Rugby passing
Good rugby passing is a key part of your game. Use these different passes so you are confident you have great skills and you pass the ball well in play.
First the basics - be sure you know them
If you want to pass well, first make sure you handle well.
Any doubts? You have sound foundations for your passing if you first have a look at handling.
Then you`ll easily get to grips with the rugby passing basics.
Why know different rugby passes?
There are many different types of pass.
If you have ever had to do something using tools, you know it`s important to "have the right tool for the job".
It makes things so much easier!
There`s also a saying something like, "if you have only a hammer everything looks like a nail".
But of course not everything is a nail. You need more than a hammer.
In the same way, many passes do not need to travel 20-30metres. You need more than a bullet-like spiral pass.
Firing out a superbly spinning spiral pass that could travel 20 metres, when a gentle lob is needed, is likely to cause problems!
Make sure you have a range of passes in your passing toolbox.
It`s well worth knowing as many passes as possible.
They are all suitable in certain circumstances, some in a range of situations and it`s worth having the right pass for the job.
Find how to do these types of rugby pass
People new to rugby often refer to how to pass as how to "throw" a rugby ball. Consider these when you want to learn how to pass.
Just scroll down or Select a type of pass...
Long pass - important used a lot (overused?)
Scrumhalf pass - move ball away from scrum, ruck
Older style scrumhalf long pass
Pass to put close support through a gap
One handed pass to close support
Surrounded player to support pass
Basic pass - most used
One of the main-stays of rugby passing.
A pass used very frequently. However it is tending to be replaced by longer passes.
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 and why you make a normal pass.
Long pass - important used a lot
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.
These 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
- for long passes to distant support players to swiftly change the point of attack.
- for quick line-out throws
Find out more about how to make a spiral pass or spin pass.
Scrumhalf moves ball from scrum, ruck
More specialised area of rugby passing.
Scumhalf passes the ball
This pass is used most often when you are the scrum-half or the player acting in that role. You remove the ball from the base of the scrum or a ruck and send it out to the backs.
If you position your feet and arms well in relation to the ball, you pass swiftly, you give the receiver more time and space.
Find out more about how and why you make a ground pass.
Longer basic pass
This is an older pass, not seen very often.
It`s a very convincing pass "for selling the dummy" (see dummy pass).
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.
You use both hands moving across in front of your body. At the same time you "sink" your hips giving the ball extra momentum for longer passes.
Find out more about how and why you make a swing pass.
Older style scrumhalf long pass
Another from the old days of rugby passing. Pick up, dive and fling.
Older style scrumhalf long pass
This pass still has a place in the game.
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 towards your target.
You swing your arms out from under your body, flinging the ball towards the receiver.
Find out more about how and why you make a dive pass.
Pass to put close support through a gap
You use two hands for this pass. Gentle and soft to close players
Use it for short passes to players in close support.
Move your arms to disguise what you are doing, but supply power mainly with your fingers, giving great control over short distances.
You pop the ball into (or up and into) the path of a support player running fast and close to take advantage of a gap in the defence.
Use this when you are highly skilled in rugby passing.
Find out more about how, why and when you give a pop pass.
Get out of trouble pass
Rarely used. Fun to practice and believe you will be good enough to use it one day. Effective, for experts only!
Get out of trouble pass
Avoid using it in a game unless you are expert or desperate.
Make that expert AND desperate!
Useful when a long ground pass is required but you are not 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.
One handed pass to close support
A one handed, short, tricky 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.
Keep the ball alive pass
Keep the ball alive pass
This is a clever ploy
You keep the ball alive when you are being tackled.
Keep your arms free.
Then 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 - a real one!
Over opposition players pass
A one or two handed pass.
You use this pass 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(s).
Here is how you make an overhead lob pass (one and two handed)
Surrounded player to support pass
Surrounded player to support 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 is used instead, often back over your shoulder.
Here`s how you make a lob pass.
Ball changes direction pass
Clever, tricky manouevre as much as simply rugby passing. You do this to switch direction, often to avoid going "into touch" (to avoid stepping on or over the touch line).
You usually use two hands for the scissors 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, either before they disappear easiest and best) or as they re-appear from behind you.
Disguise what you are doing as much as possible.
They chase a phantom pass
The rugby passing that is not a pass. You do it well and they don`t bother to tackle you!
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 this type of 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 you perform 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 get the receiver of the pass.
They leave a gap in the defence and you slip through.
Find out more about how and why you make a dummy pass.
The cut-out pass
A very useful, advanced pass, part of good deception in the game.
Instead of passing to the player running next to you, you throw the pass harder and longer so it cuts out that player and is caught by the next-but-one player.
Positioning of opposition players determines when it`s a good option.
The best situation for this pass is when the opposition is stretched in defence and one of their players has to cover more than one player outside you.
If you see that the the opponent is committing to the team-mate nearest you, wait til they are committed and fire the cut-out, setting your outside player free.
Often the cut-out is made too soon, giving the lone opposition player time to slide out and tackle the player who receives the ball.
Perfect timing is essential for this pass to be effective.
Experiment with passes
You can gain an understanding of some of these passes with our game.
You control 3 players by telling them what type of pass to use and when.
The better your pass selection and timing, the more tries for your team. Just like the real thing, eh! Try and score in the passing game.
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