ALL MINI rugby players look forward to getting the ball in their hands and having a run, but defence is just as important as attack in rugby. For some people, it’s even more important! Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards has a mantra of ‘defence wins championships’.

Some youngsters can’t wait to get stuck into contact while others will take longer to enjoy tackling, so showing patience is crucial when it comes to coaching this aspect of the game.

Safety is the priority with tackling and this video shows two mini rugby players demonstrating a side-on tackle. Pay close attention to the tackler’s body position and where he puts his head – make sure it’s on the outside of the attacker’s thigh to minimise the risk of injury.

Rugby World has put together a series of videos to show mini rugby players how to perform various skills, from different passes to the switch and the two-on-one. The aim is to help improve players’ all-round game and all the videos can be found here.

Every month Rugby World magazine features a ‘How To’ guide on a specific technique and a fun game to use in training that will keep the players entertained and help develop skills like teamwork, communication, support play and evasive running.