Total Rugby

Total Rugby Technical
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English Edition ISSUE 11
The rst column

with Mark Egan
The rollout of the IRBs 30 million strategic investment programme is now in full swing and 2006 is an important year in terms of implementation of high performance projects across seventeen Tier 1 and 2 Unions. In addition to infrastructure programmes at Tier 2 level, such as playing elds and facilities for new academies, several new competitions will be launched. The aim of the strategic investments is to increase the standards of the game worldwide at all levels and we are already looking at the Tier 3 Unions to identify the best candidates that we believe can make the step up to Tier 2 level. Over the last few months I have been on the road together with the IRB Development Manager, Bruce Cook, and our High Performance consultant, Daniel Collins, meeting with many of the Unions targeted by our strategic plan, in order to ne-tune and nalise the projects mentioned above. We will announce shortly the full details of the new IRB competitions in North America, Southern Africa and the Pacic. Well bring you more news on all this, and other aspects of our plans in future editions of Total Rugby Bulletin, which is just another component of the IRB commitment to help Unions improve standards and quality.
A Brave New World

by Greg Thomas
At present in rugby there is a Law moratorium that dictates that there can be no changes to Law until after the next Rugby World Cup. This ensures that players, coaches and referees do not have to undergo any period of education and adjustment that would adversely affect the lead up to the tournament. However, this does not mean as a governing body we are not reviewing the Laws, especially in light of the way the game is evolving at the elite level. The game is quicker, players are stronger and faster, contact is more aggressive and physical and the advancement of skill levels is putting strain on the Laws themselves in terms of the contest for possession. A Laws Project Group has been formed by the IRBs Rugby Committee to undertake a critical
It must be a lineout... Springbok lock forward Victor Matfield makes a point eagerly followed by the IRB team: (from l-r) Paddy OBrien, Bruce Cook, Bill Nolan and Rod Macqueen.
review of the tackle, ruck and maul French player, coach and IRB laws with a view to trialling and Regional Development Manager, evaluating new versions of these laws. Pierre Villepreux, IRB Referee Manager, Paddy OBrien and IRB Led by Council member, Bill Nolan, Development Manager, Bruce Cook. the group includes former World Cup winning Wallaby coach, Rod The fundamental reason for the Macqueen, former Springbok coach, study is that the IRB has proactively Ian MacIntosh, former Scottish recognised that these areas of Law coach, Richie Dixon, former are proving to be the most difcult
continued on page 2
Six Nations 2006: Half-term report

Ireland change style!
So far, (after 9 matches) the 2006 Six Nations statistics suggest that of the six participating teams Irelands overall approach is hugely different from the style employed last year. In 2005, they obtained less possession than any other team; they made fewer passes than any other team; they made fewer rucks and mauls than any other team; they kicked more than any other country and their forwards passed less than any other team. Only 9% of Irish passes were made by the forwards in total 49 for the whole of the championship. This year, although the number of passes made by the forwards has remained comparatively low in fact it has increased slightly the Irish seem to be applying a radically different approach: Ireland are now the highest passing team. (In 2005: 106 passes/ game; in 2006: 166 passes/game)
by Corris Thomas
Ireland change style...
Mark Egan is the IRB Head of Rugby Services Inside:
Ireland won 25% more possession than last year - so that only England has obtained more in the thee games so far. They are now the second highest
rucking team as opposed to the last in 2005. Last year, Ireland were the highest kicking team this year they are the lowest.
continued on page 4
Defence made simple 5-7 The Tackle Maze 8-9 Backline defence 10 The accidental rugby team 11 The basic principles of rugby 12-15 Continuity of possession v Continuity of play 16 The Lineout 18 The man with the whistle 21 Refereeing the lineout 22 One bar training 24
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Potted history of the Tackle Law

1866: Laws of Football at Rugby School described a tackle as maul outside the goal line. It takes place when a player holding the ball is held by one or more players of the opposite side and if he cannot get free of them or give the ball to some other of his side (not in front of him) who can run with it, he cries have it down. 1871: First Laws of Rugby Football (Law 18): In the event of any player holding or running with the ball being tackled and the ball being fairly held he must at once cry down and there put it down. 1905: A player must be considered as tackled if he, on being grasped by an opponent, falls and the ball whilst in his possession touches the ground. When a player is tackled with the ball, it (the ball) can only be brought into play with the foot.
A Brave New World

continued from page 1
The Laws Project Group in Stellenbosch: front (l-r) former Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen, Group Chairman Bill Nolan of Scotland, back (l-r) IRB Referees Manager Paddy OBrien, IRB Development Manager Bruce Cook, former Scotland coach Richie Dixon, former Springbok coach Ian MacIntosh, former International referee Freek Burger, former France coach and IRB Regional Development Manager for Europe Pierre Villepreux.
to interpret in a practical manner. The game is continuing to evolve following a decade of professionalism and the IRB is being honest and transparent in undertaking an evaluation of the Laws and the current position of the game on the world stage, said Bill Nolan. We are looking at the game in a new light with the idea of making it simpler and easier to play and referee, and to ensure rugby is understood and enjoyed by the increasing number of spectators that are being attracted to the game. In the past, we have tinkered with existing Laws but in Stellenbosch we started out with a blank canvas, looked at new Law variations and studied the cause and effect of the changes. As a world governing body we are committed to reducing the number and complexity of the Laws and to reduce the cannots and promote the cans to create a positive philosophy. However, everything that is being done must, and will, relate to the Playing Charter that has been endorsed by our Member Unions, that recognises rugby as being a game for all shapes and sizes, added Nolan. Another signicant goal of the Project Group is, according to Bruce Cook, To remove the subjectivity of the Laws and the decision-making of the referees, so that the players determine the outcome of the game. The Project Group had its rst working session at Stellenbosch University in February and it started
afresh with these technical key components of the game. Utilising the Laws laboratory facilities at Stellenbosch University, the Group formulated a series of experimental Law variations (ELVs) that were trialled during the week-long study. The Group utilised four teams throughout the week in a competition environment in which the ELVs were evaluated. Each game consisted of two 25 minute halves and each team played three matches over the week, with a 1 versus 2, and 3 versus 4 nal on the last day based upon a win/loss record. All matches were videoed and analysed with review sessions taking place every morning before the matches kicked off in the afternoons. These ELVs will undergo further trials over the coming months in the Universitys inter-house competition. One top tier match each week will be videoed and analysed using the IRB statistical software Fair Play. Feedback from players and coaches from other selected matches will also be recorded each week. The Project Group will revisit Stellenbosch at a later stage of the competition. Bruce Cook stated, We are very conscious that there must be a genuine contest for possession. At present our analysis shows that defending teams only have a six percent chance of winning possession at contact. Our week in Stellenbosch showed that the ELVs did allow for this to be increased to around 20 percent but we envisage this would reduce in time as teams become more adept in their attacking tactics, ball retention skills and defensive work.
1912: A tackle is when the holder of the ball is held by one or more players of the opposite side so he cannot at any moment, while he is so held, pass or play it. 1937: Law 16: A tackle occurs when the holder of the ball in the eld of play is held by one or more players of the opposing team so that while he is so held the ball comes in contact with the ground, or there is a moment he cannot pass or play the ball. (a) After a tackle the ball must be brought into play with a foot; (b) When a player is tackled but not brought to the ground he must immediately release the ball so that it falls to the ground between himself and his opponents goal line; (c)The tackled player, if lying on the ground, must immediately release the ball, roll away from it, and get up before playing it with his foot.
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Potted history of the Tackle Law

1958: The requirement to play the ball with the foot after tackle is removed. (a) When a player is tackled but not brought to the ground he must immediately release the ball; (b) The tackled player, if lying on the ground must immediately release the ball, roll away from it and get up before playing it.
At the workshop in Stellenbosch both the tackle area (top) and the lineout (right) were under scrutiny.
The contest for possession is aided by these ground-breaking ELVs. For example, at the tackle/ breakdown the only penalties, not withstanding foul play, will be for offside and not entering through the gate. Players are free to contest the ball whether on their feet, on the ground, and with their feet or hand. The ball-carrying team will be rewarded for staying on their feet and if they go to ground it will no longer be a safe haven. Linear support at depth will become important as will the ability to get the ball away from the contact zone. We found that the amount of penalties awarded were greatly reduced but the fact that players are free to contest for possession in a more open manner is counterbalanced by the fact that if a team takes the ball into contact and the ball is not made available the defending team is awarded a free kick. Rod Macqueen stated, It must be stressed that this project, the resulting recommendation of ELVs, and their continued evaluation, is an ongoing programme, still very much in its embryonic stage. One that will be monitored continuously by the Laws Project Group (LPG) via a clearly dened process of evaluation through demonstrable practical experiments and not hypothetical outcomes. Other Law changes already being trialled around the world include the use of 12 replacements, Under-19 scrum laws at senior level and ingoal touch judges. These will also eventually be included in the process.
1985: A tackle occurs when a player carrying the ball in the eld of play is held by one or more opponents so that while he is so held he is brought to the ground or the ball comes into contact with the ground A tackled player must play the ball immediately or, if unable to play it, must release it immediately and get up or move away from it. He must not play the ball again or interfere with it in any way until he is on his feet. Any other player must: be on his feet before he can play the ball not fall on or over a player lying on the ground with the ball in his possession not fall on or over players lying on the ground with the ball between them or in close proximity. 2006: Law 15: A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to the ground. Naturally, the fate of the ball is paramount in the thinking of the lawmaker. A tackled player must immediately pass the ball or release it. That player must also get up or move away from it at once. Compiled from the works of Sir Percy Royds and Cyril Gadney.
The ultimate aim of these experimental laws is to allow for more creativity by the players and this week there were encouraging signs such as clarity of decision-making, less confusion among players at the breakdown and reduced law subjectivity, added Macqueen.
Greg Thomas is the IRB Head of Communications.
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Ireland change style
effective defending team Tries remain difcult to come by - just as last year. It still requires around 12 minutes possession for Scotland to score a try. Last season Italy conceded more tries than any other team (10 tries in the rst half and 12 in the second): They passed only fractionally more than Ireland They rucked only fractionally more than Ireland who were last They were the least effective team in keeping out the opposition who scored one try for every 413 possession. This year, winning possession has remained a problem. So far, they have obtained almost 60% less possession than England; their rate of passing and rucking is less than any other team and they kick at a greater rate than any other team. There has been a noticeable change however. Despite obtaining relatively little possession, Italy defended effectively until late in the game. Unlike last year, when 10 of the 22 tries scored against them were conceded in the rst half, this year it is just three out of eleven. In 2005 Six Nations, Frances defensive effort was second to none as they were the most effective team in keeping out the opposition, who needed 1430 possession to score a try. 2006 has seen certain changes in the French approach: There has been a modest increase in the number of rucks per game They have however made more open-play kicks than any other team They have increased their rate of passing as well as increasing the number of passes by some 20% They have scored more tries than any other team and have required just over 4 minutes possession to score a try a higher rate than any of the other ve.
Scotlands massive defensive effort has paid dividends.
Last years Six Nations was indeed fascinating, with the winners, Wales, playing the game in a strategically different way. The 2005 tournament analysis showed that: Wales forwards made far more passes than any other country More Welsh forwards than backs scored tries The whole team passed at a higher rate than any other country They scored more tries from inside their own half than England, France and Ireland together Scored more tries from opponents handling errors than England, France and Ireland together. Although the Welsh have maintained the same strategic approach to the game this season, they have been less fortunate as they have lost two out of the rst three matches. Wales forwards have still made more passes than any other team - despite having noticeably less possession than some of the other teams The Welsh half-backs still make proportionately fewer passes than any other teams The Welsh team pass at a higher rate (ie more passes per minute) than the other ve teams. This year though, turning possession
into points proved far more difcult, while defence was more permeable. In 2005, Wales scored a try for every 5 minutes of possession. Now that has nearly doubled a try for every 9 minutes. At the same time, their opponents are now scoring at a higher rate than last year. In 2005 it required almost 12 minutes possession to score a try against Wales; this year it takes only ve minutes. Unlike Ireland, who radically altered their approach, very little seems to have changed with England since last year. In 2005, they had more possession in every game; they made more passes than any other team; they made more rucks and mauls than any other team; they kicked less than any other nation. In 2006, after three matches it looks as if it is business as usual: They have obtained the most possession in each of their three matches - 60% more possession than their opponents They have made more passes per game than four of the remaining ve teams They have had more rucks and mauls than any other team and have kicked at a lower rate than the rest. Scoring against them is also very difcult. In the three games so far,
England have conceded just 2 tries. This means that their opponents have needed 21 minutes possession to score a try. After a dismal 2005 season, Scotland, under new coach Frank Hadden, have surprised the world with their newly-found condence and hardness. Last year they rucked and mauled at a higher rate than any other team; their forwards were more likely to pass the ball than any other team apart from Wales; however, their defence was fairly porous, conceding a try for every 4 30 possession obtained by their opponents; in attack they needed twice as much possession to score a try than the team that won the championship. In the three matches to date their rucking rate has been lower than average; further, their passes have reduced dramatically when compared to the last three matches last year. From an average of 181 per game, the gure so far this year has dropped by almost 40% to 115. Scottish forwards are still more likely to pass the ball than any other team apart from Wales:
So much for this stage of the competition - the above analysis What has changed - and improved has been based on the nine matches played so far. The other six may -signicantly is their defence. Whereas last year, their opponents develop new trends or may even reverse those identied so far. managed to score a try for every 430 of possession, this year it has more than doubled to just over 10 making them the second most Corris Thomas is IRB Game analyst.
Tackle : Le plaquage
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Defence made simple

Rugby is a difcult game to coach, but I think we sometimes make the task even more difcult by complicating what by and large is relatively simple. A team will have possession of the ball roughly 50% of the time while the other 50% it will be in the possession of the opposition, which means that our team will have to play without the ball. This is a fairly simple fact but where we go wrong is by spending the majority of our coaching time working on what to do when we have the ball and not enough on what to do when we dont have the ball. So the game is 50% attack and 50% defence. In the following article we will refer to the 50% of time when our team does not have the ball and will try to make defence as simple a skill as possible to explain. Defence has three main aspects: 1. Technical 2. Tactical 3. Attitude
by Mark Donato
The game is 50% attack and 50% defence
1. Technical
This refers to the technique of making a tackle as an individual and the skills required to deliver it in a match situation. There are several types of tackle: Front on leg tackle Side on tackle Tackle from behind Grade 2 and 3 Hook and Handle Tackle Ball Stripping Tackle Gang Tackle.
Hit with the shoulder positioned towards the ball carrier Tightly and quickly wrap the arms around the ball carriers legs/ body/hips Pull in hard with the hands towards your chest while lifting the ball carriers feet/body/hip and continue driving him to the ground Get quickly to your feet and recover the ball.
Fullbacks, wingers and No9 in cover defence. The coach should then develop specic, game related skill drills for the side on tackle for the above positions.
number and stay xed on that player until he/she moves outside the defended channel. Slide or Drift Defence - once the player marked has passed the ball, the defender shifts/drifts on to the next opposing player. The entire line must also drift. Inside Out Defence - occurs when the line remains tightly xed close to the ruck and the players move up in a line with the outside players slightly behind the players on the inside. Outside in Defence - occurs when a gap is left on the inside of the eld closer to the ruck or maul and the players move up quicker on the outside. The players on the outside are ahead of the players on the inside driving the opposition to play the ball back towards the inside of the eld. Bullet or Rush Defence - the players move as quickly as possible in a line towards their opposite numbers. This is best done when slow ball occurs for the opposition. The players can also move up so quickly that they stand between the opposition players in their line.
2. Tactical
1st Phase defence for the backs from scrums and lineouts Defensive lineouts Defensive scrums Defending opposition right side scrum attack Defending kick restarts Multiple phase defence Defending quick opposition ball Defending slow opposition ball Defending our turnover ball. The above components can be defended against using a number of methods, including: Man on man defence Slide or drift defence Inside out defence Outside in defence Bullet or rush defence. Man on Man Defence - defenders line up directly opposite the opposite
Similarly the remaining tackles also have key principles to follow and the coach should instruct accordingly. The coachs responsibility is to Each one of these tackles has key principles and I will use the Side on establish a specic coaching drill for Tackle as an example of what the key these tackles and make them as game principles are: specic as possible. The coach can then also make them position specic Position your running line inside by watching a video of his team the ball carrier and seeing what positions or players Run in a strong body position utilise what tackles. In the example with a slight ex at the hips above ask yourself what position Head up, back straight makes side on tackles more than Sight the target area between the others. The answer could be: knee and the hip Flankers and No8 from the tail end position from lineouts Drive with legs to make rm contact with the shoulder on the target Flankers and No8 from scrum Position your head behind the ball Inside centres in slide defence carriers body
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Defence made simple
The defence system or systems that Defence System A Strong Markers and Inside Out Defence are used are dependent on the quality of your own team as well as the quality and the playing style of the 15 opposition. No method is better than the other and it is quite frustrating to hear one particular method being 14 SWEEPER & emphasised at the expense of the 9 ORGANISER other. Coaches should coach the method that is best for their team or best suited for a certain type of opposition. The following example of an inside out defence with strong markers is a particular method of organising your defence system from a full lineout. It is not the only system available and I cannot say it is the best system. It is however an effective and simple system to coach particularly if your front ve are t and smart enough to comply. From the diagram we have assumed that the opposing (attacking) team has run the ball up towards the channel that our No10 is in and our No8 and No10 have made the tackle. We have put the following factors in place. LEFT MARKER 1 & 2 RIGHT
11 7 12 13
R
Lineout from this side of the eld
way closer towards the markers allowing the more mobile players to defend further out. The back row try and get Locks No4 & No5 have gone into marker 3 and control the to the far side of the tackle or defensive line movement going forward. It is their responsibility ruck and are the marker 1 and 2 on our left side. It is best for the to control the speed of the locks to work the far side from line and drift or man on man the original set piece as they are defence. expected to be more mobile than At the tackle it is the the front row. responsibility of the original Props No1 and No3 have gone markers (Nos1, 3, 4 & 5) to get to the close side (from the into the marker position at that original set piece) of the tackle next ruck. Their job is to keep or ruck and are the marker 1 folding the same way and allow and 2 on our right side. It is best the rest of the team to defend for the props to work the closer on an inside out principle which means ensuring that the side from the original set piece as they are expected to be less opponents have no space to mobile than our locks. come back on the inside and The No9 works towards 5 must pass the ball out wide to metres behind the ruck or tackle, beat the defence. We will then into a sweeper and organiser role. know that the edge of the ruck and the ball coming back on the Their primary role is to organise inside is completely guarded. the defence and ensure that all players are in their correct This defence is trying to force the opposition to pass the ball positions. If players are caught wider with this type of defensive short for any reason the No9 alignment. Statistics show that then joins the line. with every pass that is made The hooker, No2, stays on the the mistake rate goes up and side that the set piece came from the advantage line is further and covers the attack back down away from the ball allowing the that side in the next phase. If the attack does come back that defending team to take more way they eventually work their space.
In this diagram you will see that the wingers are slightly back and have greater space between themselves and the defender inside them. This allows for the inside players to drift across the attacking line. The wingers require great discipline not to tackle, otherwise the advantage of drift is taken away. The fullback No15 stands more behind the marker 3 on the folding side. (The folding side is when a team continues to hit the ball up without changing direction) and covers the broken tackle across the attacking line and also the last attacking player in the line. The major secret to this defence is discipline and not committing too many defenders unnecessarily to the tackle or ruck situation. It is also important that the space outside of markers 1 and 2 is wide enough not to allow a long pass being made that takes out most of the defenders. No14 stands behind 6, ready to cover across for 15. He only comes back to his normal position if the ball comes back that way.
3. Attitude
Rugby is a go forward game, a contact sport in which the role of the defender is not only to stop the ball carrier but to gain ground by driving him/her backwards or sideways in the tackle. By driving the ball carrier backwards in a good tackle or tackling the attacking team beyond the advantage line, you (the defending team) are actually going forward. The concept We can go forward, without the ball, must be coached into your players from the outset. This requires the right mental attitude, which in the game we call controlled aggression. The defender needs to think that he will not only stop the ball carrier, but basically drive him/her backwards in the tackle. I often think that defence is a submissive word that induces the wrong state of mind in players. I often use what the American Football call offensive defence. It does describe much better what I am trying to coach. As a coach of a senior side, beware of age group rugby where safety is paramount, you must emphasise the offensive aspect of defence.
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Types of tackle
When talking to the individual player you must emphasise: Tackling is a physical contest and in a tackle you must consider yourself an attacking player rather than a defender. Throughout the years of watching and playing Rugby League I came across players with nicknames that said it allthe Axe, Cement, Hit Man. This is the attitude that the coach must foster in the team. Front on Leg Tackle The most common tackle made. It is the rst tackle most players are taught and subsequently master - performed front on by tackler around the ball carriers legs. Side on Tackle Performed on the side of the ball carrier, the tackler is usually a anker attacking from either the scrum or lineout. Tackle from Behind Performed from behind the ball carrier, it is used once the opposition breaks the front on leg tackle. Grade 2 & 3 Hook & Handle Tackle This is a front-on tackle but not made around the legs. The tackler takes on both the ball carrier usually around the upper half of the body and the ball itself. Grade 2 tackle means that the ball carrier is driven backwards preferably behind the advantage line. Grade 3 means the same as Grade 2 plus the tackler must get to their feet quickly and take the ball from the tackled player.
Gang tackle
Ball Stripping Tackle Is made when the tackler wraps both their arms around the ball and strips the ball away from the attacking player. The emphasis is on ripping the ball away. Gang Tackle Is made by two or more players. Its aim is to prevent the ball carrier from passing the ball, go to ground or present the ball favourably to their support players. Normally one player takes the player around the chest and the other around the waist, driving them backwards.
As the technical and tactical skills develop and improve, the condence of the players and of the team in defence grows. This is when the coach becomes a psychologist, as he slowly develops in his players You can do this by creating special the condence to be aggressive in awards for the biggest hit of the day, the tackle, while controlling their the most tackles, the gutsiest hit (little aggression. man on big man) etc. I have always seen rugby defence epitomising Safety is crucial at all levels in the bravery. game and no coach shall allow what is basically a skilled delivery of defensive mechanism to degenerate into mindless violence. The age group progression chart below has been taken from our Unions (Falcons) Progressive Coaching Model. We utilise this model to assist our coaches in understanding what we should be coaching our players at what age levels. Mark Donato, who played both Rugby Union and Rugby League in his native Australia, is currently the defence coach for the South African Currie Cup Falcons. He is also the Manager High Performance & Coaching for the Union. He has previously coached rugby in Australia, USA, Ireland, England and Zimbabwe.
It is a most memorable event in a rugby match when a team stoically and doggedly keeps out the attacking team in the nal stages of a thriller that sits in your memory for years to come.
PROGRESSIVE COACHING MODEL. DEFENCE FUNdamental 7-12 years or First year in rugby Individual Tackle Skills. Front on. Side on. Tackle from behind. Training to Train 13 & 14 years or 2-3 years in rugby Inside Shoulder. Man on Man. Drift. Positional responsibility. Time and Space concept. Training to Compete 15 years, 2nd XV &16Bs or 3 years in rugby Communication & nomination. Organisation from rst phase. Grade 2 tackle. Training to Win 1st XV & 16A Senior
Multiple play defence pattern. Grade 3 tackle. Turnover responsibility. Systems.
...in a tackle you must consider yourself an attacking player rather than a defender.
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The Tackle Maze

Clues to the referees decision making
The tackle incorporates the most basic principle of the game - the contest for possession - in a sport where the prizes have never been greater. An average of 5 to 6 players are now arriving at the tackle zone in an attempt to seek or destroy, in what often appears from the outside to be a wild frenzy of activity. The modern breakdown is a highly competitive, dynamic and physical confrontation that at the top level is contested by the ttest, strongest and most skilful players in the world. This can take place on up to 150 occasions in a single match and the role of the referee in adjudicating the tackle is one of the key features of a successful game. This is amongst the toughest mental challenges a referee faces as a myriad of potential decisions unfold in a number of constantly evolving scenarios. Checklists for the tackle exist for all stakeholders to refer to. They are the cornerstone of the protocols that are used to explain the ordering of the decision-making process and they are a vital tool to approach the maze. I have been asked to identify clues which help the referee to process that information. The vital framework of this process is the principle of the contest for possession and to recognise that every tackle is unique. Some tackle situations will be over almost instantly with the referee a simple observer, whilst, at the other end of the scale, some tackles become unplayable, a situation that can only be declared a draw, with possession going to the side going forward or the attacking team. In between these two there are countless situations which, given the complexity and sheer competitiveness at the breakdown, need to be instantly quantied and decided upon. The challenge to the referee is to be accurate, consistent and play his part in the game. What are the clues that will help the referee reach the correct decision at any given time? The rst clue begins with the manner in which the ball carrier takes the ball into contact. Even before the contact, the referee can begin to gather information as to what will happen next. If the ball carrier is strong and he/she is running straight he/she will probably be able to present the ball to secure continuity of possession and/or ofoad to his/her support player(s). If his/her progress is compromised by the tackle or by poor skill, or body position or even eld position, then the referee will have had the hints that the subsequent phase is going to require his/her full attention. If the referee is to buy decision-making time he needs to have his/her senses alerted at this pre-contact phase while assessing who is the likely winner of the contact situation. The second vital clue is the location of the ball. If the referee can see the ball throughout the action he can then adjust his/her mental and physical positioning and help to ll in the picture. For example, if the ball carrier is successful in contact and is able to recycle the ball, then as soon as the referee sees the ball emerging he/she can lift his/her head, ideally step back and open up his body angle. This will allow him/ her to readily absorb the next set of information as arriving players join the contest and the phase changes from a tackle to a ruck situation. Much has been said about the referees positioning at the tackle, and without doubt accuracy is the key factor. When we talk about referee positioning at the breakdown he/she has to arrive close enough to follow the plot of each tackle. The rst offence needs to be identied. It may not always need to be penalised depending on possible prevention or advantage, but it does need to be recognised and, if need be, penalised. Penalising the second, third or fourth offence is poor refereeing. Distance to the point of breakdown is critical to decision-making here if the referee gets too close he/she will miss the big picture, if he/she is too far away he /she will miss the infringement(s) and credibility is lost. The referees tness allows him to
Referees positioning at the tackle - The referee has to arrive close enough to follow the plot of each tackle. The first offence needs to be identified. Chris White.
arrive with a clear head, hopefully as still as an archers before he shoots. If he starts his run to the breakdown from a poor position he will be compromised when he arrives, even if he is a very fast runner. Similarly if he arrives rst and is unable to decide what he is looking for then little is gained. Seeing the ball at all times, or the ability to mentally imagine where the ball is, allows the referee to orientate himself in the
midst of the contest and arrive at the correct decision. At this point it should be recognised little positive will happen without the tackler releasing the tackled player and then moving out of the way. In all games a return to basics is needed if in any doubt and the shifting of the tackler has to be emphasised if the game is to work.
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Safety at Tackle
by Don Morrison by Chris White
Communication is also vital at the breakdown. Players will often ask the referee before a match to tell them when they can and cannot contest. The best players will already know their rights and obligations at the point of breakdown and will also read the referee quite early on and operate accordingly. The referee can help at the breakdown whenever and wherever that is possible and desirable. This can be before, during and after the tackle, but not at all times. However the referee may well decide that too much talk is counterproductive, becoming a kind of white noise, whilst at the same time condoning offences that will not help the game. coined with the role of the referee at the tackle in mind. Split seconds are paramount and make the difference between success and failure. The decision-making or communication of the referee only has to be half a second out of sync and that accuracy and consistency will suffer. Within this context, demands are changed by different skill, strength and speed levels. For example, in lower grade rugby the tackle is made by one man around the legs and the attacker usually falls forward and is able to place the ball backwards. In professional rugby a ball carrier is often hit by two defenders and the timing and intensity of the tackle is altered considerably. The issue for the referee is to be able to recognise the differences whilst applying the same principles of Law. where the ball is lost in shadow. Poor weather and ground conditions will also compromise the efforts of everybody at the signicant transition phase from the tackle to ruck. Invariably the referee will have to get closer (the referee must be aware of the safety factor when moving too close to players) to the action and probably increase his mental work-rate. Skill level will also affect communication in the sense that the referee will need to communicate more at lower levels to help structure the breakdown and contribute to the game. Similarly the tactics of a close, driving, forward orientated match will demand far greater intensity from the referee in the process of decision-making. Finally we should recognise when the tackle is going well in a match situation and carry a positive mental image to reinforce this goal. Here, there will be a real contest for possession, with excellent skills displayed in attack such as ball retention and ofoading, as well as quick and skilful defence competing for the ball legally on its feet. All of which will provide opportunity for a fast moving and dynamic game. The transition from tackle to ruck phase will provide both quick ball and legally slow ball. Rucks and counterrucks will emerge and space will be created around the eld. Advantage, when it is played well, is often a highlight for a referee; not to mention the turnover ball at the tackle. Top level teams crave for space and time and the turnover ball gives them both against briey disorganised defences as the game comes alive. Turnover ball won legally happens when players comply with the law which enables the referee to solve the maze. RFU referee Chris White is a member of the A IRB International Panel. Tackle is an area of intense physical contact, where the safety of the players is essential. At the risk of stating the obvious, a brief but not comprehensive list of some dangerous acts by the tackler is itemised below: Tackling the ball carrier with no attempt to grasp him/her. The tacklers act of spearing/charging the ball carrier with the shoulder is, technically, not a tackle; but it is unsafe and must be penalised. Tackling the ball carrier above the line of the shoulders. Simply said, the head and neck are fragile parts of the body and any action that delivers a blow (or even a tug, such as a collar tackle) to these parts of the body is dangerous. Lifting the ball carrier off the ground and then slamming him to the ground. That is dangerous play. Tackling a player without the ball, including early or late tackles. Sometimes the dangerous (late) tackle follows an attempt to charge down a kick.
During the contest the referee must be specic and brief in what he asks for, for example, White 3 move or Tackler release. At the same time he must strive mentally to record and memorise what is occurring around, in order to achieve consistency. Once a sanction has been given, the way the The implication is that as referees referee delivers his/her message is vital move up the levels of the game they need exposure to the increase to what happens next in the tackle. in speed and intensity, for example If a player has offended he/she needs in contact sessions. Ironically semito be identied, the offence needs to opposed contact is often quicker than be clearly and quickly outlined and the real thing! Perfect for overload if possible the solution offered. If this training! If the referee is struggling at is achieved, and for plenty of reasons the tackle in a match, he has to buy this is not always possible, the referee himself mental time and space and will make huge strides in controlling try to step back and go for basics. Has the rest of the match, 6 White off the tackler really moved off? Is there your feet at the tackle. Stay on your a clamp going on? Are players are off their feet and if so, why? Is it feet next time please. or Red 10 - in the side of the tackle. Use the poor skill levels, bad conditions, overexuberance (the bane of the trial gate next time, thank you. match) or plain illegality? The tone of delivery is also crucial. And here is an area for which all Shouting, talking to the oor, or the stakeholders in the game have gabbling will not help. Signalling responsibility. If players are poorly clearly rst and then speaking will coached, ignorant of the Law often produce the right timing. requirements or unwilling to comply However there will be occasions then they must accept responsibility in highly charged matches where and bear the consequences. The speaking rst is vital as the players preamble of the Laws states clearly in the immediate vicinity, often that it is not solely the responsibility with their heads down, need to hear the call and get the message of the referee but also those who simultaneously. The degree of coach and play the game. difculty at the tackle will vary with Other factors that affect the a range of factors of which timing is one. The aphorism life is a matter of refereeing of the tackle include perfect timing may well have been poor lighting for evening kick-offs,
But the ball carrier can also be guilty of dangerous play. The ball carrier may try to ward off the tackler by using his free arm for protection. This is ne as long as the arm does not include an elbow, a st or a jab with the base of the palm. Tackles, by their very nature, may result in injury. Sometimes the injury is the result of hard but fair play. Not all safety issues are black and white, which means the referee must exercise judgment and blow the whistle accordingly. Don Morrison is a former USA International referee and an IRB trainer for NAWIRA.
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Backline defence
We can talk about backline defence but I prefer to call it team defence for obvious reasons. In my book every player has a role to play in making it difcult for the opposition to attack, while enhancing the defensive capability of his team. The three factors that make a defensive system effective are: applying pressure (by contesting possession), going forward and support. Pressure: Applying pressure to the opposition to create turnovers is what defence is all about. However, the defensive pressure is determined by what you and your forwards are able to achieve in contesting the set phase play. Going forward: in an organised system cuts down an oppositions time and space. Support: within the system ensures no holes for escape. expecting ball off the top of a lineout and the defending forwards can force an inaccurate feed then the back attack will need timing adjustments. If a team is looking to launch off a lineout maul and you are able to force the ruck and stand forwards off the side of that ruck, then again you force the opposing back attack to rethink options and timing.
by Darryl Suasua
Go Forward
The next point of focus in defence is the ability to go forward in an organised fashion to prevent territory being gained, with the advantage line being the determining factor in how successful a defence has been. It is simply a race to beat the attack over the advantage line. Remember, the objective of the attack is to cross that advantage line by breaching the tackle line. In defence, the rst objective is to cross the advantage line and then stop the attacking backs on the tackle line. In terms of a go forward defensive pattern there are a number of options that can be employed: man on man, man on man drift, one out defence, one out drift, umbrella defence bringing the outsides up rst etc. The key here is that each individual understands their own role within the pattern and they stick to it. A breach of the defensive line will be caused either by a missed tackle or by a defender who is out of the defensive pattern. Regardless of the pattern employed, I believe a key objective of the defender is not to be beaten by an opponent on the outside.
Contest Possession
Firstly and fundamentally it must be accepted by all players that the entire team has a role to play in how effective the backline defence is going to be. At the primary phase - be it scrum, lineout or restart - the forwards will impact on the way the opposition will attack. The quality of the ball the opposition wins is determined by the effectiveness of your forwards as they contest the primary phase. In other words the harder your forwards make it for the opposition to win quality ball and the more they disrupt the primary phase, the better the chances of your defence to cope with the attack. It is quite clear that focussing at scrummage time on the opposition feed can impact on the type of ball the opposing scrum-half is able to deliver to his backs to attack. This is why concentration on the essential tasks during the primary phase is vital. Quite often, the loose forwards focus on what they will do once the opposition has won the ball, rather than concentrate on their contribution to the initial scrum. The defensive hooker needs to focus on scrummaging only, while the attacking hooker needs to give attention to the strike.
...the ability to go forward in an organised fashion... is a determining factor.
opponents from the outside. The faster, yet not so bulky Australians tend to use more of a drift defence where they usher their opponents to the sides of the eld.
emerge from a set piece or phase play. This may make the individual defender rush out of the system causing the defensive alignment to lose shape, which in turn will create a weak point in the defensive line. The next part of support comes at the tackle point. The support tackler in a strong position may assist in driving the attacker back, have a go at stealing the ball or simply make it difcult for the ball carrier to recycle quickly. In terms of training, it is quite useful to devise drills that focus on the role of the support tackler and how they can slow down or steal opposition ball. Darryl Suasua, the former coach of the World Champions New Zealand Black Ferns team is a NZRU Resource coach, Counties- Manukau NPC Skills coach and an IRB Trainer.
Support
Defensive support is very important within any of the systems employed. As I have already mentioned, each player must clearly understand his role within that defensive system. In terms of alignment there are two points that must be covered off. Firstly, it is the players alignment with the defenders from his own teams system and secondly, it is the players alignment in relation to the attacking player you are defending against - your opposite number. A common error is that defenders watch the ball (ball-watching) and move as soon as they see the ball
If we can force the attacking backs to chop back inside then we will be forcing them to step back into defensive screens from supporting forwards. In designing a system Contest at the lineout will also or selecting a system to use, it is impact on a teams attacks. Disrupting important to take into consideration the feed could make the difference the prole of your team. The big between successful defence and hitting South Africans use an failure. If the attacking side are umbrella type defence, hitting
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Womens rugby: The accidental rugby club

About two years ago the daughters of two Letchworth Garden City RFC coaches used to train occasionally with the boys and dreamt of forming a girls team. Today the club has a thriving girls section playing xtures against teams from across Eastern England. How was the girls section formed and how could you make it happen in your part of the world? John Birch, one of the founders, shares his experience: Establishing a foundation The most difcult thing when you want to start a girls rugby team is the actual beginning. Establishing a girls team at Letchworth had always been a kind of ill-dened aim, in a vague sort of way but it was an aim that never really got anywhere. The breakthrough came when we were offered the chance to manage a girls team at the countys Youth Games. This suddenly gave a focus, a target and an ofcial status, links into local schools, and a girls tag rugby squad. County Youth Games are common across England and most include girls tag rugby. In other countries you may need perhaps to start and run your own tournament; maybe as an inter-schools event or some kind of competition involving the local Scouts or Girl Guides troops. But that initial objective and purpose is vital it captures the imagination of schools, parents, girls and your own club. Baiting the trap Starting with a simplied, lowcontact version of the game - tag rugby, touch rugby is essential. Not only will this get players playing virtually straight away, you are also much more likely to get the cooperation of schools, parents, etc. who might be otherwise put off by such a dangerous game. Strange as it seems, the very schools that send their girls abroad on skiing trips to throw themselves down mountainsides with bits of wood tied to their feet get so very concerned about possible injury on a rugby eld! but start sneaking in some contact very early on. There is a line of thought which says, Introduce contact slowly. Dont frighten them away. However, we at Letchworth had a different view and made it clear from day one that tag or touch rugby are means to an end not ends in themselves and got the girls hitting bags from day two. The idea of thumping the teacher (or at least the bosh bag they are holding) appears to have a certain appeal. Cant think why and as for those previously thought as less athletic - give them a taste of scrums, mauls, and rucks and suddenly (perhaps for the rst time in their sporting lives) they are heroes! Within a month theyll want to play nothing but contact. Play games Seems obvious but many new clubs seem strangely reluctant to put their charges onto the eld too early. We found that about 4-5 weeks was all that was needed to make a team competitive and the tight time frame did wonders for sharpening the girls attention. Attracting new players The best recruiting sergeants are the players themselves. As a rule, you can get one new player for every 4-5 existing ones. Encourage the girls to regard their sisters and cousins as potentially useful members of the U14s squad, rather than annoying inconveniences. Point out that it affords them the opportunity to practice their tackling at home Publicity pays Most local newspapers are so desperate for copy that they will print an account of paint drying - if well written. Getting your girls activities covered is normally pretty straightforward, and well worth it. First it obviously attracts new players, but even more importantly it does wonders for the self-belief and condence of the team. The teenage years are the age of questioning and doubt. And if they are doing something unusual and girls playing rugby is unusual they need to know they are doing the right thing. And that is where the odd article here and there scores. A passing mention of their name in an article will get them reaching for their scrap-books; photographs will
Pioneers of womens rugby at Letchworth Garden City RFC the U17s team at the Beckenham Festival (top) in action (above).
mean that all their friends at school will start asking them about the game. The lift you get in the team the day after the newspaper comes out is palpable. And, if yours are not the only girls team in the area, it even adds a little spice to inter-club xtures. And dont forget the electronic media because your girls wont. Your club website should have a section devoted to the girls team with a report on every match, features and photographs. Most certainly some of the girls are keen to have a go.
And nally In all the excitement a coach must also remember that: a) You do have a family who may wish to at least say hello at some point b) The chances that they want to discuss the make-up of Sundays back row are pretty slim c) You are not being paid to do this. You are probably being paid to do something else, so set your priorities accordingly d) Sleep is a good thing. Try to include some in your diary. John Birch coaches at Letchworth Garden City RFC.
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The basic principles of the game

In his article on the basic principles of the game, Jean-Luc Barths, Regional Development Manager for French-speaking Africa, revisits key concepts dating back to other major French theoreticians of the game, particularly Ren Deleplace and Pierre Villepreux: GOING FORWARD to put pressure on the opposition; and creating CONTINUITY of play through effective SUPPORT in all aspects of the game, with or without possession of the ball.
1) Go forward
1) Go forward 2) Support 3) Continuity
1) Go forward
In all team sports in which the objective is to score points by reaching a target of some kind, the most fundamental principle is to move forward to get closer to the target. In the particular case of rugby, the target for the team in possession (the goal-line) is very wide (up to 70m), which directly affects the various ways the game is played. If tomorrow the lawmakers of the game were to decide that tries could only be scored between the posts, the shape of the game would change signicantly.
1.2 Going forward with the ball
The team carrying the ball will try to go forward to score or to exploit gaps in the defence thereby enabling them to go forward again and eventually score. Recognising the specic Laws governing off-side and the forward pass, The Laws allow the defender to make direct contact with the ball carrier, so and the size of the playing surface (up to 70 metres wide and 100 metres players in both teams can go forward, the attacking team in an effort to score long), there are several options for moving the ball forward in the various and the defending team in order to prevent the attacking team from scoring. phases of play. Simply moving forward does not mean that it is always possible to score - or to prevent a score - however, it does enable one team or the other to advance 1.2.1 Types of play beyond the gain line and shift the point of contact with the opposition back There are several ways of moving the ball forward: into the other teams territory (Figure 1). In the end we shall see that the getting the ball out wide Laws of the game and the space available in the eld of play give rise to penetration in numbers several different ways of moving forward. tactical kicking. With the exception of the set phases of play, when the defence mirrors the Figure 1 formation of the attackers, the tactical decision how to move the ball forward should be determined by where the opposition is at any given moment. For example, we should get the ball out wide when the opposition are mostly GAIN grouped in one part of the eld, not simply because we decide ahead of time LINE to go wide with no reference to the disposition of the defenders.
Characteristics of each type of play:

Getting the ball out wide This means that the team in possession moves the ball across the eld, looking for ways to go forward, cross the gain line, and eventually score. The objective will be to: - outank the defence by playing wide (going round the outside of the opposition) - penetrate through a gap in the defence (by moving the ball out, then penetrating through a gap, Figure 2)
TACKLE LINE In Figure 1, team A has carried the ball across the gain line and thereby pushed the tackle line the point at which the defender makes contact with the ball carrier back into the defending teams territory.
1.1 Pressure
Whenever there is opposition, each team sets out to dominate their opponents. This means pressuring the opposition, forcing them to play from a position of weakness, limiting their action in time and in space, and putting the opposition on the defensive. Teams have particular strengths or weaknesses, so it makes sense to pit strengths against weaknesses. Pressure can be applied through good tactical decisions (keeping the ball and the players moving in space) or through superior physical strength (wherever there is physical contact between the teams, both individually and in numbers).
Figure 2
PLAYING WIDE
PENETRATING
MOVING THE BALL WIDE
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by Jean-Luc Barthes
2) Support 3) Continuity
- stretch the defence across the eld to create wider gaps through which to penetrate. This type of play will be used primarily against a defensive alignment concentrated in one part of the eld and not well organised across the eld. Penetrating in numbers This type of play moves the ball straight down the eld, across the gain line, and eventually over the goal-line. The objectives are: - to drive forward through the gaps in the defence - to force scattered defenders to move in to stop the drive so they can then be outanked in the next phase of play. It is most often effective when the defenders are scattered all over the eld, out wide and deep, but with gaps between the defenders. Tactical kicking Kicking moves the ball downeld, across the gain line. The objectives are: - to get the ball into space behind the defensive alignment - to regain possession downeld. It is mainly used to counteract a very strong defensive alignment across the eld but with deep open spaces behind. These three types of play can be used in the three phases of play.
Figure 3
O1
O2
X1 IS THE BALL-CARRIER
X1
X2
X3
X4
The location of the players and the potential overlap on the outside suggest getting the ball out wide
Figure 4
ATTACK DIRECTION
B1
1.2.2 Phases of play

General play, which is the movement of the players and the ball after set play breakdowns or phase play, rucks and mauls, when there is no whistle and play is still going on, the players are moving, but the ball is not set play, lineouts, scrums, kick-offs and restart kicks, when the referee has ordered a stoppage in play, the ball is dead and the players momentarily stop moving.
GAIN LINE
B2
B3
B1 The breakdown occurs across the gain line, so defenders have to retreat, support is going forward.The best option is to release the ball quickly and move it away to the outside in the same direction play is moving. B2 The breakdown occurs on the gain line; the choice of play depends on where there could be an overlap, but the ball should be released quickly. B3 The breakdown is behind the gain line, support players have to retreat whereas defenders can move forward.The ball should be released slowly in order to allow the support players to reorganise, and enable a clearing kick to relieve pressure.
The choice of the type of play will be made:

In general play the players will need to be able to read where the opponents are positioned if they are to make the best tactical decision about where and how to attack (Figure 3). To be able to do this during the game entails focussing practice on the development of tactical awareness (ability to read and understand play, and respond appropriately during the game) as well as individual skills. Of the two, tactical awareness is the more important. At the breakdowns (phase play), the location of the ruck or maul in relation to the gain line will determine which team has the upper hand. This in turn conditions what happens next, although the nal decision should always be made relative to the defensive alignment, as in general play (Figure 4).
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The basic principles of the game

For example, when the breakdown point is short of the gain line: most of the support players are ahead of the ball carrier and they have to run back towards their goal-line in support, whereas the defenders can move forward. In this case, a kick may relieve pressure. If the defending players are moving forward in a random, disorganised way, and there is space near the touch line, playing wide will be a good option for exploiting this open space while maintaining possession of the ball (which is not the case when the ball carrier kicks the ball away). A sound tactical decision will only be made if the players rst reex is to look at the defensive alignment before deciding what to do next. In set play - players align opposite one another before the restart of play. There is no obvious overlap, so the rst movement by the team in possession will be to create an overlap somewhere on the eld.
(continued)
Support needs to be organised around the ball carrier in such a way that the ball carrier always has several options.
2) Support
2.1 Support with the ball
Sometimes the ball carrier will be able to go forward alone, but, most of the time he will have to rely on support to keep the ball moving forward. When its not possible to go on his own, the ball carrier may pass the ball to a team mate in order to keep the movement going. Support needs to be organised around the ball carrier in such a way that the ball carrier always has several options (Figure 6).
So decision about the type of play to be used for starting the move is made before play restarts. This will be a strategic decision rather than a tactical one. As soon as play restarts, the defending players move and we are back in a tactical decision-making process (Figure 5).
Figure 5
ATTACK AND DEFENCE AT SET PLAY
Figure 6
POINT WHERE BALL STARTS ATTACK DIRECTION
BC OS IS DS
1.3 Going forward without the ball

If we accept that the attacking team is the one which is going forward towards the opponents goal-line, then the team without the ball is attacking when they go forward in defence and exert pressure on the team in possession. The objective is to prevent the opposition from scoring by closing the gaps, and regaining possession in order to counter-attack. The team in possession can still pass the ball (moving it out, penetrating in numbers, or kicking), so defenders have to organise themselves to deal with any of these three types of play.
Defensive alignment:
A rst line of defence to counteract the opponents passing game, including a signicant number of players to defend across the eld and target the ball carrier. A second line of defence to cover the short kicks and defend against the players who break the rst line of defence, including a few players in cover defence who, most of the time, will move parallel to the rst line. A third line of defence to cover the long kicks and defend against the players who get through the rst and second lines of defence, including one or two players well behind the two other lines of defence who move, in most cases, parallel to the rst two lines.
As soon as the ball begins to move we should be able to see: BC ball carrier IS (inside support) the last player to pass supports on the inside (deep enough in relation to the BC to be able to burst through on the inside of the BC or to go in on the BC if he is stopped). OS (outside support) goes outside the BC in order to stay wide, draw the defender and stretch the defence (only going in on the ball if there is danger of losing possession). DS (deep support) the second last passing player (or any other player) in support behind the BC. He stays inside the ball carriers inside shoulder so that he has the option of coming through on the inside, going directly in on the ball or going on the outside.
2.2 Support without the ball

Defenders have to organise themselves in three lines if they are to defend against the three types of play. Once a player is no longer needed in one particular line of defence, he goes where he is needed. For example: once the ball is passed across the eld it serves no purpose for the defenders on the inside to remain in the rst line of defence, so they drop back into the second line to scrape and support their team mates still involved in the front line of defence.
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3) Continuity
3.1 Continuity in attack (with the ball)
Even when the ball carrier is going forward with organised support and the players are executing a particular type of play, at some point this type of play may no longer be effective in moving the ball forward. Depending on where the opponents are, the attacking team must then change their means of attack and try to nd another more effective pattern of play. We could call this a transition, designed to keep the ball moving forward. When the transition is made through a pass, we could call it direct, and when the transition occurs by means of a ruck or maul we could call that indirect. The pass is preferable because it doesnt give the defence time to reorganise and get back into position. Indirect transition must be as quick as possible so they should be quick rucks or mauls (where a minimum number of players are involved).
Figure 7
DIRECT INDIRECT
PLAYING WIDE PASS
PLAYING WIDE RUCK OR MAUL
PENETRATING IN NUMBERS
PENETRATING IN NUMBERS
Possession regained in the rst or second lines of defence

Characteristics: - Numerous players around and heavy pressure. - Opponents converge towards where the counter-attack starts which means there are few players left out wide. Principles: - Go forward as quickly as possible by passing or kicking. - Move the ball away from the point of contact in order to try to shift the pressure away from the side of the eld where the ball was coming from. - The player who gets the ball back passes straight to a support player on the outside (OS in Figure 6); if a defender prevents the pass being made to the outside the pass is to a deep support player (DS in Figure 6) who then attacks on the outside. It is essential that the player who regains possession of the ball doesnt run with it but simply acts as a pivot. This requires a quick reaction by all support players in order to: - Create options around the player who regained the ball (players coming from inside) - Create options on the outside of the player who regained the ball (going wide).
3.2 Continuity in defence (without the ball)

Going forward without the ball to prevent a score being made means closing down the open space and regaining possession of the ball. Once possession is regained, continuity of play is maintained by immediately setting up a counter-attack. The type of counter-attack depends on where possession has been regained: - Type I counter attack from the rst line of defence - Type II counter attack from the second line of defence - Type III counter attack from the third line of defence. The specic location of team mates and the opposition players in each of these situations determines which way to counter-attack.
The basic principles

To score 1) Going forward The aim: to put pressure using the three types of play in relation to the defence pattern in the three types of play. * Global move * Fixing phases * Static phases Creating spaces Global move: * Invividual and collective landmarks for players moves in relation to the ball move * Keep going in the same move and with the same ball speed pass before tackle. Fixing phases: * Choose the form (maul, ruck) choose to restart Static phases: * Strategy - choose how to start the move * Choose how to structure the set pieces 2) Support Organising the support in type of play Choices of play in the move * Favouring the direct ones * Indirect ones - favouring quick rucks or mauls Organising the support in lines Moving from a line to another one After turnover - counter attack on * Line 1 * Line 2 * Line 3 To prevent scoring Closing spaces Regain possession Organisation in lines to clash with the three types of play in the three phases of the game.
Possession regained deep in cover defence (the third line of defence)

Characteristics: - Outnumbered - Depth of the counter attack varies. Principles: - Quick assessment of whether it is possible to counter-attack or not - Fix the rst defenders - Decide where to direct the counter-attack in relation to where the opposition is, and how much space there is in which to counterattack.
3) Going on
Jean-Luc Barthes is the IRB Regional Development Manager for French-speaking Africa.
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Continuity : Continuit : Continuidad
Continuity of Possession v Contin

Principles of Rugby
Technical Checklist
The IRB holds a Conference on the Game every four years to monitor whether or not the game being played is in fact The Game we want. This used to be annual, but is now quadrennial following the Mens Rugby World Cup. Twenty-seven months have passed since the 2003 RWC Final, and twenty remain until the crowning of the new champion in Paris, October 2007. So a mid-term review is worthwhile. It is natural to focus on the top levels of rugby because that is the game we all Within these, it provides a read or hear about, or see on television, framework for a technical checklist: and because the RWC is the producer Contest for possession of money that Unions all around the Continuity of play: attack and world rely on. But it is important to defence remember that 99% of rugby is not Multi-faceted game, and international or representative level. Rewards and punishments. The focus of this short article is to You can nd this on the IRB website review developments in the Game as at: http://www.irb.com/about/charter they are affected by the relationship Rugbys Charter, our foundation document, describes the Principles of Rugby as they relate to playing and coaching, and to the creation and application of Laws, in respect of: Conduct Spirit Contest and continuity Sport for all Maintaining the identities Enjoyment and entertainment.
Continuity of possession - minimal contest. One team retains possession unless it loses the ball at the tackle or makes an error.
between continuity of play, continuity of possession, and the contest for possession. The relationship is important because it determines the characteristics of general play between set pieces
and also has implications for safety, involvement by coaches, and for the sponsors and broadcasters who want to be associated with an attractive and engaging product.
CONTINUITY OF PLAY
CONTINUITY OF POSSESSION
CONTEST FOR POSSESSION
Continuity of Play CHARACTERISTICS

CHANGES IN POSSESSION TURNOVERS CONTESTED RUCKS / MAULS LONG DRIVING MAULS CONSERVATIVE PLAY KICKING CREATION AND USE OF LATERAL AND LINEAR SPACE LOW SCORES A GAME FOR ALL PLAYER-DIRECTED PLAY
Continuity of Possession CHARACTERISTICS

NON-CONTESTED PHASE PLAY FLAT LINE DEFENCE ELIMINATION OF LATERAL SPACE BIG HITS KICKS DECIDING GAMES HIGH SCORES LOSS OF GAME IDENTITIES PREDICTABILITY COACH-DIRECTED PLAY
THE GAME WE WANT?
The diagram shows the two extremes: Continuity of Possession where Continuity of Play where there is minimal contest, and one there is maximal contest for the team retains possession unless it ball, where both teams are likely loses the ball at the tackle (one of to have possession of the ball the consequences of this extreme between whistles, and
is big hits), or makes an error such as a knock-on or forward pass. When the contest for possession at maul, tackle or ruck is minimal - so that in the diagram play slides
to the right towards continuity of possession, the defending team will concede the ball at mauls, tackles, or post-tackle rucks. The attacking team is permitted to keep the ball
Continuity : Continuit : Continuidad
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nuity of Play
with minimum challenge as the defending team concentrates more on realignment so that it can make the next tackle. Predictably, the original attacking team will score. The only question is when, and how long will it take? When, however, the contest for possession slides to the left on the diagram, the defence will be very combative at the point of contact and at subsequent rucks and mauls, so that there will be changes in possession and turnovers. Play will be less predictable, with ebbs and ows, upsets and more space for attacking teams to use because the defenders must gather together to challenge for possession. In each situation, the whistle will blow if a team makes a mistake, if a Law is broken, or when points are scored. But what a massive difference there will be to the shape of game!
Coaching News
by Tom Jones
Eddie Jones on IRB duty
Former coach of Australia, Eddie Jones, is undertaking a review of coaching in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga as part of the ongoing IRB strategic development programme that is being managed by the organisations Pacic Islands Advisory Committee (PIAC). Eddie has always been regarded as a forthright and strategic thinker. His review of the existing coaching structures and processes in the Pacic Islands will give the Unions a benchmark of where standards currently sit and provide a blueprint for moving forward, said PIAC Chairman Bob Tuckey. The Pacic Islands are a hotbed of rugby and a renowned nursery for some very talented players. It is great that the IRB is assisting the Unions through such a substantial investment that is strategic in its thinking and designed to put in place a lasting infrastructure, Eddie Jones said.
to scores. It also means that South Africa attacked effectively. Anecdotally, we seem to have emerged from an era in which continuity of possession has dominated the thinking of the technicians. The re-discovery of driving mauls is welcome, so that lateral and linear space is created. Teams which, after causing turnovers, are best able to react to defensive patterns and to make quick and sound decisions, are winning games. Overly planned play is declining, at line defences are being breached and thus re-evaluated, and there is reduced premium on short range pounding close to the breakdown. Evasive, rather than confrontational running is on the increase.
Wales coach resigns

In a surprise move, Wales coach Mike Ruddock resigned after the Six Nations Welsh win against Scotland in Cardiff. Ruddock, who last season led Wales to their rst Grand Slam title after 27 years, left for what he called family reasons, but it soon emerged that his unexpected departure was hastened by a combination of factors in which so-called player power (discontent amongst Welsh players) played a part. Australian Scott Johnson, the Wales skills coach, has taken over in a caretaker role until the end of the Six Nations.
There are real - but not new messages for coaching in all of this. The early days of professional rugby Coaches, who are able to help players saw a game in which the contest for to develop their abilities to look, possession seemed to be less important see, understand, decide and to act than it had been historically. This has effectively; and to combine this with changed. During the 2004 and 2005 surety of possession at the restarts, Tri-Nations tournaments, the team and to contest possession, will be that secured most possession from rst successful. At the post 2007 RWC phase nished third overall. Conference on the Game, there will be an evaluation of where the contest Indeed, in 2004, South Africa won is positioned in relation to continuity the tournament having secured the of play and continuity of possession. least rst-phase possession of the three Perhaps change wont be necessary? teams. This suggests that increasingly there is a contest for possession at the Tom Jones is the IRB Regional Development Manager for NAWIRA breakdown, and that turnovers lead
New Wallaby coach

Former Queensland, Stade Francaise, Swansea and Bath coach, John Connolly, has replaced Eddie Jones as Head Coach of the Wallabies and will lead them to the 2007 R WC in France. Arguably one of the most successful coaches in Queenslands history (Super 10 titles in 1994 and 1995 and Super 12 semi-nals in1996 and 1999) Connolly, who was the Reds coach from 1989 to 2000, launched more than 50 players on the international stage, including the likes of John Eales, Tim Horan, Jason Little and Daniel Herbert, to mention just a few. His huge experience in Australian Rugby is matched by a wealth of exposure to the game in the Northern Hemisphere, where he spent several years coaching in Ireland, France, Wales and England. Its a huge honour to be asked to coach Australia and a challenge that Im excited about and have always been interested in. We need to work hard to improve a number of areas of our game and that challenge starts now, John Connolly said.
Berbizier makes Italy tick

One of the pleasant surprises this winter has been the performance of Italy under new coach Pierre Berbizier. Although they lost their rst three Six Nations matches, the Italians have made huge progress and look set to become a genuine force by the next World Cup. The pack performed admirably and the Italians were unlucky to lose to Ireland in their rst match. One particular episode in the match against England gives a sample of Berbiziers impact on Italys newly found expertise and condence. Following a lineout won by the England middle jumper, the English forwards gathered quickly around the ball carrier to form their juggernaut driving maul. However, at the same time the entire Italian pack took a step back leaving a two foot gap between themselves and the English. Instantaneously the Italian ankers attacked the ball carrier at the tail end of English forward formation - which according to the Law was not a maul, with all English players in front of the ball carrier offside. Italy have yet to qualify to the RWC07, but if they keep improving like this I would not be surprised if they reach the RWC quarter-nals for the rst time ever.
Continuity of play - maximal contest for the ball. Both teams are likely to have possession between whistles.
Chris Thau
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Lineout : La touche
Lineout trends
by Corris Thomas
Since the lifting was introduced, the lineout is better organised, more structured and easier to police than ever before. The ball is thrown in straight almost every time, penalties and free kicks have been reduced to no more than one per game. Of the 700 or so lineouts in the 2005 Six Nations and Tri-Nations, only 17 that is one in every 41 - were lost because of a crooked throw-in. Overall therefore, the constituent elements of the lineout are well rehearsed in order to ensure quality possession is maintained. The average in the two competitions last year was 34 lineouts per game which is the current average - with the team throwing in winning 81% of them. Two-three decades ago, it was not unusual to see over 70 lineouts per game (even over 100), with up to 12 players contesting the ball. Over the last decade there has been a noticeable reduction in the number of lineouts and a far greater guarantee of retaining possession. Not only has the frequency of lineouts declined, but also the number of lineouts contested by the opposition has gone down considerably. From challenging virtually every throw in the 1980s (near 100%) the percentage went down to 58% in 2000. In recent years the decline has however been reversed, with the contested gure stabilised at just over 70%. In one in every nine lineouts one team will steal the opposition throw-in. New Zealand and England were the most successful with one in ve, while Wales and Italy were bottom with one in 15 and 17 respectively. With regard to retaining lineout possession - and lineout possession is won not just by winning the ball but also by the opponents knocking on or conceding a penalty or free kick - the overall success rate is 80% with Ireland top of the table with 85%, followed by England and France with 84%, New Zealand 81%, Scotland 80%, Italy 77%, South Africa 75%, and with Australia and Wales bottom with 73% and 72% respectively. Corris Thomas is IRB Game analyst.
Lineout: Positional Require

Selection is largely based on the capacity of a player to deliver during a match the optimal level of positional requirements, as well as an array of other abilities such as attitude, comprehension, discipline etc. Monitoring the delivery of positional requirements by players during a game is an important factor in successful selection. A selector will follow a player during a game constantly referring to his positional requirements. This task is different from coaching. The selector is watching individual players, not the match as a whole. This takes considerable discipline. Experience has shown that individual players should be watched constantly for a minimum of 10 minutes. The selector must be able to observe play away from the ball as well as play when the player is directly involved in using, retaining or regaining the ball. In addition the selector must be able to observe the players complementary, support roles both in attack and defence. This is more important for some positions than others. Positional requirements are therefore vital for successful selection. Listed below are the positional requirements for each positioning in the pack at the lineout. As explained earlier the positional requirements listed are not for a specic game plan, they are a checklist for selection. These, in turn, can be modied to suit a specic game plan. So the roles are both position specic/specialised and those of the multi-skilled player/polyvalence.
Hooker
Know the throw-in requirements of the lineout forwards and perfect them. Stand in a position that enables maximum protection for the scrumhalf from deected ball. Mark the opposing hooker closely. Take up a position that enables an unimpeded line to the opposing teams deected ball. Exploit the general play situation that often occurs when the ball is deected. This occurs in the time between the conclusion of the lineout and the formation of a phase play. Hookers may support catchers on the opposing teams throw. Because hookers are not bound into the lineout they can enter general play very quickly.
Tight-Head Prop
(No 3 Position in the Lineout)
Take up the same stance in the lineout no matter where the ball is thrown to. Stand square-on to the opposition - with the outside leg slightly ahead of the inside leg to the opposition. This minimises body movement when supporting the catchers. React to the jumpers movements within the lineout. To react with the minimum of delay, the player may have to lightly hold onto the catcher. Move in unison with the catcher as he/she moves to the centre to jump and catch the ball, so that the support play prevents opponents making contact. Assist the catcher to jump higher and to stabilise the jumper at maximum height until the ball is caught. Once the ball has been caught make sure the catcher lands in a stable position, back-on to opponents. Hold the line to provide a protective screen when the ball is not thrown to No. 2 and No. 4 jumpers. Alter positioning to ensure protected delivery of the ball (back-on) or to contribute to the drive (front-on). If a maul is formed, to use the players propping skills to penetrate the opposition by making their efforts less effective eg boring in, wedging.
Lineout : La touche
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ements
by Lee Smith
Loose-Head Prop (No 1 Position in the Lineout) In addition to the positional requirements listed above (tight/head) he/she must do the following; Assume the same stance for all lineouts. This will be difcult if the player is used as a catcher as well as a supporting player. Develop catching options: a) To catch a fast, at throw b) To catch a back lob which the player takes moving backwards after feinting to go forward c) To deect the ball directly from the top of the jump to the scrum-half. Become the receiver of the ball from a deected catch at the end of the lineout. If there is a gap in their lineout, penetrate and link with team mates. Aim to go past the advantage line before looking for other options. Be alert to catch bobbled or deliberately deected ball so that it is recovered cleanly using two hands. Attempt to recover this ball without leaving the line of touch to prevent opponents breaking through the formation. Locks
(No 2 and No 4 catchers) Base the catching options on the principle of either creating space for others by moving away from it or waiting for others to move and move into the space created to catch the ball. Initiate both the throw and support by stepping to the line of touch and leaping vertically to catch the ball. Drive up with the arms to gain maximum height. Watch the ball as you catch or deect it. Once the ball has been caught, move it immediately away from the opposing players, turning the body to follow the ball. Land in a stable body position back-on to opponents. Hold the ball low. It is the target for driving support players. If it is held high they will be too high in their body position to drive effectively. Deliver the ball based on the teams proposed pattern of attack.
Blind-Side Flanker (No 5 position) Support the No 4 catcher to jump and catch the ball using the same technique as the props. When the ball is thrown elsewhere, hold the line to prevent opposing players from breaking through by moving forward to close the gap. Initiate the drive when the ball is thrown to No 2. In defence, move from the lineout towards the ball and anticipate the ball carrier cutting back so that the player is in a position to make a tackle, ie cover the inside ank of the position of the ball. Open-Side Flanker
(No 7 position)
Hookers should know the throw-in requirements of the lineout forwards and perfect them.
Position close to the opposition on your ball to control the movements of the opposing No 7. Position away from the opposing No 7 on their ball so that the player can run directly towards the opposition backs. Face the opposition. Be further ineld than the opposing No 7. Only contest lineout possession from ineld of the opposition No 7. In defence, move from lineout towards the ball and anticipate the ball carrier cutting back to make a tackle. Depending on the defence pattern, tackle the rst receiver, usually number 10.
(No 6 position) Be a catching option at number 6 based on the same points as the other catchers. Be a support if required in the same way as the other support players the lifters. Initiate play around the end of the lineout. Drive forward if possession is gained, especially if in lifting their catchers have left a gap at the back of their lineout. Hold the line when the ball is taken elsewhere in the lineout. Be alert to catch an overthrown ball. Selectors must be able to justify their decision to the players in face-to-face conversations. This information allows players to identify their weaknesses which determine their non-selection or replacement and to do something about it. Lee Smith is the IRB Development Manager for Oceania.
Land in a stable body position back-on to opponents and hold the ball low.
No. 8
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Lineout : La touche
Lineout
Developing Decision-Making
With much emphasis on the development of reactive backline attacks, where decisions are made on an ongoing basis and players encouraged to play what they see in front of them, it is often easy to overlook the potential for similar work in a set-piece such as the lineout. In fact, the lineout offers much of the same potential as a backline attack in that the issues governing the success or failure of the attacking team relate to their control and manipulation of the time and space offered by the defence. With twice as many lineouts as scrums and the Laws of the Game currently offering the opportunity for greater variety and movement in the lineout, there is increasing emphasis on this aspect of the game determining the nal outcome of the match. The issues to be considered are: 1. Establishing sound individual techniques for throwers, jumpers and support players. 2. Identication of the opposition personnel (strengths and weaknesses). 3. Recognition of the opposition formation and/or movement. 4. Positioning and/or movement of a free player in the lineout attack. 5. Getting the ball to the free player. 6. Support of the player in possession to continue the attack. In determining the successful outcome of any lineout and before any of the decision-making aspects are usefully implemented, it is essential that the various positional skills of the Thrower, Jumper and Supports are well established. Accepting this, I would like to move on to consider the various options and opportunities available once these position-specic skills are developed. I will focus on a three-man walk-in lineout as the basis for all discussions relating to lineout variations and movement, ie 3 man Lineout with Walk-in. Even with this reduced group there are numerous attack variations available, depending on the role of the walk-in player W, eg:
2 A B C
variation of throw etc, however all options should reect the principles of Simplicity and Efciency. There is little point in elaborate movement within a lineout if the player receiving the ball has not created or maintained space away from the defensive pressure. The initial practice of these options may involve no opposition. However if the players decision-making abilities are to be developed, opposition must be introduced at an early stage with various progressions available, ie:
D 2 D A D B D C
Options: W as a Decoy Attack options determined by combination of A, B and C. W as a Support Attack options determined by combination of A, B, C and W. W as a Jumper Attack options determined by combination of A, B, C and W. W as an overthrow option A, B and C act as decoys. Once the players understand the various options available, they may need to practice the specic aspects of each, ie dummy jump, foot movement,
Lineout : La touche
TASK: Identify lineout attacking options and outline action to be taken SITUATION 1
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Paddy OBrien
The man with the whistle
by Willie Anderson
Progressions: 1. Practice without opposition. 2. Practice reacting to stationary defenders. 3. Practice reacting to active defenders. Using the three-man walk-in as a foundation, the lineout may be built up with increasing numbers in attack, as the same principles and opportunities apply at each stage, up to and including a full seen-man lineout with walk-in, eg:
9 1 3 4 6 8 7
Back-chatting OFF!
The word I would use to describe the work we have undertaken with the international referees is proactive, which is the main approach of the IRB in the areas of game management and discipline. Since last November, the IRB referees have had two meetings with the coaches of the teams involved in the Autumn Series and Six Nations. The tackle and the scrum were discussed at the Lensbury meeting in November, while in February the feed in the scrum and discipline were the main areas under scrutiny. At Lensbury Eddie Jones, the former Wallaby coach, made a presentation emphasising the need for refereeing zero tolerance at the entry of the tackle zone, hence ensuring quick ball. This eventually became an area of focus for the referees of the autumn test matches and was refereed accordingly. NZRU scrummaging expert, Mike Cron, lectured on the intricacies of scrummaging. He emphasised to the assembled referees the critical technical and legal points at the scrum and presented a refereeing checklist when refereeing this phase. At the February meeting which was held three days before the start of the Six Nations, the referees and the coaches were asked to brush up scrum feeds and defensive offsides, while applying a zero tolerance approach to players questioning calls. The scrum feed is a hardy annual and as Referees Manager I have had more letters of complaint in this respect than any other aspect of the game. The referees were asked to manage this phase of the game more vigilantly. Perhaps the biggest concern was the amount of back-chatting from players as research showed that refereeing decisions were increasingly questioned by street-wise players and captains. For whatever reason there is a belief among the rugby fraternity that it is OK for captains and players to discuss decisions with the referee. The practice stems from the old days when captains were allowed to comment on referees decisions mostly as a courtesy. This practice seems to have taken on epidemic proportions lately as the players have been putting pressure on match ofcials to give calls in their favour. The Law is quite clear in this respect, stating that that the referee is the sole judge and the referees have been advised to referee accordingly. With the coaching staff of the leading international teams present at the meeting there could be no excuse for not complying, as the referees have been instructed to leave coaches in no doubt that this practice will not be tolerated and that unless it stops, severe disciplinary action will be taken. Paddy OBrien is the IRB Referees Manager.
1. Clear advantage already no walk in needed Action: 2. Walk-in as Decoy Action: 3. Walk-in as Support Action: 4. Walk-in as Jumper
2 9 1 3 4 6 8 7
Action:
SITUATION 2
5
Every lineout should prompt the players involved to ask one basic question: What is the best option?, and they should consider the following based on their observation of the opposition defence: 1. Do we need a walk-in or is their already a clear advantage? 2. Do we need a walk-in to act as a decoy? 3. Do we need a walk-in to act as a support option? 4. Do we need a walk-in to act as a jumping option? These considerations may well need to be made under pressurised match conditions and it is only with opposed active practice that attacking lineout options may be fully developed. It should also be recognised that with more numbers in attack, the increased defensive numbers may well lead to more variation in defence which will need to be deciphered and outmanoeuvred. As an exercise to determine the various attacking options available at different situations, I suggest coaches and players work at the following type of task, where the initial set-up of the lineout may indicate potential areas where the defence may be exploited. Naturally, as the defence reacts to the attacking strategy, the attacking players will ideally be able to counter with other options, rather than stubbornly committing to a xed call. Again, this emphasises the need for regular opposed practices and an understanding by the players of how their functional role may change in order to problem-solve. The coach may develop this understanding through the use of questioning and player feedback to conrm their appreciation of the variables prior to execution of the attack.
1. Clear advantage already no walk in needed Action: 2. Walk-in as Decoy Action: 3. Walk-in as Support. Action: 4. Walk-in as Jumper. Action:
SITUATION 3
1. Clear advantage already no walk in needed Action: 2. Walk-in as Decoy Action: 3. Walk-in as Support Action: 4. Walk-in as Jumper Action:
Former Ireland lock forward Willie Anderson was Irelands assistant coach.
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Lineout : La touche
News from the Regions

High Performance Unit for Asia
As part of the IRB strategic initiative to raise standards throughout the game, an Asian Rugby Institute will be set up to help the development of the game in Asia, IRB RDM for Asia, Jarrad Gallagher, reports. The Institute, which will be located in Japan, will be a joint venture between the Japanese RFU, the IRB and the Asian Rugby Football Union and will attract the resources and support of elite Japanese sports programmes already operational in various elds. The Institute will become a Centre of Excellence for Asian Rugby on all aspects of coaching, refereeing, sports science and medicine and game analysis. ARI personnel will hold clinics for players, coaches, referees and administrators in all ARFU Unions, at both grassroots and elite levels. A live-in Scholarship Scheme for promising players, coaches and referees from ARFU Unions will be set in place, whereby selected personnel from the ARFU Unions will be twinned with Japanbased teams and development programmes to further their knowledge and understanding. Also, best practice, education, instruction and training will be provided for: Match Referee Assessors Finance, commercial and sponsorship specialists Marketing, promotion and public relations specialists Game Administrators Events and Tournament Organisers and Managers Team Managers Disciplinary and Judicial Ofcers.
players, particularly those to be selected in each of the Unions high performance academies which are in the process of being set up. Those players to be offered places in the academies will be selected during the rst part of 2006, he added. In total the IRBs investment in new initiatives in the Samoan, Fijian and Tongan Rugby Unions will amount to about 7 million over the next three years. This investment is in addition to the funds currently provided to the Unions by way of development grants and other assistance. Its early days yet but I think the progress that has been made over the past ve months is extremely encouraging. The boards and management of the Unions need to be congratulated on the exceptional effort they have put in over this period, which has in turn underwritten the progress achieved to date, Mr Tuckey said.
Refereeing the Lineout

by Marius Jonker
Due to the complexity of this set piece and the many activities, legal and illegal, that take place virtually simultaneously during a lineout, the attention of the referee is stretched to a maximum. Mind you, the lineout has evolved considerably from the days when it used to be called the illegitimate child of rugby and it is now more structured, disciplined and therefore easier to referee. It has been argued that the lineout offers the best attacking options to the team in possession due to the 20-metre space between the backlines. Also, this is an area where the attacking teams can develop near unstoppable rolling mauls and very effective mini-mauls. In a word, the lineout is a very strong platform for the attacking side. On the other hand, the defending side will try to counter the various options available to the attacking team by disrupting the attack in all sorts of ways, some legal, some illegal. This is why, when managing the lineout, the referee needs to be technically sound and he/she must understand what both the attacking and defending teams are trying to achieve. In an attempt to avoid becoming predictable, teams tend to make use of an increasingly large number of variations in the lineout. The latest trend involves the constant switching of players before the ball is thrown in. This may cause problems such as the closing of the gap between the two lines (penalised with a free kick) or other matters. It is important to remember that the catcher (receiver) and his team mates at a lineout may not change positions before the ball is thrown in (penalised with a free kick). The receiver (catcher) of the defending team may only join the lineout if the attacking receiver decides to join. Options at lineout will be determined by the composition of the teams. If a lineout jumper of the calibre of a Martin Johnson or Victor Mateld is playing for one of the teams, the other has the option of short lineouts, while the opposition would want to have more full lineouts in order to increase the options for its jumpers. If a team has a very strong pack their aim would be to set up lots of driving mauls, whereas if the pack were small and light, short lineouts would be the preferred option in order to spread the opposition forwards across the eld. Counter tactics used at lineout have become a major issue to manage for the referee, not to mention illegal tactics, which are certainly irritating
NAWIRA coaches in England

An exchange of Caribbean coaches at Loughborough University is now underway, NAWIRA RDM Tom Jones reports. In the rst year of the initiative, two coaches from Jamaica Victor Hyde (National Womens Coach and IRB Trainer) and Kevin Gordon (National Mens Coach) and two from Guyana Sherlock Solomon (National Mens Coach, IRB Trainer and GRFU Development Ofcer) and Larry Adonis (Junior Mens Coach and GRFU Development Ofcer) will spend four weeks attending courses, watching rst class clubs in training, while working alongside experienced coaches. In return, two Loughborough students will spend six weeks in each of these countries in September/October. This IRB-facilitated exchange is being paid for by a generous benefactor and an unnamed charity.
Pacic Islands appointments

The IRBs Tier 2 Pacic Islands strategic investment initiatives are picking up momentum following the formation by the IRB Executive Committee of the Pacic Islands Advisory Committee (PIAC) last year, Greg Thomas writes. PIAC will oversee the establishment and implementation of the development programmes in the region. The appointment of William Glenwright, formerly of the Australian Sports Commission, as IRB General Manager Pacic Islands, was the rst step. His appointment was followed by the selection of Peter Murphy, Peter Horne and Andrew Stainlay as High Performance Managers for the Rugby Unions of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga respectively. This new investment encompasses the development of high performance infrastructure, management and academies within each Union, as well as the establishment of new competitions at provincial and international level, said PIAC Chairman, Bob Tuckey. The newly appointed High Performance Managers will work closely with the national coaches in developing high performance programmes and in the delivery of those programmes to primarily home-based
Europe plan for the future

Europes developing nations are embarking on a landmark initiative designed to improve playing and coaching standards, Seb Lauzier of IRB writes. In January this year the two IRB Regional Development Managers for FIRA-AER, Michel Arpaillange and Pierre Villepreux, - having audited the majority of Europes 40-odd federations - organised the inaugural workshop for National Development Directors in Toulouse, France. Candidates from Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Luxembourg, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro and Sweden were hosted at the facilities of the Heineken Cup holders, Stade Toulousain, for a week of intense work on high performance rugby. We aim to install a National Development Manager in each European federation. The idea is to have an individual with the right competencies and qualications to manage a development plan adapted to the specic needs of their country, both cultural and structural. The target is to train 36 men within the next three years, Michell Arpaillange said. The second week of training will concentrate on the organisation and management of tournaments and competitive structures, while the third and nal week will focus on the particular demands of teaching children and Age Grade rugby.
Lineout : La touche
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Safety at Lineout
by Don Morrison
Lineouts are relatively straightforward the ball is thrown in, a jumper grabs it and gets it out, and off we go. What could be dangerous about lineout play? Well, even lineouts can be beset by dangerous play, which can be carried out not only by opponents but also by team mates. Lets begin with the support provided to the jumper. The jumper must not be supported below the shorts from behind or below the thighs from the front. When you think about this it makes sense. If the jumper is supported lower than the referenced limit there is a great risk that the jumper will be unstable. He (or she) could topple over as if someone had tapped his feet while he was in the air, which is also an illegal act. So we have a couple of things that are unsafe because the jumper is at risk while he/she is in the air one is caused by team mates (illegal support) and the other by opponents (tapping the feet). What goes up must come down, and this is true for the jumper as well. His team mates must be careful to lower him back to the ground, not drop him. It is quite clear that unsafe play in case of the jumper can be caused by team mates. Perhaps the most frequent type of unsafe play involves what the Laws describe as charging an opponent, or what we used to call barging. The act of bumping a player is not necessarily dangerous, but when that player is in the air the bump could have serious consequences. Now comes the rub for the referee. Not all acts of barging are the fault of the opposition. For example, suppose the ball is not thrown in straight, favouring the jumpers side of the line of touch. The opponent of the jumper may be going for the ball and as a consequence he may be perceived to have barged the jumper. However, the problem was precipitated by the illegal throw-in. Observing unsafe play at lineouts is a matter of common sense interspersed with an understanding of the dynamics of the situation. At all times it is important to remember that safety is the games number one priority. Don Morrison, a former US International referee is an IRB Regional Trainer for NAWIRA.
Lineout - the illegitimate child of rugby Dr Danie Craven.
infringing (crossing the line on their own ball to block defenders). Get both receivers (catchers) to stand a clear and visible distance away from each other; then manage them. Manage the players at the tail end of the line to prevent them from going over the 15-metre line before the lineout is over. Be alert looking for obstruction, when a maul is formed. At a recent Super 14 conference in Sydney it was Be clear as to why or what for when sending noted that players are quite happy to give away players off. free kicks at lineouts as their defensive lines would Apply zero tolerance as far as dangerous play is concerned - protecting players remains a top be already in place, while defending 10 metres is better than defending 20 metres. With the above priority of the referee. Anything that may be said, how can the referee contribute technically and considered dangerous play, like interfering with otherwise to make the lineout a successful phase in players in the air and/or taking out or pulling down must be dealt with immediately. the modern game? Here are a few suggestions: Get to know your teams before going out onto The above are some guidelines to enable a young the eld. referee to manage the lineout. They are not the Study them and consider what they will attempt do-all, end-all of lineout refereeing. They are just to do at the lineout both in attack and defence. guidelines to enable a referee to improve and Get to the lineout quickly, set the gap and carry provide a better service to the players he handles. on managing it. No referee is perfect, but hopefully the above Start at the front of the line and when talking views would help many of us to get better. look players in the eye. It is better than talking to their backs! * A pod is a group of players (usually 3) in the lineout Move to the tail of the lineout after a while South African referee Marius Jonker is a member of the - this position enables the referee to see players IRB C Panel. players and coaches alike and are not good for the game. The referees need to be alert to a number of counter-tactics, of which the majority are illegal: Players wandering across the throw-in line Interference with jumpers in the air Hooker joining the lineout to form the extra pod* Player going beyond the 15-metre line before the lineout is over Mauls being collapsed.
Total Rugby IRB Technical Bulletin 11

IRB Head of Communications Greg Thomas. greg.thomas@irb.com Editor Chris Thau. chris.thau@irb.com Design Ruth Child. ruth@cheekymonkeycreative.co.uk Art Director Bleddyn Edwards. bleddyn@cheekymonkeycreative.co.uk Photography: Getty Images, Andrew Orchard, C.Henry, Andrew Louwrens Contributors: Greg Thomas Mark Donato Chris White Don Morrison Darryl Suasua John Birch Jean-Luc Barthes Tom Jones Jarrad Gallagher Lee Smith Corris Thomas Willie Anderson Marius Jonker Paddy OBrien John Gbenda-Charles
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the contributors in the Bulletin are not necessarily those of the IRB.
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Physical preparation for 7s

The one bar session
Another IRB Sevens Series is on and the early pace has been set by England, Fiji, Samoa and South Africa. Each new season brings a new approach by the leading sides, which is then copied and implemented by most teams as the tournaments roll on. A combination of pace and power was a major aspect of the 2004/2005 7s Series. The capacity to maintain a balance of power and pace for the entire 14 minutes requires excellent anaerobic and power endurance. Training needs to be specic and transferable to the game of Sevens. With short periods of time between tournaments to hone physical preparation, it is essential that all tness work is kept short, sharp and specic with the ultimate goal of all components trained being able to be used on the eld. The One Bar Power Session is a programme I have found successful with the Samoan Sevens team and is designed for use on the pitch, in the gym, at the track and is 100% transferable to the game of Sevens. The session is based around the use of one weight bar to train strength, speed and power endurance. Whats more, its time-efcient, does not require lots of space or specialised equipment and will lift the on-eld performance at elite level. The key objective of the programme is to keep the training short, explosive and with minimum recovery between sets and reps. The dynamic movements that occur in a game of rugby need to be simulated in training and also with resistance exercises. All training completed should be
by John Gbenda-Charles
transferable to the position and style you and your team play. If you take time to think about how your individual training sessions can be modied to accommodate your position, the resulting on-eld performance will dramatically increase, as will your enjoyment of the game. This programme is designed as a total body workout with optimum results achieved by completing it at least twice a week. Ensure you maintain uid intake throughout training sessions and rehydrate after training with a litre of water/ electrolyte drink for every kilogram lost.
John Gbenda-Charles is the Fitness and Conditioning Coach of HKRFU
Week 1 2-3 sessions per week

The aim is to master the movements and technical requirements of the session with a relatively light weight, which ensures that technique is not compromised and the explosive movements can be executed accurately.
Load: Exercises: Reps: 40% body weight (100kg = 40kg bar) High Pulls, Hang Cleans, Push Press, Bent Over Row, Snatch, Front Squat. 10 Sets: 3 Intensity: High

This brings the lower limbs into action more through the use of squats and lunges. It is vital that you keep your core (stomach) switched on (tight) at all times to protect your back and ensure that your knees never go past the point of your toes in both the lunges and squats.
Load: Exercises: Reps: 50% body weight (100kg = 50kg bar) Single Arm Dead Lift, Hang Cleans, Push Press, Walking Lunges, Snatch, And Back Squat. 8 Sets: 3 Intensity: High

This brings the lower limbs into action even more and, by this time, recovery rates and lifting efciency will be better.

By now all the movements will feel comfortable and explosiveness has increased. Your recovery rate between exercises has also increased dramatically. The emphasis now is to implement a greater strength endurance component while maintaining the same workload by increasing the sets.
Load: Exercises: Reps: 70% body weight (100kg = 70kg bar) Dead Lift, Hang Clean to Push Press, Step Ups, Snatch to Squat, Back Squat. 4 Sets: 4 Intensity: High
Load: Exercises: Reps:
60% body weight (100kg = 60kg bar) Front Squats, Upright Row, Walking Lunges, Snatch, Back Squats, Hang Clean. 6 Sets: 3 Intensity: High
Programme protocol
Using an Olympic bar, complete all the exercises continuously with 20-40 seconds rest between exercises. Keep all movements dynamic and explosive; do not compromise technique and work for quality. Rest two minutes between sets or until your heart rate returns to 110 bpm (if using a HR monitor) or until you maintain nose-to-mouth breathing. Disclaimer:This tness programme is designed for fully t athletes capable of participating in high-intensity exercise without any adverse effects..
Step Up
Snatch/ Push Press
High Pull/ Upright Row
Hang Clean
Front Squat
Back Squat
Bent Over Row/ Dead Lift

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Total Rugby Technical

English Edition ISSUE 11

The rst column

A Brave New World

Six Nations 2006: Half-term report

Ireland change style...

Mark Egan is the IRB Head of Rugby Services Inside:

Total Rugby Technical

Potted history of the Tackle Law

A Brave New World

Total Rugby Technical

Potted history of the Tackle Law

Greg Thomas is the IRB Head of Communications.

Total Rugby Technical

Ireland change style

Scotlands massive defensive effort has paid dividends.

Defence made simple

The game is 50% attack and 50% defence

Defence made simple

continued from page 5

Multiple play defence pattern. Grade 3 tackle. Turnover responsibility. Systems.

The Tackle Maze

Total Rugby Technical

...the ability to go forward in an organised fashion... is a determining factor.

Total Rugby Technical

Womens rugby: The accidental rugby club

Total Rugby Technical

The basic principles of the game

1) Go forward 2) Support 3) Continuity

1.2 Going forward with the ball

Characteristics of each type of play:

MOVING THE BALL WIDE

Total Rugby Technical

1.2.2 Phases of play

The choice of the type of play will be made:

Total Rugby Technical

The basic principles of the game

ATTACK AND DEFENCE AT SET PLAY

1.3 Going forward without the ball

2.2 Support without the ball

Total Rugby Technical

PLAYING WIDE PASS

PLAYING WIDE RUCK OR MAUL

Possession regained in the rst or second lines of defence

3.2 Continuity in defence (without the ball)

The basic principles

Possession regained deep in cover defence (the third line of defence)

Continuity : Continuit : Continuidad

Continuity of Possession v Contin

CONTEST FOR POSSESSION

Continuity of Play CHARACTERISTICS

Continuity of Possession CHARACTERISTICS

THE GAME WE WANT?

Continuity : Continuit : Continuidad

Wales coach resigns

New Wallaby coach

Berbizier makes Italy tick

Lineout: Positional Require

(No 3 Position in the Lineout)

The man with the whistle

News from the Regions

Refereeing the Lineout

NAWIRA coaches in England