Rugby Basics

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	Melksham Cooper Avon Tyres RFC Junior Section




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		The Positions


		The Pitch


			The SCRUM

The eight forwards are the players who form the scrum.

The hooker, two props, two second rows, two flankers and the number eight all bind together in a 3-4-1 formation, ready to lock heads with the opposition.

· The hooker
A key player in the scrum - their job is to hook the ball back towards the waiting scrum-half .

· Two props
They make the hooker's life easier. They bind on tightly on both sides of the hooker, leaving no gaps between them, and try to drive the opposition back.

The prop to the left of the hooker is called the loose-head because they have one arm free when they bind.

The prop to the right is called the tight-head because they slot in between the hooker and the opposition loose-head.

· Two second row forwards
They bind tightly together and pack down behind the front row, putting their heads in the gaps between the hooker and the props.

· Two flankers
Bind on to both the props and second rows on either side of the scrum.

· Number 8
They pack down behind the second row forwards, putting their head between the two second rows.

Scrummaging

The scrum is an important means of restarting play and gaining control of a game. Using correct technique will not only reduce the chance of injuries, but will ensure teams can compete safely in this crucial area of the game. The key points of scrummaging that all coaches, players and referees should know instinctively are:

Scrum – pre-engagement

The referee will call "crouch" and the front rows will crouch.
Hips and shoulders are all square
Bend at the knees and hips
Shoulders above hips at all times
Head up, chin off chest
Back straight – spine in line
The referee will call "touch". Using their outside arm, each prop will touch the point of the opposing prop’s outside shoulder. The props then withdraw their arms.
The referee will then call "pause"”
Eyes focused on the target area
Weight off the heels and on the balls of your feet
If not in the correct position or feel unsafe shout: “NOT READY, REF”.
Never look away from your opponent once in the crouch position
Following a pause, the referee will then call "engage". The front rows may then engage. The "engage" call is not a command but an indication that the front rows may come together when ready

Scrum – engagement

At least two-thirds of scrum training should be away from the scrum machines. One-on-one and 3-on-3 drills are excellent ways to build skills and improve techniques..

Drive from a low position up
Loose-head binds onto the torso the opposing tight-head’s back
Tight-head binds onto the torso of the opposing loose-head’s back
Binding should be firm and held until the scrum is completed

Referees will want to speak to your front row players and halfback before the game to discuss the engagement process, and to ensure all front row forwards are of sufficient experience and strength for the grade of game being playedd


	Tackling

The tackle is where most of the injuries in rugby now occur.

The first priority in tackling is using leg power to drive the shoulder onto the ball carrier, before using the arms to wrap around the opponent.

THE KEY FACTORS IN THE TACKLE

Sight target
Position inside the ball carrier
Run in pre-tackle stance
Chin up
Eyes open
Back straight
Hands above hips
Go forward
Zero in on target
Drive with the legs to make firm contact with the shoulder on the target
Head behind ball carriers body
Lock on with the arms around the ball carrier
Continue power drive
Regain feet
Recover ball

Smother tackles

Smother tackles are not recommended for younger or less experienced players.
Build your players skills progressively – players should not attempt the smother tackle unless they have mastered the basic tackle technique.
The same steps apply as for any tackle (as outlined previously) except that contact is made between the waist and chest.
The arms should be wrapped around the ball carrier’s arms preventing the release of the ball.

Taking the ball into contact

The increases in injuries in the tackle are not just restricted to the tackler. Coaches should ensure that all players are aware of the correct technique for taking the ball into contact.

Key factors.

Focus on contact zone
off chest
Eyes open
Ball in two hands
Low body position
Body before ball
Small steps on approach
Wide ‘power’ step into contact
Plant front foot close to defender’s feet
Contact side on with hard parts of body: e.g. shoulder, hips
Maintain low stable base, chin off chest, eyes open
Transfer ball at appropriate time


		OFFSIDE RULES EXPLAINED

	OFFSIDE IN OPEN PLAY

If a player is in front of a team-mate in possession of the ball, or in front of a team-mate who last played the ball, they will be offside if they:

· Actively try to play the ball

· Do not retreat within 10m of an opponent who is waiting for the ball

· Move towards the opponents or the place where the ball lands without first coming back onside

The referee will award a penalty at the place where the offence took place.

For scrum-halves, the offside line is the line of the ball fed into the scrum.

That means they can't go beyond that line until the ball has been put into the scrum by the opposing number nine.

For all the other players, the offside line is an imaginary line drawn through the 'hindmost' foot of the last player in the scrum.

No player apart from the eight forwards and scrum-halves are allowed within this area.

The opposing scrum-half has to wait until the ball is out of the scrum before making a tackle for the ball.

If they don't, the referee will award a penalty


		OFFSIDE AT A SCRUM


		OFFSIDE AT A RUCK OR MAUL

Most offside decisions in rugby union happen at rucks and mauls, especially when the ball is being recycled a lot.

Like the scrum, an imaginary line is drawn through the hindmost foot of the last player in the ruck or maul.

Players must either join the ruck or maul or retreat behind the offside line.

A player is offside if they:

· Join from their opponent's side

· Join play from in front of the last man

· Do not join either the ruck or maul, but fail to get behind the offside line

· Leave the ruck or maul, but do not get behind the offside line.


	OFFSIDE AT A LINE-OUT

There are two different imaginary offside lines for players involved in the line-out and those who are not.

Effectively they make a box which is 10m wide either side of the line-out.

Only the forwards and the scrum-half are allowed in this area until the ball has been thrown in, touched a player or the ground.

The referee will create a one-metre gap between the two lines of forwards. This is the offside line between the two sets of forwards.

Players must not encroach within this gap until the ball has touched a player or the ground, unless they are jumping for the ball.

No player can leave the line-out until it has finished.


		OFFSIDE AT A KICK

If a player is about to kick a high up-and-under or a grubber kick for a team-mate to run onto, the chasing player must be level or just behind the kicker.

If they are not, the referee will award the opposition a penalty.

If the player is in front of the kicker already, they cannot get involved with open play.

Players often raise their arms when running back to an onside position.

This shows the referee that they have no intention of joining play because they are in an offside position.

Melksham Cooper Avon Tyres RFC Junior Section

Scrummaging

Scrum – engagement

Smother tackles

Taking the ball into contact