Ball In Play

Junior Rugby looks different to Adult Rugby. Let's see how a junior game of rugby looks, so we can set up our practices that replicate match demands.

Rugby has changed. In the 80s and 90s (when we may have been coached), there was a lot more set-piece. These days the ball is in play a lot more, as you can see from the stats below taken from the 1987 and 2019 Men's World Cups.

Now even though these stats are from International Rugby, often Junior Rugby Coaches spend large proportions of time on set-piece plays. And to be fair, this was probably relevant a few decades ago.

But... the game has moved on, where the ball is in play a lot more. As coaches, we should spend time at practice, developing the skills that will be replicated in an actual match. Research undertaken in kids rugby, shows us that the ball is in play a lot more than adults rugby.

A Typical Game of Kids Rugby

A high number of:

Rucks – 1 per minute
Mauls – 1 per 90 seconds
Turnovers – estimated 50% of possessions (the other 50% from set-piece + kick-offs)
Tries…. so there are a lot of Kick-offs

A low number of:

Scrums - about 5 attacking chances per game
Line-outs – about 3-5 throw-ins per game

What This Means For Coaches:

‘Ball in Play’ games.
Allow turn-overs to play on. Keep whistle in the pocket!
Games focused on fundamental skills of tackling, ball handing, running / evasion, rucking.
Integrate Set-piece into games.
- Scrum / line-out starters
- Kick-off starters.

Note: This referenced research was done with 9-10 year olds, so may look different for different age groups. Adapt to fit your context.

References

McCormick, J. (n.d.). Revolutionising rugby - A statistical analysis on how the game has evolved. Retrieved from https://www.statsperform.com/resource/revolutionising-rugby-a-statistical-analysis-on-how-the-game-has-evolved/

Thomas, G. L., & Wilson, M. R. (2015). Playing by the rules: a developmentally appropriate introduction to rugby union. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 10(2-3), 413-423.