Rugby drills
Rugby breakdown drills
Rugby breakdown drills cover both sides of the ruck: the jackal and the contest for the ball, the legal clean-out, joining through the gate, counter rucking and the first arriver's decision to clear or seal.
- Drills
- 14
- Time each
- 12 to 25 minutes
- Group
- Contact and the breakdown
All 14 breakdown drills
- Jackal RiseGet from flat on the floor into a legal, stable jackal position over the ball, fast.
- Jackknife into Long PlacementConvert a bad contact where you are held into a usable, quick presentation.
- The 360 RollBuy yourself time and space after a loose tackle by rolling with the ball.
- Low to High Clean-Out PatterningGroove the body height and leg drive of a legal clean-out against a bag.
- Tackle and Jackal TransitionExecute the full legal sequence from making the tackle to winning the ball - the highest-value pair rep in rugby.
- Shoulder Battle JackalLearn to survive a clean-out and stay on the ball, and to clear a jackal legally.
- Bounce and CompeteWin the race from the floor to a legal position over the ball.
- First Man at the RuckWin the race to the contact area and clear the threat rather than just arriving.
- Floor Seal Clear PickDrill the three breakdown roles as a reactive sequence rather than a set piece.
- Contact Square Inside ClearFall away from the jackal threat and clear the man who does contest.
- Coming Through the GateBuild the habit of joining a ruck legally when the short route is tempting.
- Counter Ruck UnitTurn the ball over by driving over the ruck as a connected unit.
- Jackal Clear or Seal DecisionTrain the first-arriver read - is there a threat to remove, or clean ball to protect?
- Ruck Clean-Out ChannelProduce clean quick ball repeatedly while maintaining forward momentum.