Essentially, rugby is a simple game, however, on top of that simplicity there are layers and layers of rules, nuances and complexities which can easily confuse the beginning rugby player. These rugby tips for beginners are all based on my 30 plus years experience of playing, coaching and watching rugby, and I believe will help improve your enjoyment of the game immensely. Here we go:
- Get Rugby Fit With Interval Training
Rugby requires a very unique type of fitness. It is very stop start in nature and different positions are required to be able do different things. You must train with these demands in mind. There is no point doing hours of steady state running which won’t have much direct benefit on your performance.
Instead, you need to be doing interval training planned with the appropriate balance of work and rest intervals to mirror your position. Look here for more details.
Furthermore, don’t be afraid to be a ‘secret squirrel’ and do extra training in private. Often, club rugby sessions will be focusing on skills and team play rather than fitness so it may well be necessary to do your own fitness sessions.
- Learn The Language Of Rugby
Do you know your ’22s’ from your ‘dead ball area’, your ‘drift defense’ from your ‘zone defense’? If not, then you better get up to speed with them quickly. The best way is simply to ask!
As soon as someone says something you don’t understand, then say so! Preferably, during training rather than a game when misunderstandings can cost points. Don’t just nod your head if you are not sure what it means when they ask you to guard the ‘blind side’. There is no stupid question in rugby!
You should also check out the different formats of the game that you might be interested in here: The Different Types of Rugby Explained.
- Build Experience By Watching And Listening
I don’t just mean watch a game of rugby, I mean target a player/position you want to learn about and then study them for an entire game. If you are studying a fly-half then you might, for example, study their precise positioning when in attack, or defense. Ask questions such as:
How far are they standing from the scrum? How often are they communicating with outside backs? What are they saying? How often do they kick? What types of kicks are they using? Do they hold the ball the same for each type of kick?
How about passing? When do they spiral pass or pop pass? What sort of tackles do they usually have to make? How do they make them effectively? And so on. Doing this will really help you to transfer those skills and ideas into your own game much faster.
- Check Out Rugby YouTuber ‘Squidge’
There is an incredible bloke on YouTube with a channel called ‘Squidge’ rugby. This dude breaks down team/player performances and explains exactly what is happening, and why a player or team did, or didn’t do well.
He offers fantastic insights into the game, even for veterans of the game, like me, who think they know everything. I particularly like this video he did about George Ford the England number 10, fantastic viewing if you are trying to learn how to play fly-half.
- Learn To Love the Contact
In rugby there is no choice but to accept the fact that you are going to have to put your body on the line. This can be off putting for new players but it is critical that you accept this part of the game, let’s face it, half the time your team are not going to have the ball and you will be defending. Big people will run at you, you will have to tackle them.
Focus on getting your tackle technique correct, and be really clear in your own mind where you are going to be putting your head for each different type of tackle you are likely to be making.
If you get your head, literally, in the right place there is much less chance of getting injured and the rest of your body positioning should fall into place resulting in a better tackle outcome for your team.
Suggested reading: Why Do Rugby Players Put Their Hands Up? (7 Reasons)
- Attend Training Regularly
To master the skills and nuances of rugby you need to build up your experience base as fast as possible. So, obviously getting to as many training sessions as possible is going to be critical. Don’t not go training just because it is raining, you must commit to your team and to your own progress and then you will reap the rewards of improved rugby instinct and ability later on.
- Don’t Be Intimidated By More Experienced Players
Rugby clubs are full of people who talk a good game. Some guys may look the part, have all the right gear, and muscles in all the right places and can be quite intimidating to beginners.
However, don’t let that fool you, or put you off. Judge people by their performance, not how well they talk, or even how they train. Watch out for the players that actually perform on match day, over and over again. They are the guys to listen to and for who to ask for advice.
Also read our guide to rugby slang, phrases and terms.
- Get The Right Rugby Gear
Invest in the right equipment, rugby is a tough sport and you need clothes that won’t fall apart the first time they are clung onto by an opponent trying to slow you down. Buy equipment from specialist retailers and definitely invest in a gum shield, rugby shorts, socks and rugby boots as a bare minimum.
Shoulder pads and head guards are not a bad idea but, personally, I wouldn’t go buying them just yet as a beginner. I would wait until you are used to contact and have played a few games before you assess whether you think they are for you or not. Read our guide: What Rugby Players Wear, here.
- Score More Tries With Better Communication
In some respects, rugby is like a game of chess if you viewed it from above. It is all about where your players are positioned. If one side’s players are all bunched up then this means there will be space out wide, however, if you don’t tell your teammates where the space is then you are never going to get the ball into the available space in time to take advantage of it and score tries.
Similarly, in defense, If they have more players spread across the pitch and all your players are bunched up, your side then needs to communicate that amongst themselves and cover your opponents. You also need to make sure that there are no mismatches where forwards are left to mark backs.
This usually ends up with the backs running around, or side stepping the forward in front of them and making easy yards. Instead, you need to communicate with the other people in your defensive line and shuffle your players around to ensure fair match-ups, again, this is all about communication.
- Catch The Ball Before You Think About Anything Else
There could be a million and one things going through your head before you get the ball, but if you don’t actually catch the ball then it is all for nothing. So, rule number one, catch the ball, before you think about or do anything else! You can make this easier for yourself by making sure you have your hands out ready, reaching towards where the ball is coming from and thus providing a target for the passer.
You can also make sure your positioning is not too close to the opponent’s defensive line. Catching the ball and taking a big tackle at the same time is difficult for anyone let alone a beginner. Instead, stand a bit deeper, at a distance from the player passing that you know they can reach you easily.
Keep talking to the passer and telling them where you are. You can shout things like: wide left, pull it back, or short right. To be honest, a player often gains more from just hearing your voice than from the words you say so just remember to keep talking and you are more likely to receive a decent pass.
As a youngster, I found two walls opposite each other and used to run between them passing and catching the rebound from them backwards and forwards for hours. It really helped build confidence in catching and in taking passes that were not ideally placed.
Now, you might not want to do that yourself, but you do need to spend time drilling the basic skills like catching and passing, tackling side on and head on and rucking and jackaling for the ball.
11. Embrace The Rugby Banter
As people get to know you at your club, you should expect to have the piss/micky taken out of you. This can be anything from jibes about how bad your dress sense is, how bad you are at parking a car, or at how little you know about rugby.
At some point you will be the subject of the banter, and it is important to understand that this is actually a sign of acceptance and being welcomed into the fold. I know to some people it might sound like bullying but it is never meant that way.
So, when it is your turn to be on the receiving end, just soak it up and don’t be afraid to have a pop back as well, it is all part of the bond building process I assure you.
Finally, I hope you found my beginner tips useful. Please don’t be put off by how complex the game sounds, or even if you have a couple of bad training sessions, stick at it, you will improve, you will get better and the good times will then come. If it was easy then it wouldn’t be worth doing – so go get em!
You might also want to read my guide about how to choose your position in rugby.
Photo Credit:
Featured image: PierreSelim, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Photo 2: www.davidmolloyphotography.com from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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