Set Piece Skills drill
Solo Scrum Body Position
Build the individual scrum body position safely, with nobody opposite you.
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Players
- 1 to 10 players
- Intensity
- Medium
- Equipment
- None
- Positions
- Forwards, props, hookers, locks
Setup
Flat grass. Stages one and two need nothing; stage three needs a tackle shield and someone to hold it.
How to run it
- Stage one is the position on your knees, stage two the same on your feet, stage three engaging a held shield.
- Set your head in a neutral position, shoulder blades back, chest out and ahead of your knees, core tight with your stomach clenched, hips tilted so your backside points out and up, knees slightly bent, feet shoulder-width and weight on the balls of your feet.
- Hold 5 sets of 20 seconds isometric, then do 10 shield engagements.
- Your shoulders must never drop below your hips, and poor head position risks driving your head into an opponent's shoulder and loading your neck.
- Do not progress past this stage without a qualified coach.
Coaching cues
- Head neutral, shoulder blades back, chest ahead of the knees
- Hips tilted, core clenched
- Shoulders never below the hips
Common mistakes
- An arched or collapsed back, which is where scrum back injuries come from
- Tucking the chin to the chest, which puts your neck in the worst possible position for engagement
Related drills
- Brake Foot RehearsalGroove the hooker's brake foot sequence for the scrum engagement.
- Front Row Binding UnitBuild a connected front row that carries its own weight, with no opposition at all.
- Partner Throw to TargetGive a hooker a live receiving target at real lineout heights and distances.
- Post ThrowBuild lineout throwing accuracy against a fixed target you cannot argue with.
- Wall Throw Grip and ReleaseBuild the lineout throw at every realistic distance against a wall target, alone.
- Core-Driven Throw PrimerTeach yourself that lineout throwing length comes from the trunk, not the arms.