Under valued rugby skills

2. The one handed offload/pass

We are all taught to carry the ball with two hands in rugby. This is driven home from an early age right up to the professional level, and for the most part it is an essential piece of advice. Carrying the ball in one hand has a much larger risk factor, whether it be a full-back running back a loose kick or a forward taking the ball up keeping the ball in both hands is a much safer option. It is a simple rule, and one which should be followed....most of the time.

To give away possession through a loose carry in rugby is criminal, so we must protect the ball. Yes, usually this means with two hands, but if this rule was followed all the time it would eliminate so many opportunities which players are creating at the moment.

Skillful players with a slight of hand are often able to control the ball with one hand and flick or pass the ball "out the back" to supporting players. In doing so they can use their free hand to fend opposition or gain extra pace in which carrying the ball with two hands would not allow.

In this modern game we have some big men playing. Big and skillful men at that. Physically big players like New Zealand's Sonny-Bill Williams have the advantage of being able to grip the ball in one hand due to the strength and size of their fingers and hands. It may not be as strong as having two hands on the ball, but for men like Sonny-Bill it's not far off. With the rest of his strong, athletic body free to fend, evade and beat players he is able to decide what he does with the ball-carrying hand once he has "had a go" at the opposition. It's almost as if the defender has two things to defend against, the ball and the player, and it is extremely difficult to do so.

For big ball-carrying forwards such as Italy's Sergio Parisse, this one-handed carrying of the ball can also come in handy. At high speed, when a forward is hitting a line and taking the ball up against the opposition, it is near impossible to carry the ball in one, hand, but in close quarters, when a player is looking to offload or set up a rolling maul it can come into play. Players such as Parisse can almost keep defender at "arms-length" until support it gained. From this position, a decision can be made in what to do with the ball.

As stated this is a skill, and is either a natural talent or something which may have been worked on for years. Players should not suddenly start trying to hold the ball in one hand, as it takes the right player with the right skill set. This doesn't mean it should not be practised. As part of warm ups or skill sessions coaches can use drills in which players are only allowed to use one hand, developing their ability to do so. If this is done correctly and not forced, a player may find that during a game a situation may arise in which the skill comes naturally without thinking.

One-handed ball skills are extremely useful in the modern game. They are also only useful at the right times, so trial and error should take place in training, not games. For some players it will never be possible, but for certain skillful or large players it is something which can be looked at to be developed.