Rugby Skills
The Top 5 Rugby Skills and How They Work
One of the most important rugby skills is overwhelming athleticism. Rugby players need to be strong, fast and good with both their hands and feet. Basically, they need to be superb athletes. Beyond that, there are 5 specific rugby skills that are mandatory to becoming a star on the rugby field.
The top 5 rugby skills are passing, catching, kicking, tackling and evasion.
Passing Skills in Rugby
Knowing how to make a basic pass is essential to the sport of rugby, and the key to making a successful pass is to set your aim for your receiving teammate rather than throwing the ball at them.
The first step is to relax. Stand with your shoulders back and chest forward. Hold the ball in both hands, spread your fingers out across the seam and aim for your target.
Bend your elbows and pull the ball back over your hip, while turning your chest away from the target. Push the ball past your hip by swinging your arms in an arc and then release the ball by flicking your wrist and fingers. Be sure to follow through.
Catching Skills in Rugby
Being a good catcher is also vital to being a standout rugby player. Catching is pretty easy, and the most important thing to do is be prepared to receive the ball at any time during the game. That means staying alert and aware of what is going on around you at all times.
To catch the ball, your hands should be kept around chest height, thumbs up and fingers spread. Reach your hands out toward the ball to catch, but don’t overreach, simply allow the ball to fall into your grasp.
Kicking Skills in Rugby
A kick can be used in a game of rugby for two different purposes. One is for a penalty kick, and the other is for a conversion. Having a good kicker on the team can make the difference between having a winning team and having a losing team. The team’s kicker can experience a lot of pressure during game situations, so this is skill that needs a lot of practice as well as a cool head.
Tacking Skills in Rugby
The purpose of tackling in rugby is to stop the opposing team from moving down the field and to do whatever you can to help your team get the ball back. The important parts of a tackle are position and timing. Proper positioning can make or break your tackle, and the same is true for correct timing. Good position and timing also help reduce the risk of injury.
Evasion in Rugby
Evading your opponent is probably the best way to move the ball down the field. This technique is also highly successful with trick plays that lead the opposing team astray. This includes the dummy pass, which can be a great way to run the ball while the other guy is expecting a pass.