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Rolling grubber kick

The rolling grubber kick is a handy kick in rugby. You use this for short kicks past defenders into space behind them, usually into the opposition in-goal area.

Start your good rugby with the basics

Build good rugby skills from the ground up.
A kick is easier if...
...you have good rugby handling...

...and know your rugby kicking basics.
.

Why use the rolling grubber kick

The rolling grubber kick is...
...a good attacking ploy...
...when close to the opposition try-line.

You would normally carry the ball...
...into the in-goal area...
...and ground it for a try.

Sometimes problems arise...
...and the ball cannot easily...
...be carried in.
Too many defenders facing the ball carrier.
One more pass required...
...but the support is too far away...
...or any number of reasons.

Instead, a fairly short rolling grubber kick...
...is put past a defender...
...or through a gap between defenders...
...often at an angle across the field...
...if it is for other players to run on to.

The ball rolls along the ground...
...on a fairly predictable path...
...and can be easily grounded for a try...
...by attacking players following the kick.

It could perhaps be used...
...further out from the goal-line...
...but would be difficult to pick up at pace...
...and would probably need...
...to be hacked on at the feet of attacking players.

How do you do a rolling grubber kick

A rugby ball rolls...
...like a round ball...
...when rolling on the short circumference...
...rather than end over end.

So you kick the ball...
...to make it do this.

Rolling grubber kick start position

Hold the ball in both hands,... Rolling grubber kick of a rugby ball starting position

...ball pretty level with the ground...
One hand above the ball...
...one hand below

The length of the ball...
...is facing straight across your body.

Swing it up to about waist height...
...then remove your lifting hand...
...from under the ball.

Now you have the ball ...
...at bent arms length...
...perfectly positioned for the kick...
...just as in the image.
As you step forward to kick...
...the ball hangs there under
...your out-stretched fingers and thumb...
...moulded to the shape of the ball.
Gently remove your hand...
...as the ball starts to drift down...
...towards your foot...
...which is coming through to kick.

This guides the ball down...
...towards your foot...
...maintaining the correct positioning...
...of the ball.

In progress and rolling grubber finish

As you are positioning the ball... Rolling grubber kick of a rugby ball finishing position

...you are also stepping...
...into the kick.

You bring your leg through...
...at the same time the ball arrives...
...at foot height...
...and Thwack!

Slightly bent legged...
...toes pointed...
...You firmly strike the ball...
...with the boney...
...top part of your foot.

You also keep your knee...
...forward, slightly over the ball...
...to keep the ball low.

Follow through...
...keeping your knee high...
...and toes pointed.

Use two balls when...
... you practice frequently.
Use any method to kick one ball...
...10 to 20 metres to use as a target.
Then use use a rolling grubber kick...
...to put the other ball...
...as close to the first one.

This gives you plenty of feedback...
...about whether or not you are accurate...
...and when you are measuring the distance well.

Main points

good handling skills required
place the ball downwards onto the foot
ball level, straight across the foot
knee over the ball, toes pointed downwards
can also be performed with the instep

Return from Rolling grubber kick to Rugby kicking

Evtechs Sports Training
Sydney, Australia