This document discusses the differences between taking space and making space in rugby and how strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches can work with rugby coaches to train both skills. It provides examples of players either taking space through raw speed and maneuverability or making space through deception and sharp cuts. The document advocates for S&C coaches to train athletes in environments that develop both skills by exposing them to different conditions to build their "toolbox." It also argues that S&C and rugby coaches should collaborate to integrate tactical decision making into training so players can apply both skills effectively during games.

1. An Integrated Approach to Speed &
Agility Training For Rugby
Pete Burridge
Leicester Tigers S&C Coach

2. About Me

3. Taking Vs Making Space
What is the
difference & why is
this relevant to me as
a rugby coach/S&C

4. Taking Vs Making Space

5. Taking Vs Making Space
Both display excellent
agility that results in a try
being scored.
But what are the
differences in approach
from each player and
how is this relevant to

6. Taking Vs Making Space

7. In this clip you can see how Jonny May TAKES
the space that the French team gives him.
There’s not a lot there, but when you possess
the speed that Jonny May has, you stand a
chance of bursting through the gaps.
He is also helped by his ability to make subtle
swerves whilst still maintaining his speed.
Teddy Thomas (14) is in a fairly good position
but see how that subtle hip shift denies him the
chance to make a clean tackle.
This is a good example of ‘maneuverability’ in
Taking Space

8. Taking Vs Making Space

9. In this clip there’s not a lot of space available
but Telusa Veainu MAKES space by
manipulating the defense.
His entry speed is far lower the last clip but
this then allows him to use harsher
cuts/steps with some deception to create
space that wasn’t there before.
A larger drop of CoM and feet outside his
initial base of support allow him to
decelerate and reaccelerate at much sharper
angles.
Making Space

10. Both have successful outcomes (tries) but how
they’ve been achieved is very different.
Both have lent into their strengths: either by
TAKING SPACE with raw speed and having
superior maneuverability than their opponent,
or by MAKING SPACE by using deception and
sharp, sudden cuts to get the defender off
balance and exploit the space they leave
behind.
If we take what we see from competition, we
can then apply that to our own sessions. This
enables us to be better equipped to train our
Taking Vs Making Space

11. We may want the athlete to have low entry
speeds in tight areas, so they have to make
sharp cuts to MAKE space. In others we may
want them to carry their speed and make
subtler movements to TAKE space that may
be available.
Once we understand this, we can expose
them to different learning environments that
aim to develop and add to their toolbox. That
way they then have multiple weapons
available to them in their arsenal.
Then if we collaborate (rugby coach & S&C
coach) we can develop correct decision
What Might It Look Like?

12. More Weapons = More Tries

13. How do we make it
work in training?
Integration

14. Finding Space is a key
principle of attack in
rugby.
Rugby coaches + S&C
coaches can both play a
part in developing
someone’s ability to find
space.
Integration

15. The rugby
coach will be
concerned
mostly on the
team and the
tactical
execution of a
Stereotypical Integration

16. The S&C coach
will be
concerned
mostly on the
individual and
the technical
Stereotypical Integration

17. When training for speed & agility, it doesn’t
have to always be so polarized.
Good improvements can be made working in
the middle.
Stereotypical Integration

18. What might it look like?

20. Questions &
Discussion