COACHING

Small Blacks Coaching Courses 2025: Coaching 13years and younger (Junior Club and School)

Small Blacks is compulsory for every Junior Rugby Coach, with a focus on Safety in our game. All sessions are live in person. Please attend one of the Auckland Rugby run sessions below:

Click HERE to register your attendance.

Please also register as a coach for the season by creating a rugby xplorer profile here. Need more help on how to sign Up? Click here.

More detailed info about Rugby Xplorer can be found by clicking this link HERE​​​​​​​

CourseVenueDateTime
Small Blacks (U12 and 13 Focus)Papatoetoe RFC (Kolmar)Wed 26th  March6-7.30pm
Small Blacks (U10 and U11 Focus)Pakuranga Rugby ClubMon 31st March6-7.30pm
East Auckland Small BlacksMarist Brothers OB Rugby ClubWed 2nd April6-7.30pm
Central Auckland Small BlacksTe Papapa Onehunga RF & Sports ClubMon 7th April6-7.30pm
Small Blacks (First Time Tacklers Focus)Ponsonby Rugby ClubWed 9th April6.30-8pm
Small Blacks (Rip and Rippa Focus)College Rifles Rugby ClubWed 30th April6-7.30pm
West Auckland Small BlacksSuburbs Rugby ClubMon 5th May6-7.30pm
South Auckland Small BlacksEast Tamaki Rugby ClubWed 14th May6-7.30pm
Small Blacks FINAL MOP UPWaitemata Rugby ClubWed 28th May6-7.30pm


Rugby Smart Coaching Courses 2025: Coaching 14years and older (including Senior Rugby).

In 2025 NZ Rugby have mandated that all Rugby Smart courses are to be complete live, in-person. You will need to attend and complete an in-person course if:

  • You are new to coaching rugby in 2025/ this is your first year registering as a coach.
  • You registered as coach but did not complete rugby smart in 2024
  • You have registered as a coach/completed rugby smart before but not in 2024

Click HERE to register your attendance to one of the courses below.

Please note: Every Coach in New Zealand must complete a coach registration form AND attend a Rugby Smart Course if coaching 14 years and older. This process must be completed annually.

    NOTE: if you registered as a coach in 2024 AND completed a Rugby Smart Course live in person or online, your accreditation for Rugby smart rolls over into 2025, BUT- you will still need to register as a coach using the new Rugby Xplorer syster (click here to create a Rugby Xplorer Profile) For help on how to sign up click here 

    For more detailed information about rugby xplorer click HERE

    CourseLocationDateTime
    Rugby Smart 1Waitakere City RFCWednesday 19th of March7pm- 8.30pm
    Rugby Smart 2Grammar TEC RFCMonday 14th of April6pm- 7.30pm
    Rugby Smart FINAL MOP UPManukau Rovers RFC

    Wednesday 21st of May

    6pm-7.30pm


    For any queries please contact joe.tuitavake@aucklandrugby.co.nz for more info

    WORLD RUGBY COACHING COURSES

                                      Adult Rip Rugby Rules

    PLAYERS: 7 players per team

    BALL SIZE: 4

    FIELD SIZE: ½ Field (touch line to touch line long x goal line to 10m line, wide)

    LENGTH OF GAME: 2 x 20-minute halves (maximum) with a 5-minute break at halftime.

    SUBS: Teams to use rolling subs to achieve satisfactory game time for all players.

    MOUTHGUARD: Recommended

    RIP BELTS/RIPS: Rip belts must be worn on the outside of clothing (tops tucked in) and one Rip on each hip.

    UNIFORM: Teams to wear the same uniform

    STARTING/RESTARTING PLAY: Drop kick for start and restarting play after a try or half time. The kick must travel past the 5m mark. If the kick does not make the 5m mark or goes dead in goal, a free pass is awarded to the receiving team on half-way. When a try is scored, the team that scores then kicks the restart.


    ATTACKERS:

    • Attackers can run, pass, kick (grubber, cross-field, chip and chase, etc)
    • Attackers can hip twist and even spin 360 degrees once. ‘Helicopter’ or continuous spinning will result in a handover.
    • After being ripped, the ball carrier must pass the ball within three steps (no stop/play the ball required). If they pass after the three steps post Rip, then it is a turnover. If the player oversteps the three-step mark post rip and returns to the mark to pass the ball, then it’s play on.
    • The attacker must then regain their Rip from the defender before they re-join play.
    • Four rips in a row leads to a turnover in possession.

    DEFENDERS:

    • To complete one ‘rip’- one or both of the two Rips from the ball carrier belt must be removed.
    • Once ripped, the defender must stop, hold the rip above their head and shout “RIP!”
    • Once a rip is made; the offside line becomes the ball, noting the ball carrier remains in play and is allowed to pass or kick within 3 steps of the rip occurring- while all defenders must retreat behind the ball.
    • The ripper must then hand the Rip back to the attacking player; if the attacker runs off however, the ripper may place the opponents rip on the ground where the rip was made.
    • Four Rips in a row leads to a turnover.

    PASSING: The ball can only be passed in a sideways or backwards direction. There are no forward passes. If the ball is passed sideways or backwards landing on the ground and bounces forward, this is not a knock on or forward pass. Either team may re-gather the ball, only if remaining on their feet to continue play.


    KICKING, SCRUMS & LINEOUTS:

    • Scrums are uncontested, 3 players each.
    • The lineout must consist of three players from each team, plus a thrower who can also play receiver after the ball is thrown in. Lifting is Optional.
    • Kicking is allowed in Rip Rugby. Normal off-side rules apply. There are no conversions or shots at goal.


    REFEREEING A GAME: Shout, “RIP and the number of rip (1, 2, 3, 4,) and PASS!” when a rip has been made. Where possible ‘advantage’ should be played to the non-offending team if there is any chance that they may get the ball. The referee should call ‘advantage’ followed by ‘play on’. If no advantage within a reasonable period, play returns with a scrum, penalty, or free pass.


    PENALTIES: Penalty offences are awarded to non-offending team via a tap restart (4 again), scrum, or kick to touch. Penalty offences include:

    • Contact of any kind (pushing, tackling, fending, collisions).
    • Hiding, fending, or shielding Rips.
    • Helicopter/Continuous spinning.
    • Offside.
    • Diving on the ball on the ground
    • Not handing back Rips/ throwing it away
    • Passing after overstepping (3 steps)

    SCORING:

    • Ball must be in contact with hand or player and placed on the tryline or in the in-goal area for a try to be awarded.
    • If a player is ripped in goal/ripped and runs into in goal, play restarts with a tap from 5m line out from try line.
    • If a player is ripped while mid-air (feet off the ground in a dive to score) and the player is ripped, the try is awarded.

    For further details or any queries, please contact:

    Joseph Tuitavake

    Game Development Manager

    joseph.tuitavake@aucklandrugby.co.nz