Hua Hin HarlequinsTouch Rugby
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Coach approvedDefensive foundation

Defensive Retreat

After every touch, all six defenders retreat seven metres, get onside and then advance as one connected line.

Retreat
Seven metres
Who retreats
All six defenders
Before touch
Call MINE
Lead pressure
Call BALL

Read the reset

Retreat first, then reconnect

Follow the defenders through one complete touch. A red ring means the player is still offside and must retreat; blue means they are onside and may advance when the ball is picked up.

Position review

One touch, one retreat, one connected advance

The key decision is individual: the pickup releases only defenders who have reached seven metres. The “BALL” call identifies the lead defender; it never excuses a late teammate from retreating.

White arrow: defender movementOrange arrow: attacker movementRed ring: must keep retreatingBlue ring: may advance after pickupArrow length shows direction, not exact distance
Frame 1Defence set

Connected before the touch

D3 calls “MINE!” and steps out to initiate the touch.

Connected before the touchD3 identifies himself before closing, so a second defender does not jump with him and open a hole. The other five stay connected behind the touch.ATTACKING THIS WAY ↑D1D2D3D4D5D6M1M2L1MINE!

D3 identifies himself before closing, so a second defender does not jump with him and open a hole. The other five stay connected behind the touch.

Frame 2All six must retreat

Touch makes everyone offside

D3 makes the touch; the orange mark and blue line are fixed.

Touch makes everyone offsideEvery defender immediately turns and retreats toward the blue seven-metre line. Nobody waits to see whether the half is ready.ATTACKING THIS WAY ↑MUST RETREATONSIDE +7mTOUCH MARKD1D2D3D4D5D6M1M2L1

Every defender immediately turns and retreats toward the blue seven-metre line. Nobody waits to see whether the half is ready.

Frame 3BALL call · keep retreating

D3 calls the ball while retreating

The call names the lead defender; it does not make anyone onside.

D3 calls the ball while retreatingD3 is nearest to the ball and calls “BALL!” while completing the retreat. The other defenders stay connected and keep moving to seven metres.ATTACKING THIS WAY ↑MUST RETREATONSIDE +7mTOUCH MARKBALLD1D2D3D4D5D6M1M2L1BALL!

D3 is nearest to the ball and calls “BALL!” while completing the retreat. The other defenders stay connected and keep moving to seven metres.

Frame 4Three onside · three still retreating

Pickup creates two different jobs

D2–D4 may advance; D1, D5 and D6 must still retreat.

Pickup creates two different jobsBy the pickup, D2–D4 have completed their retreat to seven metres. D3 turns first; D1, D5 and D6 are still short and cannot follow yet.ATTACKING THIS WAY ↑ONSIDE +7mTOUCH MARKD1D2D3D4D5D6M1M2L1BALL!

By the pickup, D2–D4 have completed their retreat to seven metres. D3 turns first; D1, D5 and D6 are still short and cannot follow yet.

Frame 5Connected advance

The line reconnects behind D3

D3 pressures first; teammates close the space without firing past him.

The line reconnects behind D3D3 is the point of the V because he advances fastest toward the ball. D2 and D4 form the shoulders while the outside defenders trail and fold back in.ATTACKING THIS WAY ↑ONSIDE +7mTOUCH MARKD1D2D3D4D5D6M1M2L1

D3 is the point of the V because he advances fastest toward the ball. D2 and D4 form the shoulders while the outside defenders trail and fold back in.

Train the call and the retreat together

At training, make the MINE and BALL calls loud enough for the whole line, and check that every defender reaches seven metres before advancing.

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