The Rugby Site
Free Trial

Get access to the whole library

Including this video and much more — start a free trial today.

Subscribe now
← Back to Video Library / Session Plans

Support Play Session Plans - HS and A with Wayne Smith

In this session plan we demonstrate ways to get players involved with ball in hand and through effective positioning of players in support, to give continuity to the game and an ability to play fifteen man rugby. We feature World cup winning All Black coach Wayne Smith, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend, Dave Ellis and the Bristol Bears, and Magic Academy's Rusty Earnshaw. Touch only required. No equipment needed apart from a few cones. Plenty of fun and learning for all ages.

Part 1. Replay/Freeze/Tactics - Non Contact

9:54 Member content

This session is as much for the coaches as the players. You can start the session or end the session with this game. Create 2 teams and have them play against each other. No tackle, only tag. Include different types of balls and rules during the game. Enable players to make decisions while playing. Plus it’s great fun for all involved. No need for conditioning training afterwards!

This part is for subscribers only!

Subscribe now to get access to the full course, and the rest of the library.

Start a FREE trial

Part 2. Catch in isolation

9:44 Member content

The more you practice the fundamentals under pressure the more effective you’ll be. The technical points of catching and passing have to be made either in games or by putting defenders up. In this video, Gregor focuses on how practicing the fundamentals under pressure is critical, in this case the Catch and Pass.

Play video

Part 3. Reaction passing

10:36 Free video

IRANZ’s skills coach Dave Ellis, who is in Bristol with the UK Premiership team – Bristol Bears. Dave introduces mental pressure into the training. Various ‘tools’ can be used, from simple through to complex technology to put players under mental pressure. All with the same aim; to put the catch/passer under increasing mental pressure to mantain their skill level. Get the skill mechanics right then build mental pressure followed by physical pressure. Distributing across the body in one motion. Be creative not limited with your ‘tools’.

Play video

Part 4. Support Play - Non contact

26:56 Member content

In this video Wayne Smith will show you the ways to get players involved with ball in hand and through effective positioning of players in support, give continuity to the game and an ability to play fifteen man rugby.

Play video

Course Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Duration 57:10
Topics Session Plans
Applicable to Coaches Youths, ands, highs, and schools
Languages English
Click on CC button at top left of video for other translation options.

Course reviews

Traduction en français Merci

 —  France

excellent drills!

 —  Argentina

these drills are awesome and give players options and thinking about what they are doing or need to do

 —  USA

Subscribe now!

Get full access to all videos in this course and the rest of the video library. Learn with in-depth courses from the best rugby minds in the world, including:

  • Graham Henry & Warren Gatland
  • Wayne Smith & Eddie Jones
  • Sam Warburton & Richie McCaw
  • Leigh Halfpenny & Victor Matfield

Get instant access

Trial period available!

Learn from the best now