Pre-season rugby work ons.

Rugby pre-season thoughts.

Multi-phase rugby requires multi-phase fitness.

Don’t overload your pre-season with more theory than practical work. (at least 70% practical, 30% theory). Keep the players thinking and ENJOYING.

Most teams have more appetite for attack than defence.

?If your team turn the ball over, every player in your team must react instantly, because the attacking side may still be in an attacking formation and mentally thinking about attacking principles. There will be many opportunities to exploit their slowness to adjust to defensive principles. Those opportunities can be close to the turn-over or wide out.

Building pressure.

By moving the ball quickly from the turn -over point you will see numerous mismatches as players may be caught out of position. The obvious one is backs against forwards or just players who are slow to get into a defensive position.

Key players.

Wingers and full backs can be key players in reacting to turn-over ball. It doesn’t matter where the turn-over is. They can take off as soon as they suspect a turnover is about to happen. All they need is the confidence to want the ball. Wingers and full backs add instant quickness to any form of attack, close in or wide out.

Communication.

Effective communication is not easy for some players. If they are poor talkers make sure they are good movers! Positive constructive talk works, but I love support talk.

Coaching.

?Don’t let your pre-season programs become boring and repetitive. You can manufacture turn-over situations and keep players thinking and working hard. Multi-phase rugby is the most exciting rugby to play, even more so if it keeps your team going forward, and it’s a good way to get and keep fit.

Mike Penistone.