wing tips for 15 year old rugby

Question
hello, i have never played rugby seriously before and only play for fun or touch for physical education classes at school, i am really keen to start playing seriously and get into a good team on my first year. I am currently 5'10 and and 61kg, i am a slight build but i am pretty agile and reasonably fast i have a long kick but struggle with my left foot kicking, i can catch well and i am very fit. My ideal position to play would be on the wing and what i feel i really need to work on is especially my tackle and my ability to read the play and the tactical side, it is about 3 months till my school season starts and i would really like to make a good team, what can i do/work on in these 3 months to give me a good chance of making a good team on my first year playing the game?

Answer
Hi Fraser,

There is a lot to learn. I suggest watching a lot of professional rugby and use YouTube a lot to study what pro wingers do during games.

Fitness and sprint training is essential so work with a trainer or gym for that.

Playing touch is usefull if you are playing as close to the real game as you can. Look for ways to cut in and support your inside centers for alternate runs. Learn to use the side line as a "16th defender" on defense. Again using Youtube to search wing skills is a good idea.


Here is some tackling advice:

This link to You Tube is VERY good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQJ39bbq2uU

The aim is to make a tackle to stop the play/player. Drive in hard and execute the tackle forcefully and wrap the player up well with your arms. The game of rugby moves fast enough that this will be enough to give your team the advantage. Read on for good technique but remember it DOES NOT HAVE TO LOOK PERFECT!!!! Even if you just grab the guys kersey and hold on till help arrives that will do! If you van execute the perfect text book takle then great but if it is ugly and works the result is the most important. Just do your best and commit.

Below is a past answer to a similar question. If you focus on the line of the players shorts / jersey or the string of their shorts then size will not be an issue. If a player is really big then letting them go buy and tackling from behind and sliding down the legs will bring them down. A firm grasp around the waist then drop down with all your might while squeezing their legs together.

Your head should go to the side that is "out of the way". If the player is running at you going to the left you head should go to the right side and vice versa. If the guy is running directly at you it would be best to put you head on the side the guy hold the ball but really don't over think it on that angle. The big thing is to drive your shoulder into the guys gut or lower sternum.

When tackling from the side the rule of thumb is "cheek to cheek" face to butt.

Here is a simple method for improving your tackle. When a player is moving towards you (or vice versa) do not look at their body as a whole, instead focus on the point of center between their hips. Often a coach will tell you to "eyeball" the "string of their shorts". This focus will allow your brain to only register the runner's center of gravity: the "mass" of their torso or core. No matter what a runner's arms, legs or head does the torso is usually stagnant.

Keep your feet active, stay on your toes either moving towards them or running in place. Close the space between you and the runner swiftly but stay in control. This is to limit the runner's options as much as possible. If you over commit to running into the tackle the player has a better chance of stepping you.

Focus on the "string of their pants" and drop your center of gravity to set up the hit. Bend at the knees, eyes up, straight back, hips lower than your shoulders like a prop in a scrum. Aim the shoulder to that string."Punch" into the players core with your shoulder and wrap the player up with your arms. Drive hard with little punchy steps of your legs.

To summarize:

1. keep the feet active "live"
2. focus on the "string of their pants"
3. drive the shoulder through the "string of their pants"
4. wrap the player up and drive with the legs in short steps.

Don't try to pick the player up, this is dangerous and will probably get you penalized. Drive hard with the shoulder and legs




Look through my past answers to get more information too, here is an example:

Subject:   Wing Position
Question:   Hi my name is Alan, I'm a wing and I have a problem, I don't know how to get into the attack. I'm strong, fast and I have a good sidestep but the problem is that I receive a few balls in the game and when I get it I don't have the space. Then, I also know that the wing can be in almost any play of the game but I don't know when and where I must be there. Thank you
Answer:   Hi Allan,

One of the things you can try is taking more time to assess the movement of the oppostion line. Look out across the field and look for obvious gaps in the line and potential week players. You are correct that wings can insert themselves anywhere and they should.

The old story of hanging out on the wing waiting for the ball to come to you is ok if your pack is strong and keeping the opposition players sucked in and taken care of.

If you don't have that then you need to look for and find gaps. Once you see gaps run at the gap. Call for the ball and even communicate to your back line that you will be charging in and to use you as an option.

Also on attack give yourself options don't have a foot on the side line waiting for the ball, if the ball is spinning out to you move in so you can make the decision to cut inside or beat the man on the out side. By standing on the side line you are limiting your options. All the oposition winger has to do is mark the sideline and force you to cut in - just 1 option instead of 2.

Look to be a great off loader to your support and work on chip kicks as well.

The goal is for the team to score and if you make the right decision to assist a team mate to do that you will be more valuable.

Run at space: "run through open doors not walls" if you can't run into space then draw the opposition players to you and off load to support to put them in space, change things up, keep the opposition guessing