Rugby is a hard physical sport, and for players to be successful they will need to have a high level of fitness. In this article I will look at some different methods players can use to prepare themselves for a season of rugby. I will focus on fitness work during three different phases of the year: Off Season, Pre Season, and During the Season. Off Season This is the period starting from the end of the previous season. It is important for any ... Read More

Defence is important, in tight games it can be the difference between winning and losing, however, it’s not an aspect of the game which players will enjoy practicing. As a coach you need to ensure you have a strong defensive plan. In this article I will look as some important aspects of coaching defensive and provide you with some resources to get you started. Backline Communication The key to good backline defence is communication. A player needs to cover all of an opponent’s attacking ... Read More

You don’t want your players starting practice or preparing for a game without having warmed up correctly. Science A warm up in rugby is very important as it increases your body and muscle temperature. It also helps to activate muscle groups and stimulate the nervous system to increase joint mobility. This prepares players for the tough physical activity of rugby while lowering the risk of injury. What should players do? The following video is a good example that looks at some of the options for warming ... Read More

This is a great rugby clip with some amazing tries. Really good to watch this type of stuff, gets the blood pumping and the lads motivated. Read More

Like any sport rugby requires a good deal of training to be successful. You can break your training efforts into a few groups: Strength and Power Strength work is obviously very important to a player's conditioning. Weights are an integral part of strength training and there is a good variety of weight training exercises for players in all positions. It is important to focus on all muscle groups as it is very important that you have strong stomach and lower-back muscles, then, for upper-body ... Read More

Another great video from RugbyIQ: Half Backs to Runners Phase Play Drill Aim: Ball retention and timing onto the ball by supporting runners. Description: Six players each holding a contact shield line up across the length off the grid in pairs ready to defend. A designated scrumhalf and flyhalf each have a pod of 3 players standing with them at the start of the drill facing the players defending with contact shields. The scrumhalf starts the drill by passing to the first pod of 3 ... Read More

Another great video from RugbyIQ: Down Up + Hit & Drive Aim: Develop explosive power from the deck and defensive leg drive. Description: One player holding a contact shield across his chest performs four up and downs onto the deck on the four points of an imaginary cross as quickly as possible. As he gets up after the fourth one he braces himself and his partner, who is standing waiting for him hits into him and drives him backwards. Coaching Tips: Emphasize speed onto and off the ... Read More