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Question
Hello my Name is George and I am new to rugby in a weird way well when I was younger I played rugby then went to play football for a bit because I wanted to become faster and that's what I did I am a bit faster now and getting back into rugby I used to play second row and number 8/loose 8 I liked those positions but was never happy I have been going to training and play outside center for my school team and so have experience from school but I'm a little bit scared about asking my current coach about it because he only lets people who are new or are good in that position I was wondering if you new what I could do to get faster my tackling is good and defending I can kick three quarters of a full size pitch and have OK pace please reply and thanks.

Answer
Hi George,

From what I understand of your question you are asking about playing inside center and improving your tackling.

First the thing I can assist with the most is tackling:

  Hi Sid,

This link to You Tube is VERY good:

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

Here is some tackling advice:

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

Worse case just grab a piece of jersey and wait for help to arrive.

As for playing inside center my advice is look online and use You Tube. I did a basic Google search and found this:

http://www.betterrugbycoaching.com/Article-156-205-Rugby-Drills-and-Player-Skill

Also select a good professional center that plays for a team you can get access to see games (again try You Tube) and really study how they play, run lines, defend, attack, kick etc.