The shape
Six defenders spread evenly across the width in a flat line, shoulders square to the attack, with the scrum-half in the line opposite the ball and the full-back behind as the sweeper covering the gaps and the break. The whole line moves up together on the first movement of the ball. The nearest defender takes the tag, holds it up high so the referee can see it, and the line drops back to the required distance and resets before the next play.
Roles
- Wings. Hold the edges and never leave the touchline to chase the ball inside.
- Left and right centre. The connectors between the middle and the edge. Stay level with the centre and take the carrier who runs at the gap.
- Centre. Leads the line speed, calls "up" and sets the pace for everyone else.
- Scrum-half. Marks the ball off the mark and takes the tag on the first runner.
- Full-back. The sweeper. Covers any break, tells the line where the gaps are and joins the line only on the attack's last tag.
Strengths
- A flat line going up together leaves a runner nowhere to go.
- Tagging the carrier early uses up their tag count quickly.
- Simple enough for young players to learn in one session.
Weaknesses
- One defender shooting out of the line opens a gap beside them.
- A slow retreat after a tag means the line is not set for the next play.
- Chasing the ball inside leaves a wing unmarked.
When to use it
Every match in tag. With the youngest age groups, teach the line with cones and walk it before jogging it. As players grow, add line speed. If numbers mean you cannot spare a sweeper, bring the full-back into the line and tell the wings to sit slightly deeper. In the wet, press less and hold the line, because the attack will drop more passes.
What to coach in training
- Line walk: six players on a line of cones, a coach moves a ball side to side and the line moves with it, shoulders square; then up and back on a whistle, timing how quickly the line resets after a tag.
- 2v1 and 3v2 tagging in a channel, with defenders learning to take the inside runner and trust the sweeper.
- A full 7v7 game with the coach stopping play whenever a defender leaves the line, to show the gap it made.
Works well against
It copes well with an attack that runs at defenders rather than space, because every carrier is tagged quickly and the tag count runs out. Against a wide attack the wings holding the edge and the full-back sweeping cover the overlap. Against an attack with one strong runner, the line going up together and the inside defender taking the first tag denies the step.
