Rugby drills and set plays.
Build confident players with free rugby drills and set plays for all age groups. From safe tackling technique for junior age groups to structured lineout and backline set plays for older squads, every session idea includes diagrams and step-by-step coaching guidance.
Rugby drills (10)
Dynamic Support Running & Angles: The Three-Man Wave Drill
Master the art of effective support play and dynamic running lines to consistently break the gain line and exploit defensive gaps.
High-Pressure Kick Chase and Catch Contest
Master the art of the aerial battle with this comprehensive drill designed to improve kick accuracy, organized pursuit, and under-ball contest skills.
Ruck Clear-Out & Clean-Out Drill: Winning the Breakdown
Master the art of securing quick ball at the breakdown with this comprehensive ruck clear-out drill that teaches forwards the body position, timing, and technique to dominate the contact area.
Scrum Half Passing Accuracy Drill: Precision Under Pressure
A progressive, three-phase drill that builds the scrum half's passing accuracy, body mechanics, and decision-making speed from static repetitions through to live defensive pressure.
Maul Formation and Drive Drill: Building a Dominant Driving Maul from Lineout
Master the art of building, driving, and extracting from a structured maul — giving your forward pack a lethal set-piece weapon in the opposition's 22.
Low & Lethal: Tackle Technique and Body Height Mastery Drill
A three-phase progressive drill that teaches defenders to consistently hit below the ball carrier's hips, wrap with authority, and drive through contact — the foundation of dominant defensive rugby.
Precision Under Pressure: The Complete Lineout Set Piece Drill
Master the full lineout sequence — from hooker throw to backs attack — with this structured drill that builds accuracy, timing, and multi-phase options for coaches at every level.
Defensive Drift Pattern Drill: Building a Cohesive Backline Defence
Teach your backline to drift as a connected unit, eliminate outside breaks, and force attacking teams into the narrow channels where your forwards dominate.
Offloading in Contact: Breaking the Defensive Line Through Continuity
Master the art of keeping ball alive through contact — this drill teaches ball carriers and support runners to execute clean offloads under pressure, turning defensive tackles into attacking opportunities.
The Wall: Mastering Defensive Line Speed and Alignment
A comprehensive guide for Rugby coaches to develop an aggressive, organized, and effective defensive line that shuts down attacking plays before they start.
Rugby set plays (10)
Rugby Own-22 Exit 1: Screen, Clear and Chase
A session-ready Rugby Union exit strategy that teaches your team to turn stable own-22 ruck ball into territory, pressure, and a connected chase.
Wide-Overlap Lineout: Fix-and-Release to the Open-Side Wing
A coach-ready lineout launch that turns a clean five-man catch into a fast, connected wide overlap and a clear finish for the open-side wing.
First-Phase Backline Strike: 10–12–13–15 Sweep
Coach a fast, flexible first-phase backline strike that uses a hard 13 line to free a sweeping fullback and create an edge break.
Crash Ball with Decoy Runners: Dominating the Gain Line
Master the crash ball play with coordinated decoy runners to punch through the defensive line, create second-phase momentum, and unlock the wide channels for your backs.
Kick-Off Reception & Counter-Attack: The 'Catch, Secure, Strike' System
Master the complete kick-off reception system that transforms a defensive restart into a devastating counter-attack, using structured forward pods, a disciplined distribution spine, and a wide strike play to create overlaps in open field.
Lineout Steal on Opposition Throw: The Coordinated Jumper Intercept
Master the art of the coordinated lineout steal — a high-reward set-piece weapon that turns opposition possession into a counter-attacking platform.
Scrum Play: Blindside Attack — Number Eight Peel with Wing Finish
Master the blindside scrum attack by exploiting the narrow side of the field with a Number Eight peel, forward pod drive, and overlapping wing finish — a high-percentage set play that punishes defensive drift.
Penalty Corner Attack Play: The Driving Maul with Backline Release
Master the penalty corner driving maul with a timed backline release — a high-percentage try-scoring play that exploits defensive drift and creates overlaps near the touchline.
Forward Pod Play with Offload Option: Breaking the Defensive Line
Master the forward pod play with embedded offload option — a structured, repeatable attacking system that creates go-forward ball, draws in defenders, and unlocks space for your backline strike runners.
Box Kick Chase and Press Play: Winning Possession in the Air
Master the box kick chase and press play to turn your scrum-half's boot into a precision weapon that wins territory, creates turnovers, and puts the opposition under relentless aerial pressure.
