Rugby Skills

Rugby is a fast, team sport where players try to carry, pass or kick the ball to score points. There are different types of rugby, including Touch Rugby, League Tag, Rugby Sevens, Rugby Union and Rugby League. Touch Rugby and League Tag are great non-contact versions of rugby that are suitable for primary aged children to play at school. In Touch Rugby, players touch (instead of tackle) their opponents to stop them. League Tag is similar but players wear tags around their waist and defenders attempt to pull the tag off the ball carrier.
Passing
- Two Hands: Hold the ball with both hands and look at your teammate.
- Swing Low: Keep your elbows close and swing your arms like a big circle.
- Flick the Ball: Use your wrists and fingers to give the ball a little flick.
- Stay Low: Bend your knees and get low when passing from the ground.
Drop Punt
- Drop and Kick: Drop the ball from the hands and kick it on the full
- Watch: Keep watching the ball until the kick is finished.
Focus on running with the ball, dodging and catching in the beginner stage.
Running with the Ball
- Spread their fingers across the seam.
- Carry it with both hands, holding it 'like a hamburger'.
Dodging
- Run straight towards the defender.
- Change direction suddenly.
- Move the ball to the outside arm, furthest away from the defender.
- Brace the ball under the arm.
Catching
- Cradle Your Arms: Hold your arms up and out like you're catching the ball in a safe basket.
- Hands Like a Target: Hold both hands up to make a big target for the ball.
- Make a ‘W’: Form a ‘W’ shape with your fingers and thumbs to catch the ball.
- Practice passing and catching on the move with Pass & Move.
- Introduce the Dummy Pass, where players pretend to pass to a teammate then continue running onwards, still with the ball.
Introduce Playing the Ball, which is important to learn for children to progress to playing rugby games.
1. Make sure the dummy-half (person receiving the ball) is in position behind them.
2. Place the ball on the ground and roll it with a foot to the dummy-half.
3. The dummy-half then passes the ball backwards to the first receiver.
Progress to playing games of Touch Rugby or League Tag, using modified rules to suit the age and ability of players.
- No Tackling: Defenders must touch (touch rugby) or steal the tag (league tag) of the ball carrier to stop play.
- Six Touches: The attacking team has six touches (or attempts) to score a try. After six touches, the ball is handed over to the other team.
- Scoring a Try: A try is scored when a player places the ball down over the opponent’s try line.
- Passing: The ball must be passed sideways or backwards. No forward passes allowed.
- Running with the Ball – Players can run with the ball, but once touched, they must pass it to a teammate or play the ball.
- Quick Play the Ball – After being touched, the player must place the ball on the ground and step over it to play again.
Kicking is typically not allowed in Touch Rugby and League Tag, as the focus is on running, tagging and passing. However, a kicking variation might be introduced in more advanced versions of game, for example:
- Kick for Territory – Players can kick the ball to gain ground, but the ball must not be kicked forward by hand (no forward passes).
- Kicking to Recover – After a tag is made, the attacking team can kick the ball to regain possession, but the ball must land on the ground in play.
When practicing kicking skills, more advanced variations can be introduced:
Chip Kick
1. Drop the ball onto the foot in an almost vertical position.
2. Kick the ball with a straight leg into the air so it travels a short way.
Grubber Kick
1. Drop the ball onto the foot in a horizontal position.
2. Kick the ball with the foot close to the ground and with a bent knee.
3. Kick the top part of the ball so it travels down into the ground.
Place Kick
1. Place the ball on the ground in the centre of the halfway line.
2. Kick it at least 10m to the opposing team.
Passing
- Grip & Hands – Hold the ball with both hands, fingers spread wide. Hands should be positioned on either side of the ball, with the thumbs pointing towards each other.
- Body Position – Stand with knees slightly bent and body facing the target. Keep elbows close to the body for a controlled pass.
- Pass Execution – Swing the arms in a smooth arc, releasing the ball with a flick of the wrists and fingers. The ball should be passed sideways or backwards, never forwards.
- Follow Through – After releasing the ball, the hands should continue moving towards the target for accuracy.
Drop Punt
- Ball Drop – Hold the ball in both hands, allowing it to drop straight from your hands to about knee height.
- Foot Contact – Strike the ball with the inside of your foot, aiming for the ball's lower half to generate a controlled and accurate punt.
- Eye on the Ball – Keep your eyes on the ball throughout the drop and kick.
- Follow Through – After striking the ball, follow through with your leg to ensure direction and power. Keep your body balanced to maintain accuracy.
- Passing the ball forward, not using enough force or holding the ball incorrectly.
- Kicking with the wrong part of the foot, dropping the ball off-centre or looking away during the kick (not watching the ball drop onto the foot).