The first job in rugby is running into space with the ball in two hands — no contact, all evasion, tag belts on and heads up.
Tails and Space
- Rugby union
- U7
- 45 min
- 8–24 players (minis)
- 2 coaches
- Effort 2/5
- Quarter pitch
- mini rugby
- tag
- evasion
- handling
- non-contact
Kit: Tag belts for everyone, 12 size-3 rugby balls, 20 cones, bibs in two colours
Tag Chaos
Setup: A 20×20m square, cones on the corners. Everyone wears a tag belt with both tags on. No balls yet.
How it works: Everyone is in, everyone is a tagger. On go, players jog around the square pulling any tag they can reach while protecting their own. A pulled tag gets handed back and clipped on, and you rejoin straight away, so nobody stands out watching. Play three short rounds and let them get their breath and a giggle between each one. This is how minis learn to change direction and keep their head up before a ball ever comes near them.
What to say
- “Tell them: 'eyes up, look for the space, not the belt in front of you.'”
- “Tell them: 'little quick steps let you turn — big heavy feet get you caught.'”
- “Tell them: 'protect your tags by turning your hips away, not by using your hands.'”
Easier
Bigger square and walking pace so the least confident always have somewhere to escape to.
Harder
Shrink the square every round, or give three players a bib and make them the only taggers to sharpen the dodging.
Beat the Gate
Setup: Ball each where you can. A start line of cones, and a line of 'gates' 12m away — pairs of cones 2m apart, one gate per player, with a coach standing loosely near the gates.
How it works: Each player carries a ball in two hands from the start line and tries to run through any gate without their tag being pulled by the coach, who shuffles side to side but never chases. Score a point for a clean gate, then jog back and go again. Once they read it, let two coaches guard the gates so the players have to pick the quiet gate and change their line to get there. The whole idea is choosing space early and carrying the ball in two hands while they do it.
What to say
- “Tell them: 'ball in two hands so you can pass or dodge either way.'”
- “Tell them: 'pick your gate early, then run at the gap, not at the coach.'”
- “Tell them: 'when I move, you move — go the other way from me.'”
Easier
Coach stands still and just points; every gate scores so the timid players always get through.
Harder
Add a second defender, or say the ball must be in two hands the whole way or the gate does not count.
Backwards Wizards
Setup: Groups of three, one ball each group, in a 15m-wide lane. One coach out front as a friendly obstacle.
How it works: The three jog down the lane together and must score by grounding the ball over the far line, but the ball can only ever travel backwards, hand to hand or a short soft pass. Two supporters run a step behind the carrier, one on each side, so there is always someone behind to receive. When the carrier meets the coach they pass back and the new carrier runs on. Keep it slow and successful first, then let them jog a bit quicker as the passes stick. This is the first taste of the one rule that makes rugby rugby — the ball goes backwards, the players go forwards.
What to say
- “Tell them: 'the ball goes back so you can go forward — pass to the friend behind you.'”
- “Tell them: 'supporters, stay a step behind and shout the carrier's name.'”
- “Tell them: 'soft hands, reach the ball out and give it, do not throw it hard.'”
Easier
Two players instead of three, walking pace, and allow a handover rather than a pass.
Harder
Add a light second obstacle, or ask for two clean backward passes before they are allowed to ground the ball.
Four-a-side Tag Game
Setup: Split into teams of four on a 25×15m pitch with a try line at each end. Tag belts on, bibs to tell the teams apart, size-3 ball.
How it works: A proper little game. The team with the ball runs to score by grounding it over the line; the ball can only pass backwards. When a carrier's tag is pulled they stop, hold the ball up, and pass back within a slow count of three, then the game plays on. Turnover on a knock forward, a forward pass, or a dropped ball. Keep games to two or three minutes and rotate everyone so nobody is ever standing still, and referee it gently with your voice rather than a whistle.
What to say
- “Tell them: 'tagged means stop and pass — do not keep running.'”
- “Tell them: 'if your teammate has the ball, get behind them to help.'”
- “Tell them: 'spread out wide — a long line is hard to tag.'”
Easier
Three-a-side on a narrower pitch, and a five-second count after a tag so there is no panic.
Harder
Two tags allowed before a turnover, so they learn to keep the ball alive through more than one pass.
Wind-down and One Question
Setup: Everyone sits in a circle with their tag belt in their hands, ready to hand back.
How it works: A gentle walk of the pitch, some big arm circles and a wiggle, then sit down together. Ask the question and take a few answers before you collect belts and balls. At this age the last memory is the one that brings them back next week, so finish smiling and name two or three things individual players did well.
What to say
- “Praise a good dodge and a good backward pass by name.”
- “Tell them: 'two hands on the ball' one more time — it is the habit of the whole year.”
- “Count the belts and balls back in with the group so nothing goes missing.”
Ask the players: Ask: what do we do the moment our tag is pulled? Get them to say 'stop and pass' out loud together.
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