Set Piece Skills drill
Three-Man Lift Unit
Build a safe, stable lineout lift as a unit of three.
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Players
- 3 to 9 players
- Intensity
- Medium
- Equipment
- None
- Space
- 10m x 10m
- Positions
- Locks, back row, props, hookers
Setup
Open grass with one jumper and two lifters, front and back. No ball to begin with.
How to run it
- The lifters form a stable wide base with feet shoulder-width, adopt a squat position with a flat back bending at the knees and chest up, grip with palms towards the jumper and fingers open, then support with leg drive and locked arms pushing together.
- The jumper keeps their chest and hands up, bends their knees and explodes upwards from a two-footed take-off, holding a long body shape by squeezing the glutes.
- Coming down, the jumper communicates with the lifters to manage a safe return, landing on two feet with bent knees.
- Do 3 sets of 5 lifts at each of front, middle and back.
Coaching cues
- Wide base, flat back, chest up, palms towards the jumper
- Explode from two feet, hold a long body shape
- Communicate the way down every time
Common mistakes
- Gripping below the thighs from the front or below the shorts from behind, which is an illegal pre-grip
- The jumper piking at the top, which suddenly unloads the front lifter
Session plans that use this drill
Related drills
- Lineout Pod MovementDisguise where the ball is going by making every pod look live.
- Solo Scrum Body PositionBuild the individual scrum body position safely, with nobody opposite you.
- 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.