Mastering the Box Kick Chase and Press Play: A Complete Guide

1. Overview

The Box Kick Chase and Press is a fundamental tactical play used to exit your own half, relieve pressure, and immediately apply defensive heat on the opposition in their 22m zone. By launching a high, contestable kick from the base of a ruck or maul, the kicking team allows their chase line time to advance downfield. The primary objective is not just to gain territory, but to aggressively press the catcher, force a handling error, or execute a dominant tackle that leads to a holding-on penalty or a turnover at the subsequent breakdown.

This play is highly effective when your team is pinned in your own half (between your 22m and the 10m line) and the opposition's backfield defense is disorganised or lacking depth. It shifts the point of pressure from your forwards to their back three, testing their aerial skills and decision-making under severe duress.

2. Setup

Pitch Location: Typically executed between your own 22m and 10m lines, aiming to land the ball between the opposition's 22m line and their 5m line.

Player Roles & Positions:

• Scrum-half (9): The kicker. Must be positioned at the base of the ruck, assessing the wind, the defensive sweepers, and the optimal landing zone.
• Forwards (Chase Line): The Blindside Flanker (6), Openside Flanker (7), and Number 8 (8) are the primary chasers. They must align behind the hindmost foot of the ruck to remain onside.
• Fly-half (10) & Fullback (15): Positioned deeper (10-15m back) as decoy options or to cover any charged-down kicks or immediate counter-attacks.
• Locks (4 & 5): Provide the immediate support and secondary press behind the initial chase line.

3. Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: The Call and Alignment

• The Scrum-half (9) identifies the space in the opposition's backfield and calls the "Box Kick" play.
• The forwards forming the chase line (6, 7, and 8) acknowledge the call and align themselves strictly behind the offside line at the ruck.
• The Fly-half (10) drops into a deeper pocket to hold the opposition's defensive line, feigning a passing option.

Step 2: The Execution (The Kick)

• The Scrum-half rolls the ball back with their foot to create a clean striking angle.
• They take a short, balanced step and strike the ball with a high trajectory (the "hang time" is more important than pure distance).
• The ideal kick hangs in the air for 3.5 to 4.5 seconds and travels approximately 20-25 metres downfield, landing just inside the touchline.

Step 3: The Chase Line

• The moment the ball leaves the Scrum-half's boot, the chase line (6, 7, and 8) sprints forward.
• Left Chaser (6): Sprints down the left channel, keeping the ball on their inside shoulder.
• Right Chaser (7): Sprints down the right channel, keeping the ball on their inside shoulder.
• Middle Chaser (8): Sprints directly toward the landing zone, aiming to contest the ball in the air or make the immediate tackle.

Step 4: The Press and Contact

• As the ball descends, the Middle Chaser (8) either jumps to catch/tap the ball back or prepares to tackle the opposition catcher the millisecond their feet touch the ground.
• The Left (6) and Right (7) Chasers close the "pincer" movement, cutting off any escape routes for the catcher.
• If the catcher secures the ball, the Middle Chaser executes a dominant, wrapping tackle, driving the player backwards.

Step 5: The Turnover (The Jackal)

• Immediately following the tackle, the Left or Right Chaser (whoever arrives first) gets over the ball in a strong, wide stance to contest the breakdown (the "jackal").
• The supporting Locks (4 & 5) arrive to secure the ruck or clear out any arriving opposition players.
• The Scrum-half (9) moves up to the new breakdown, ready to distribute the turnover ball.

4. Key Coaching Points

• Hang Time over Distance: Emphasise to your Scrum-half that a 20m kick with 4 seconds of hang time is infinitely better than a 40m kick with 2 seconds of hang time. The chase line needs time to arrive simultaneously with the ball.
• Stay Onside: The chase line must be disciplined. Creeping offside before the kick is made will result in a penalty, negating the entire purpose of the exit play.
• The Pincer Movement: The outside chasers (6 and 7) must not get sucked in directly under the ball. They must maintain their width until the final 5 metres to prevent the catcher from stepping outside them.
• Dominant First Contact: The initial tackle by the Middle Chaser must be aggressive and legal (below the shoulders). A passive tackle allows the catcher to offload or set a clean ruck.
• Immediate Transition: The mindset must instantly shift from "chase" to "attack" the moment the tackle is made. The first arriving player must aggressively target the ball.

5. Common Mistakes

• Kicking Too Long/Flat: A kick that travels too far or too low isolates the chase line, allowing the opposition fullback time to catch, assess, and launch a counter-attack.
• Fragmented Chase Line: Chasers running at different speeds or in a single file line. The chase must be a unified wall of pressure.
• Over-committing to the Catch: If the Middle Chaser jumps for the ball and misses, they take themselves out of the play. If they cannot cleanly win the ball, they must focus on the man and the tackle.
• Lack of Secondary Support: The initial chase line makes the tackle, but the supporting forwards (4 & 5) are too slow to arrive, resulting in the opposition easily retaining possession.

6. Variations & Progressions

• The Cross-Field Box: Instead of kicking straight down the touchline, the Scrum-half kicks diagonally across the field to target a specific mismatch (e.g., your tall winger against their shorter fullback).
• The Dummy Box: The Scrum-half sets up for the box kick, drawing the defensive sweepers back, but then snipes around the blindside of the ruck or passes flat to a hard-running forward.
• The 10 Box: The Scrum-half passes back to the Fly-half (10), who executes a high up-and-under from a deeper, more central position, allowing the outside backs to form the chase line.

7. Age Adaptations

• Under 10s/12s: Focus purely on the technique of the kick (dropping the ball correctly onto the foot) and the concept of running forward together as a team. Do not emphasise the aggressive "jackal" at the breakdown; focus on making a safe, legal tackle.
• Under 14s/16s: Introduce the specific roles (Left, Right, Middle chasers) and the timing of the run. Begin teaching the "pincer" movement and the importance of hang time.
• Open/Seniors: Full execution with complex variations. High emphasis on the speed of the transition from defense to attack at the resulting breakdown and exploiting the disorganised opposition defense.