How to Develop a Rugby Rucking Technique

Step 1

To the untrained eye a ruck can sometimes look like a pile of bodies lawlessly running in to each other. The breakdown, however, has several governing rules.

Step 2

First, let's understand what a ruck or "breakdown" is and how its formed. A ruck is formed when a tackle is made and members from both teams attempt to either keep or gain possession of the ball.

Step 3

When the ball carrier is tackled he must release the ball. His body position on the ground determines how wide the breakdown is. Players must hit the ruck by coming though the gate, which is the width of the tackled players body. If a player doesn't come from directly behind the gate the ref will call a penalty "from the side".

Step 4

If the tackler is able to get to his feet, release the tackled player, and get to an on sides position before the offense sends support, he is allowed to make a play on the ball. However, if an offensive player is present they will engage in a shoving match ideally using their shoulders. Once this shoving match is started the ref will call "ruck is formed" and any players involved in the ruck are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands. That's called "hands in" and its against the rules.

Step 5

Players involved in the ruck are allowed to use their feet to strike the ball backwards. A team must push the opposing ruckers so that they are able to step completely over the ball, thus keeping or gaining possession.

Step 6

The general rule of thumb in rucking is that the player with lower body position will win. When you're coming in to hit a ruck, defensively or offensively, start a few meters back so that you can run in through the gate with pace. When you're about a meter away from your opposition drop your body's level so that you can sweep the grass with your finger tips. Make sure your shoulders are lower than your oppositions so that your shoulder can make contact with their chest or gut. When contact is made explode upwards and through so that your opposition is blasted back at least a couple of meters.

Step 7

If you aren't able to adjust your run in time to hit a ruck with low body position, or if the opposition is laying on the ruck making it hard to get lower than them there are other techniques that can be used. If they are just sort of laying on the ruck and their ribs are exposed try to turn your body so that your shoulder hits them in the side and they are knocked off the breakdown. Or if the are using their hands to hold themselves up wrap your arms around their midriff and roll them off. This technique is called the gator roll.

Step 8

To practice a basic rucking drill start with a group of 4 players. Have one player hold the tackle shield and the other three line up about 5 meters across from the shield. Have one of the three players start with the ball and have him run in to contact with the shield. The ball carrier should then go to ground and work the ball behind him in one motion. The two support players will run a few meters behind the ball carrier so that they are hitting the tackle shield and driving him backwards as the ball carrier is setting the ball behind him. If it only takes one support player to drive the shield carrier back the second support player should step over his tackled team mate and keep a low body position ready to take on any threats. Take turns being the ball carrier, shield holder, and support players.