Rugby
Contact
Breakdown Contest — 2v1
Rugby drill for contact training sessions
Practise the contest at the breakdown — attackers try to secure, defenders try to poach.
What This Drill Improves
This rugby drill is best for advanced players who need focused work on contact. It works well with 9 players and can be adjusted by changing the space, pressure, or scoring rules.
Setup
Ball carrier on the ground with ball presented. 1 attacker securing. 1 defender entering.
Instructions
- Attacker drives over the ball and secures.
- Defender tries to legally poach — must enter from their side, stay on feet.
- Referee call is made — ball is won or turned over.
- 5 reps per player in each role.
Coaching Points
✓ Securing player: body over the ball, low hips.
✓ Defender: arrive on feet, bind on the ball.
✓ Both: stay legal — no hands on the floor.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Players losing focus on the main coaching point.
- The drill area being too large or too small for the group.
- Progressing the drill before the basic pattern is clean.
Progressions: Make It Harder
→ 2 defenders vs 2 attackers.
→ Add the scrum half — speeds the process.
→ Ball must be played within 3 seconds or turnover.
Regressions: Make It Easier
Reduce the number of defenders or make pressure passive for the first few rounds.
Increase the playing space so players have more time to make decisions.
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