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Rugby passing

Good rugby passing is a key part of your game. When your passing skills are good you play confidently. Soon you will find you are a vital part of the team.

Handling and rugby passing basics

The way to be sure
you pass well;
make sure you handle well.
You can do that
when you do
the handling section first.

Then it`s time to get to grips
with rugby passing basics.

There are many different types of pass

If you have ever had to do something
that requires using tools
you know that having the right tool for the job
   is really important.
It makes things so much easier!

There`s a saying something like
   if you have only a hammer
everything looks like a nail.
But of course not everything is a nail.

It`s the same in rugby passing.
Make sure you have a range of passes
   in your passing toolbox.

There are many different passes
   and it`s well worth knowing as many as possible.
They are all suitable in different circumstances
   and it`s worth having the right pass for the job.

Some rugby passes worth considering
when you want to learn
how to pass a rugby ball

Normal pass
Spiral or spin pass
Ground pass
Swing or fall away pass
Dive pass
Pop pass
Reverse pass
Flick pass
Round the corner pass
Overhead lob pass
Lob pass
Scissors pass
Dummy pass

Normal pass

One of the main-stays of rugby passing.
A pass used very frequently.
However it is tending
   to be replaced by the spin pass.
You make this pass with two hands
   moving across in front of your body.

Most useful for passes of a few metres.
This is a very versatile pass
   can be used in many situations
   and you can easily control
   the speed and distance of the pass.

Find out more about how you make a normal pass

Spiral or spin pass

Another of the major skills in rugby passing.
Used very frequently especially in top class rugby.
You make this pass with two hands
   moving across in front of your body.

It differs from the normal pass
   in that you apply spin to the ball
   as you make the pass.

Spiral passes tend to be fast and hard
   spinning swiftly to the receiver.
Most useful for passes of many metres
   especially along the back-line.

You can also use this
   for long cut-out passes and
   for long passes
   to distant support players
   to swiftly change the point of attack.

Find out more about how you make a spiral pass or spin pass

Ground pass

More specialised area of rugby passing.
This pass is used most often
by the scrum-half Ground pass of a rugby ball

   or the player acting in that role,
   removing the ball
   from the base of the scrum or a ruck
   and sending it out to the backs.
By good positioning of your feet
and arms in relation to the ball
   you can pass swiftly
   giving the receiver more time and space.

Find out more about how you make a ground pass.

Swing or fall away pass

This is an older pass, not seen very often.
A very useful pass but one
   more likely to be seen in
   old rugby player autobiographies.
The pass was used before the spin pass
   became fashionable for longer passes.

The passer uses both hands
   moving across in front of the body.
At the same time you "sink" your hips
   giving the ball extra momentum
   for longer passes.

Find out more about how you make a swing pass

Dive pass

Another from the old days of rugby passing
but still has a place in the game. Dive pass of a rugby ball

When unable to position your body
   to make a good ground pass
   this is a useful substitute pass.

You make the pass with two hands
   whilst performing a diving motion
   arms swinging out
from under your body
   flinging the ball towards the receiver.

Find out more about how you make a dive pass

Pop pass

You use two hands for the pop pass.
Use it for short passes to
   players in close support.
Action is mainly with your fingers
   giving great control
   over short distances
You pop the ball
   into the path of you support
   who is often running fast and close
   to take advantage
   of a gap in the defence.
One for the more highly skilled
   in rugby passing.

Find out more about how you give a pop pass

Reverse pass

Rarely used.
Useful when a long ground pass
is required but you are not Reverse pass of a rugby ball

   in the correct position to make one
   and pressure prevents you
   from taking time to get set.

A risky pass.
Should only be attempted
   by the highly skilled
   in dire emergencies!
Look to people with skills like
   Gareth Edwards for examples
   of this type
   of rugby passing.

Find out more about the rarely used reverse pass

Flick pass

A one handed pass.
You use this pass to keep the ball alive
   moving the ball to a close support player.
You will mainly use this pass
   while fending off would-be tacklers
   with the other arm.
You use a flicking motion with your hand
   moving the ball sideways or backwards.

Find out more about how you make a flick pass

Round the corner pass

This is a clever ploy Round the corner pass of a rugby ball

   to keep the ball alive
   when you are being tackled.
You keep your arms free
   and use one hand to pass the ball
   round the back of the tackler
   to your support player
   coming through on the burst.
Now, just say you have been tackled
   by a brick toilet block.
This is how you pass round the corner!

Find out more about
   how to make a round the corner pass

Overhead lob pass

A one or two handed pass.
This pass is used to get the ball
   to a supporting player
   when there is an opposition player
   directly between
   you and your support.

The lobbing motion allows the ball
   to travel in an arc
   above and out of reach
   of your opponent.

For more about how to make an overhead lob pass (one and two handed)

Lob pass

A one or two handed pass.
Used to get the ball
   to a close support player.
Really a normal pass is required
   but may not be possible
   so a lob pass is used instead..
...often back over your shoulder.

Find out more about
how you make a lob pass.

Lob pass

Scissors pass

Clever, tricky manouevre as much
   as simply rugby passing.
You usually use two hands for this pass
   but it is possible with one.
You use it to switch the point of attack
   by combining with a support player.

Instead of continuing to run outside you
and receiving a normal pass
   your support sharply changes direction
   and cuts across close behind you.
As they do this, you swivel
   and pass the ball to them
..as they appear from behind you.

Dummy pass

The rugby passing that is not a pass.
It just looks like a pass.
It is part of your evasion toolkit.
You use it like the sidestep
   to play with opposition minds
   conceal what is really happening on the field.

Many of the above passes can be turned into a dummy pass.
All you have to do is
   convince the opposition you are going to pass
   then not actually complete the pass.
You hang on to the ball
   and use the situation to your advantage.
When performed well
   your opponent believes
   you have passed the ball
   and there is no reason to tackle you.
Instead they choose to follow the ball
   and leave a gap in the defence for you to go through.

Find out more about how you make a dummy pass.

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Sydney, Australia