The purpose of this activity is to warm the students up and focussing on maintaining space, while completing differnet rugby movements.Set up a playing area that is big enough for the class to move around in, but not too big that there is too much space between them.

The first movement is to run around in the playing area, while maintaining space between each other. This will require the students to change direction if approaching another player.

The second movement is to have the students run backwards in the player area. This mimics a game of touch rugby or rugby league in which players have to retreat backwards onside. 

The third movement is a sidestep or dodge. This can be achieved by placing roughly a third of the amount of rugby balls as there are students (ie for a class of 24 place 8/9 balls on the ground inside the playing area.) The students can pretend that the rugby ball on the ground is a defender and in order to get around them, they need to complete a side step. Placing one foot on the ground, pushing off from that foot and changing direction. 

The fourth movement is to pick up, run and score. Using the same rugby balls, students will now pick up a rugby ball using the correct technique (place one foot in front of the ball, place the other foot behind the ball and bend your legs. Place one hand at the front of the ball and one hand at the back of the ball when picking up - SEE PHOTO). Students will take three quick steps with the rugby ball before placing it down onto the ground with two hands simulating scoring a try. Because there is not enough rugby balls, encourage students to move quickly to spot a ball and pick that ball up. 

The fifth movement is to pick up, pass and score. Using the same technique to pick up the ball (one foot at the front, one foot at the back, knees bent, one hand at the front, one hand at the back) students will now pass the ball to another classmate. The student who picked up the ball will look for another student who is ready to catch the ball and stand side on to each other. The player that picked up the ball will place the ball low, beside their hip. They will swing the ball across their hips and pass to their classmate (hip to hip). Once the rugby ball has been caught, that student will place the ball down siumlating scoring a try, before moving on to find another ball. 

Place 8 hoops (of 4 different colours) in a circle large enough for the class to move around in. In each hoop place 3-4 rugby balls. For the first round players work individually to pick up a ball from a hoop and transfer it to the other matching colour hoop. If a player picks up a ball from a yellow hoop, they must run with the ball in two hands and score a try in the other yellow hoop. When they score this try they can award themself with 1 point. Time the activity and at the end the player who scored the most amount of tries is the winner. 

For the second round of hoop to hoop get the players to pair up. This time one player will pick up the ball and the pair must complete three rugby passes before they reach the matching colour hoop. Passes can be in any direction and players are able to run with the ball. When completing the passes it's important that the pair are standing side by side and the ball starts from their outside hip. Again, time this actitivty and the pair with the most amount of tries are the winner. 

For the third round of hoop to hoop you can add in two defenders (which could be the winners of round 2). These defenders are now able to both intercept the ball, or tag the player if they have a ball in their hand. If the ball gets intercepted or the player gets tagged, they must return that ball to the hoop they picked it up from and must get another one from another hoop. The pair that scores the most amount of tries will be the winner. 

Modifications

Move the hoops closer or further depending on class size or ability. Change the number of passes that the pairs need to complete. Increase or decrease the number of defenders.

Split class into 8 equal groups (some groups may have more/less depending on class size) and assign each group with a hoop (nest). Players run and collect rugby balls from other nests and bring them back to their home nest. Players are not allowed to block, tackle or defend anybody else. The focus is on collecting the ball utilizing correct technique, run with the ball correctly and place the ball down without knocking on. The team with the most rugby balls at the end is the winner. 

Modifications

Introduce a passing rule where players must all pass the ball between all team members before placing the ball in their nest. Encourage teamwork and correct passing technique.