Skills for everyone
Backs and forwards alike need to develop certain rugby-specific abilities. These
skills are the foundation of all play. The fundamentals of rugby win games- 9
times in 10 the team with better fundamentals will win the game. The two most
important skills in rugby are PASSING and TACKLING.
We will begin with the PASS. You already know that you can't pass forward. Lateral
passing is OK, but a close call. What's left? You guessed it- we pass BACKWARDS.
This explains the diagonal line-up of the backs in the position diagram. Technique
may vary depending on the play, the target, and the defense, but the important
concept here is to put the ball where the receiver can catch it.
The person receiving the ball from the passer should be accelerating onto the
ball- by doing so he makes sure that he advances the ball down the field even
though he catches the pass behind the passer.
 Next
up is the TACKLE. In rugby, you must make an attempt to wrap when
you make a tackle. This means no shoulder charges (like in Football).
All tackles must also occur at or below shoulder level (otherwise
its called a high tackle). The defensive team should come up quickly
and in a flat line as soon as the ball is out and hopefully make
the tackle behind where the ball started.
After a tackle, the ball carrier must release the ball, making it
available for both sides. It is at this point that a RUCK is formed.
If the ball carrier doesn’t release the ball, it’s a
penalty.
A ruck is when at least one player from each team binds over the ball ON THE GROUND.
When there are people bound over the BALL ON THE GROUND (a scrum or ruck) there
are NO HANDS ALLOWED! You may not touch the ball with your hands until it is clearly
in daylight.
A maul is when at least one player from each team binds around a player STANDING
WITH THE BALL in his possession.
Once a ruck or maul forms, players not participating MUST REMAIN BEHIND THE LAST
PERSON'S FOOT (on his team).
The faster the ball is made available for the offense, the more likely they are
to find and exploit gaps in the defense. The defense will want to reform into
a flat defensive line as quickly as possible so that they can pressure the offense
as a unit and force mistakes.
By working on the basics of passing, tackling, rucking, and mauling, we can minimize
the mistakes we make on game day, be able to capitalize on the mistakes our opponents
make, and win.
Rookie Primer
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