Please everyone answer, rugby is my life and im wondering?

Question

im 16 and im a prop and my aspect of the game is very physical,

all summer me and a bunch of lads aged 12 to 18 hav been playing too handed tip rugby for fun, i reckon this will be good for my agility but do you think it cud make me worse at contact wen the season returns?

we cant play contact due to the difference in our sizes

Answer 1

no.  h**l no.  as a prop who's played forever, anything that teaches you evasion is a good thing.  As you'll find out as you get older, you never forget how to hit someone and knowing more than one way to get around somebody is a huge advantage.

Answer 2

No, it will just make you more fit to make the tackle. You'll be able to jump to tackles more and make tackles you might not have made before. But if you feel you won't be able to make contact then get a mate who's about you size and practice on him

Answer 3

Do it!! I'm a hooker and I've been playing tag rugby during the summer with my team, even if it doesn't help you with evasion, it will keep you fit and you certainly won't lose your tackling ability.

Answer 4

It shouldn't be too much of a problem but if you're worried then try playing a slightly more contact oriented variation of touch where you have to actually stop your opponent moving without bringing him to the ground.

Answer 5

Honesty yes i think so, on a very minor level. 2 hand touch is a game for backs, as a forward what usable skill are you practicing durring two hand touch?  passing?  most of the time you take the ball to ground anyway.  basically as a bruiser forward, the only thing you'll take out of two hand touch is endurance, which is a good thing to have...i just don't count this as actual practice for a forward.   make sure to put some extra work in on the tackling dummies pre season, preferably with a coach around to keep telling you how to hit better...you did the right thing keeping with rugby and ball handling, i just happen to think your also right that you've somewhat de-programed yourself for actual contact, so just make sure you put extra work in to de-sissify the contact element in your game

Big D

Answer 6

Only if you let it. One way to reinforce your defense and tackling skills, even while playing touch, is to be tough on yourself. Only call "touch" (assuming you're calling your own) if you KNOW you would have made the tackle. Always go two hands. Always go below the waste. Try to get one hand on either side of the body. Lower your body and bend those knees. Get your head behind. Do EVERYTHING you would do on a normal tackle except actually wrap and bring the other fellow down.

If you do this mentally, as the others have said, you will be a better player because of it. You're building evasion techniques, ball-handling, sense of spacing, etc. And fitness.

Best of luck on your coming season.

Answer 7

Just look at it as ball training.  These days ability to handle the ball is valued.  Nothing worse than having a prop in the line who can't catch and pass and constantly knocks on because he lacks basic ball skills.