training-resources
Coaching Resources
Rugby Australia and ACT Rugby provide some excellent resources to help our coaches, including 8-week age-specific session plans in PDF format, as well as videos to explain the relevant coaching points. View all Rugby Australia coaching resources here or log into your Rugby Xplorer account and navigate to the Digital Coaching Hub to view and download the session plans. We’ve also collated the Digital Coaching Hub resources for you in the tabs below.
Finally, here is the latest copy of our JRUC Coaches & Managers Manual.
Session Plan PDF
View Week 1 Session Plan
View Week 2 Session Plan
View Week 3 Session Plan
View Week 4 Session Plan
View Week 5 Session Plan
View Week 6 Session Plan
View Week 7 Session Plan
View Week 8 Session Plan
Session Plan PDF
View Week 1 Session Plan
View Week 2 Session Plan
View Week 3 Session Plan
View Week 4 Session Plan
View Week 5 Session Plan
View Week 6 Session Plan
View Week 7 Session Plan
View Week 8 Session Plan
Fitness Tests
Fitness tests are great to do when you start training, and then periodically to see how you’re tracking. Here are a few popular fitness tests used by rugby union teams around the world.
Bronco Test
The Bronco Test comes from New Zealand and has been tested by some of the top All Blacks players. It’s a shuttle run for total time. You need cones at 20, 40 and 60m and perform shuttles there and back to each distance. That’s one set and you do 5 of those. Here’s the real kicker though: there’s no rest between!
In May 2020, All Black Beauden Barrett returned to Blues training with a 4:12 in the Bronco test. See if you can beat that!
WAT Test
The WAT Test or the Welsh Anaerobic Test was developed by the Welsh Rugby Union to test the fitness of its international players. It’s a good choice of test as it includes change of direction and getting off the deck which make it a bit more rugby specific than other tests. It also includes rest periods to better mimic the demands of rugby. You need cones at 0m, 2m, 5m and 15m. Perform a Down Up at cone A, then run a figure 8 round cones B and C, sprint to Cone D and then back to the start. Record Time! Perform one rep every 40s for 10 reps total. Add your time of each rep to get a total. Yo-Yo Test
The Yo-Yo test is a maximal aerobic endurance fitness test, involving running between markers placed 20 meters apart, at increasing speeds, until exhaustion. There are quite a few variations of the yo-yo test (see Yo-Yo Test Versions), though the most commonly used version is the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1. This involves running between two markers 20 meters apart, following audio cues which dictate the running speed required. After each 40 meters run, the participants have an active break of 10 seconds before running 40 meters again. At regular intervals, the required running speed increases. The test continues until the participants are no longer able to keep up with the required pace.
Ball Skills
A collection of balls skills with ex-Wallaby fly-half Stephen James.
Reaction Catching Drills
https://www.facebook.com/NRL.Bulldogs/videos/270043994353368/
Finger Grip Strength
Catching and Passing
Rugby Australia Coaching Videos
Links to over 100 free online coaching videos from Rugby Australia. From learning, playing, competing and performing, these videos below serve to support coaches at all levels and can be applied to all formats and programs. View the Coaching Resources home page here.
LEARN
These videos are an introduction to fundamental movement skills, spatial awareness, decision making and basic ball handling in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.
PLAY
Watch a collection of coaching videos which aim to help players develop and extend rugby specific skills across all formats of the game.
Compete
These videos provide coaches of teams under-13 and above, with player development opportunities in physical, skill, set piece, structured and unstructured play, and position specific areas of the game.
PERFORM
Watch coaching videos which help develop and extend rugby specific skills across all formats of the game. The Perform videos will be released soon and target representative coaches under-16 and above.
Rugby Australia Active Hub Sessions
A variety of training sessions involving rugby skills and rugby-specific fitness workouts. View the latest videos from Rugby Australia here.
ActiveHub: Session 8
https://www.facebook.com/NRL.Bulldogs/videos/270043994353368/
ActiveHub: Session 7
ActiveHub: Session 6
ActiveHub: Session 5
NSW Waratahs Coaching Masterclasses
Longer form videos with in-depth interviews and presentations from current and former Waratahs and Wallabies coaches. See the whole collection here including a 90+ minute chat with legendary coach Bob Dwyer featuring stories on Mat Rogers, David Campese and many other greats, or check out some of our favourites below.
Scott Wisemantel
Lineouts: Simon Cron
Team Culture: John McKee
Big Moments: Chris Hickey
New Zealand Rugby Toolbox
See how they do it across the ditch with this fantastic collection of skills & drills videos for senior and junior players. This collection includes detailed weekly age-specific coaching plans, or easily filter the videos based on the age of players, and the specific skill you want to work on, including: ball familiarisation, continuity, kicking, handling, scrums, lineouts…and more!