Attack / Two touches. Two finishes.
WRAP AROUND.
Pass, circle behind your teammate, then read the outside defender.
When and why
Pass to a teammate, run around behind them and receive again on their other side. This is the Wrap Around. The extra runner can make a defender choose between stopping the run and covering the outside pass.
What each person does
- Take the first two touches · M1
- In this example, M1 takes the first touch, receives back from M2 and takes the second touch. Put the ball down at each touch spot.
- Pick up first, then receive later · M2
- Collect after the first touch and pass back to M1. After the second touch, receive from L1 and carry forward.
- Pass, circle behind and receive · L1
- Collect after the second touch, pass backwards to M2, then run behind M2 to receive again on the other side.
- Stay outside · RW
- RW is the teammate nearest the right side of the field (right wing). Leave room outside L1 as another passing option.
The tags let you follow the same people in each picture and animation. They are not shirt numbers; you do not need to know position names first.
Start with these three pictures
Green line = run · Brown dashes = pass · Cross = do not pass
Teaching picture; spacing is illustrative.
Reach the second touch
M1 has taken the first touch, received back from M2 and now takes the second touch. L1 arrives to collect.
Where do the six players stand?
Here is a simple starting picture of the six players on your team. They do not stay in these spots throughout the game.
Middle (also called centre), link and wing describe positions. Carrying the ball and being dummy-half are jobs that can change hands. Dummy-half means the player who picks up after a teammate puts the ball down for the restart (rollball).
How to watch
Read the three pictures first, then watch the animation below. The same tags identify the same people; they are not shirt numbers. A rollball is putting the ball down at the touch spot for the next teammate to pick up.
Key action enlarged. Some wider teammates are outside this crop.
The defence begins onside. The first carrier (M1) calls “one”, collects the tap and runs straight at the central defender. The pickup player (M2) follows directly behind; the wrapping runner (L1) waits on the left.
Read the situation
What should I do next?
Choose an example. Its picture shows the decision; it does not change the main animation.
Green line = run · Brown dashes = pass · Cross = do not pass
Teaching picture; spacing is illustrative.
The outside defender stays wide
- Notice
- The defender stays near RW, leaving a gap inside.
- Respond
- After receiving back, L1 runs upfield into the available gap.
- Why
- RW can help by staying wide even without receiving the ball.
Evidence and rules
Two selectable finishes illustrate two defensive pictures. Neither guarantees a try; preserved match and technique sources sit below.
§11 passing · §13 rollball/dummy-half · §16 obstruction · FIT 5th edition ↗
Next game
Follow the runner who circles behind.
Follow L1: first pass, run behind, receive again. Then look at the outside defender to see why the runner runs or passes.
See it in action.
Match example · 02:16–02:42England’s 32 Wrap against IrelandMen’s 45 · Touch World Cup 2024Official technique drillPractise the pass-and-circle routeTouch Football AustraliaReview the movement points
- The first carrier (M1) carries straight into both touches and presents two clean rollballs.
- The pickup player (M2) arrives at the first ball at pace, scoops and passes back without stopping.
- The wrapping runner (L1) arrives at the second ball from the opposite side, feeds the pickup player (M2) immediately and keeps running behind that 3.
- The pickup player (M2) runs straight to hold the defence. The wrapping runner (L1) completes the wrap on the pickup player (M2)’s right, back in a receiving position outside the central pair.
- The wrapping runner (L1) attacks the seam between the two outside defenders. If that 1 closes inward, release the right wing.
Read the defence
- After each touch, the defence retreats seven metres before advancing.
- The nearest defender calls ‘BALL!’ and presses first.
- The line shifts left with the active attackers, creating the final read on the outside defender.
Explore the other club plays.
