations. The coach can set the parameters for the game dependent on the skill sets of the players

Group Touch Game

Group Touch Game

10. Overload Touch

Ball Presentation Touch Game

Ball Presentation Touch

QBE - Anxiety Touch

L2 - Chaos Touch

Skill Practice Description • Two teams play touch with the rules as stipulated by the coach. • At any time during the game, the coach may blow the whistle. • The ball is passed to the coach and players run around whichever corner cone they are closest to, although it must be of their own try line. This ensures all players come back into the game at different times. • The coach can reintroduce the ball to either side and play resumes. Key Coaching Points • Looking for space on the pitch. • Ability to make intuitive decisions. • Innovative economy of movement in order to preserve energy. • Competitive spirit and team commitment. Relevance to the Game • This is primarily pre-season conditioning game. • The demand on the players is to scan for opportunity or danger while under the pressure of fatigue. • The game also tests team spirit and commitment to each other

L2 - Chaos Touch

Skill Practice Description • Two teams play touch with the rules as stipulated by the coach. • At any time during the game, the coach may blow the whistle. • The ball is passed to the coach and players run around whichever corner cone they are closest to, although it must be of their own try line. This ensures all players come back into the game at different times. • The coach can reintroduce the ball to either side and play resumes. Key Coaching Points • Looking for space on the pitch. • Ability to make intuitive decisions. • Innovative economy of movement in order to preserve energy. • Competitive spirit and team commitment. Relevance to the Game • This is primarily pre-season conditioning game. • The demand on the players is to scan for opportunity or danger while under the pressure of fatigue. • The game also tests team spirit and commitment to each other

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

QBE - Bozo Touch

Small-side game - Ruck Touch

There are many versions of ruck touch with the support players needing to recognise the needs of the tackled player.

The defence should be conditioned to provide increasing pressure to the tackle area. This will develop the situation recognision of the attacking players who must play accordingly. Robotics in rucking regardles of the situation should be discouraged and the option of picking upthe ball and going forward should be an option

2. Any Direction Touch

Neil de Kock - Favourite part of Rugby

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

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

QBE - Chaos Touch

3. Ruck Touch

Tips for Coaching Sevens Rugby

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

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

Conor O Shea - Harlequins DoR

Broncos 5 - 2 Ball touch to test the defence

This exercise tests the defenders ability to keep a peripheral view of where the next threat might be coming from and to keep communicating with colleagues. Attackers are always looking for the next opportunity an so should defenders

Parramatta Touch

A conditioned game for support and continuity

Conor O Shea - what can rugby teach us?

Conor O Shea - Harlequins DoR

L2 - Drop-off Touch

Skill Practice Description • The teams play touch with the ball being passed back through the legs when touched. • The defender/s who make the touch, turn (drop off) immediately and run to their own try line. • These drop off defenders need to realign with the defence as soon as possible. • The attack should seek to take advantage of the space created by the drop off defender/s. • To get maximum effort from the players, it is advised the pitch is not so long that players do not make the effort to realign in defence. • The coach may observe the attacking players moving the ball away from the space opportunity left by the drop off player. It may be that the defence close the space left by the drop off, however this will create space elsewhere. Can the attack find the appropriate space to utilise? Key Coaching Points • Speed in scanning and communicating the spatial opportunity. • Defensive effort to drop off a realign so the defence can cover the primary threat.

4. Bib Touch

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

L2 - Attacking a Condensed Defence

Skill Practice Description • Two teams play normal touch rules. • 5 touch turnover. • When a touch is made, the game pauses and all defenders need to close in and place a hand on the shoulder of another defender. So all the defenders are bunched and in contact with each other. • The coach calls ‘play’ and the attack restarts. • The progression may be to leave one defender out of the bunch, which may provide a different challenge to the attack. • Then leave two defenders out of the bunch and slowly release the conditions to see if the attack can consistently identify opportunities to outflank or penetrate the defence. Key Coaching Points • Peripheral vision and general awareness. • Intuitive decision making. • Communication • Support and team work. Relevance to the Game • This game is designed to challenge the observation and decision making ability of the attack. • For the defence, it challenges the ability to cover quickly with both drift and sweeping defenders

Pop Off The Ground Touch

Pop Off The Ground Touch

Pre-Season Offload Touch For Fitness

This Pre-Season touch game is based upon offloading however there are other conditions which make it an ideal practise to combine skills and fitness

Drop-off Touch

QBE - Drop-off Touch

5-a-side Touch

To put the passing and support drills into practice, end with a game of 5 v 5 touch. Few players on each team will mean more time with the ball for each.

Conditioned Touch - 1sec Offload

This game of touch is conditioned to encourage both close support in attack, and a proactive defence. Attacking players can offload immediately after a touch is made.

Conor O Shea - is rugby changing

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

Expert - Sir Ian Mcgeechan - Children in rugby

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

Dean Ryan: Rugby's Foundations

Dean Ryan: Rugby's Foundations

Interview - Dean Ryan: Rugby is Special

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

9. Colour Touch

QBE - Ruck Touch

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

QBE - Colours Touch