Lob pass

The lob pass is a handy pass in rugby. Valuable when a player is running in close support but too close and/or too far behind for a conventional pass.

Start with the basics for good rugby

Good rugby skills - build them from the ground up.

You will make good passes with good handling skills

and when you know your rugby passing basics.

When you use the this pass

- in very special circumstances.

You have at least one support player fairly close to you but in a position behind you that makes it difficult to reach them effectively with a normal pass or a spin pass.

You make the pass while still moving forwards with your support trailing you and running at roughly the same pace.

The pass is a gentle lob over one shoulder or the other not actually travelling very far.

You can can throw further out to the side but the further you throw the riskier it becomes.

Weigh up the benefits of the pass and the potential consequences.

Lobbing the ball to your only supporter when close to their try-line is probably worth the risk. You may get a try.

It`s very different from attempting it to one of several supporters near your own try-line - you risk giving away a try!

How to make a lob pass

This is a two handed pass but it could be performed one handed if needed.

Lob pass of a rugby ball starting position Lob pass, start

Lob pass of a rugby ball finishing position Lob pass, finish

You push the ball out slightly in front of your body around neck height.

Position it so you give yourself the easiest route to your supporting player, bearing in mind how wide and how far behind the ball must go.

Use a combination of arms wrists and fingers to move the ball the required distance with a lob.

In rugby, situations vary to a huge degree. Practice this pass with your own variations and you are likely to find it very valuable.

This is a good pass to practice alone.

You don`t have to run far to retrieve the ball just treat it as part of fitness and agility training then do it again from where you pick up the ball.

Then again and again and again!

You could also do it with a wall behind you so you can measure your accuracy, get the ball back faster and do more repetitions in the same amount of time!

Main points