What are some good practice drills for forward rugby players?

Question

I am a forward on a women's collegiate rugby club and am looking for some drills to use during practice. We normally split into backs and forwards for 30-45 minutes a practice, but other then setting up a few scrums and working on some line-outs-we don't have much to do. So, other then stand around and act like the fat lazy forwards we are-what are some good drills to help us work on our specific skills and to keep up moving.

Answer 1

try running into people real hard

Answer 2

have a look here, great resource for coaching rugby.

http://www.coachingrugby.com/

does exactly what it says on the tin

Answer 3

The scrum and line-out are essential to learn.  Other neccessary work would be rucks and mauls.  Rolling mauls.  Plays off the back of rucks and mauls.

Rucks.

A. Have some forwards act as opponents.  3 would be ideal, but if your team cannot afford that, go with 2.

B. Get one forward to run with the ball into one of the defenders.

C. The person with the ball goes to the ground, as if tackled, and places the ball.

D. The other defender(s) should attempt to get the ball.

E.  Your other forwards should come over and clean out the defender(s).

Mauls.

Do A. to B. above.

C. The person with the ball stays on their fee and presents the ball backwards (towards your team mates).

Do D. above.

E. Your other forwards should come over, protect the ball, and clean out the defender(s).

Rolling Maul.

Similar to Maul above.  Do A. to E. for Mauls.

F. At least 2 forwards need to be available.

G. One of these forwards grabs the ball and moves to the left or right of the main maul.

H. The second forward should bind with the first, to protect the ball, and move with them.  Thereby making a second front for the maul.  This is best done in the direction where the least opponents are.

I. Your other forwards should progressively break from the original maul, and bind onto the newly started maul.

J. When progress seems to be stalling, repeat F. to I., or get the ball to the back line.

The plays of the back of a ruck or maul include just hitting the ball up after receiving it from the halfback.  The purpose of these are either:

- You can gain more advantage, as their is less opposition to the side of the ruck or maul.

- Some backs are in the ruck or maul, and you want them out of there for a back line move.  It is no good having forwards in the back line when attacking.

To practice:

A. Start a small ruck or maul.  Use only one defender for the ruck or maul.  Use a second (or third) defender to protect the side of the ruck or maul you are going to attack to.

B. Have your forwards receiving a pass from the halfback, on the desired side.

C. Send at least 3 forwards, with the first one getting the ball.

D. You can either set up a:

D1. Ruck, with the first forward staying on feet and presenting the ball backwards.

D2. Maul, the first forward goes to ground, the others cleaning out.

D3. Rolling maul.  Similar to maul in D2.  Have some additional forwards in a second wave to roll the maul the left or right.

If you feel adventurous, you may want to practice some back line moves, just in case you are ever caught in the back line.  As mentioned, this can happen when the backs are involved in the ruck or maul.

You would probably be best of keeping it simple.  Being able to pass to the player on the outside, and also to a player on the inside.

If you do not do the asic drills of catching a ball thrown anywhere.  Places include:

- At your feet.

- Over your head.

- At your knees, etc.

These may be good little skills to learn.

Remember, not everybody is a good passer of the ball, and the ball, or body, is not always in a good position to throw the pass.  This means the ball can go anywhere, and be in any position when someone passes the ball.