Women's Rugby
The RFU has a comprehensive coaching programme supported by a new coaching resource which provides players and coaches with all the information and support you. It is designed particularly with players who are new to the game in mind, but the core skills, game sense coaching and transitional games will enable all players to develop, whatever their level and previous experience.
Dates and venues are available for all universities providing access to full time RFU coaches (MS Excel DOC 107kB) as well as a really fun start to the season. For most teams, these dates have been agreed with BUCS so they will not interfere with the start to your competitive season. The aim is to make the game more enjoyable, more skillful and safe for all participants. For University teams, the coaching programme has been integrated with dates for transitional games at easily accessible venues.
| Skills and Development Coaching Sessions |
| Sesson |
Sesson Content |
Downloads |
| 1. The basics |
Development of key rugby skills, handing, catching, passing, spacial awareness, teamwork
Develop confidence in contact
Encourage skilful play through games
|
Session 1 (PDF 1188KB)
|
| 2. The introduction of defence |
Demonstrate principles of warm up and cool down
Introduce concept of contact in defence
Demonstrate principles of attack and defence
Develop principles of play - 'go forward'
|
Session 2 (PDF 1206KB)
|
| 3. The grab tackle |
Introduce concept of tackle in defence
Develop principle of play - 'continuity'
Offside laws
Contact with the ground
|
Session 3 (PDF 1000 KB)
|
| 4. Running lines & game understanding |
Demonstrate principles of attack and defence
Develop lines of running
Develop decision making in attack
Develop scrum half pass from the ground
|
Session 4 (PDF 976 KB)
|
| 5. Contest for the ball on the ground |
Contest for the ball on the ground
Introduce second defender in the tackle
Introduce mini maul
Continue the progression of running lines and passing moves
|
Session 5 (PDF 1031 KB)
|
| 6. Body shape and the Scrum |
Contest for the ball at the contact area
Demonstrate principles of attack and defence
Introduce scrum body shape
Demonstrate importance of correct body position at scrum and contact
|
Session 6 (PDF 1027 KB)
|
A large proportion of women playing rugby union at college and university do so for the first time and it is recognised that the majority of these players need proper support to be able to play a full 15 a side game. Currently the pressure to jump straight into xv a side contact rugby puts many players off the game and this contributes hugely to the high dropout rate of players following sign up at the start of the season.
Importantly, this coaching programme compliments the competition programme so this skills and development programme has now been officially included in the BUCS calendar (PDF 96KB) for Rugby Union. The aim is to make the game more enjoyable, more skilful and safe for all participants. For University teams, the coaching programme has been integrated with dates for transitional games at easily accessible venues.
The RFU recommend that anyone coaching contact rugby should attend both a Rugby Ready and UKCC Coaching Rugby Union Level 1 course. For details of courses near you go to rfu.com/coach. These session plans can be used in conjunction with the RFU Scrum Factory, led by an experienced lead coach as a tool for the parallel development of players and coaches.
This resource provides you with the following:
- Game and coaching plans which have been developed to deliver appropriate activities for this target group
- An enjoyable game-centred approach to introducing and developing the game
- Activities that maximise the involvement and development of all players
- Links to relevant video coaching content on rfu.com
For further information and contact details for your local University Rugby Development Officer, visit Regional Development Team Contact list (MS Excel 43.5kB)
