Penalty decisons

Penalty plays are perhaps the most unproductive facet of American collegiate rugby. All teams try them, they rarely work and usually result in static ball or worse a turnover. The reason is most attacking teams approach penalty situations like an American football play--they stop, huddle-up call a play and then attack. While this is going on the opposition sets its defense, and waits for the slow moving attack. You will rarely see an international team run a penalty play. Here is a better way to approach a penalty awarded.

1. Threaten quick-tap: as soon as the whistle blows every attacking player should be ready to run a quick tap. Scrum half with put ball on ground where ref sets the make, gently tap it with foot, and pass immediately to a player running at full speed. The quicker the better-catch the other team off guard. If another player is certain they can create a dynamic attack they can tap and go.
2. Take points--if in range
3. Kick to touch
4. Take a scrum--little known rule is that a team can take a scrum


If you adopt nothing else adopt this decision cycle, practice executing it quickly and making quicker decisions. Penalty plays are evil.

Miami University Rugby Football club pattern of play.

This blog will share my thoughts with commentary on how to execute a pattern of play for the Miami University Mens Rugby Football club.

The pattern is based on putting pressure on an opposing team to create more opportunities to play open rugby. The pattern is based the following principles:
-apply defensive pressure in all first phase opportunities: scrum, lineout, kickoff, and 22 drop outs.
-reform second phase defense quickly: commit fewer men to ruck, don't poach fan out quickly


-attack offensively using quickness off first phase off scrum and lineout, and always threaten quick tap on penalty
-make quick decisions off ruck to keep the ball dynamic
-use a running scrum half rather than pop passes to forwards
-stretch the defense sideline to sideline by attacking up to the 5 meter line and sometimes beyond

-counterattack quickly off defensive turnovers and kicks

-focus on making opportunities in areas of the game where teams often let up: kickoffs, kickoff returns, 22's, and penalties
-abandon less productive patterns many American college teams favor: penalty plays, complex first phase back moves, and pop passes off rucks to forwards.


The pattern takes a full team commitment to fitness and to playing within the pattern. It is extremely fun to play, but it is physically demanding. It should shred most division 2 teams, and give any team a shot a beating more talented (but less dynamic) teams.

The blog will detail my best effort to articulate with words and pictures how to execute the pattern. I will detail the following areas:
-High pressure defensive scrum tactics
-High pressure defensive lineout tactics
-Quickly reforming second phases

-Quick attack offensive scrum moves
-Quick attack offensive lineouts
-Making quick decisions in open field rugby

-Special teams:
--kickoffs
--kickoff returns
--22 drop outs
--penalty decision process

Lets roll.