Rugby · Level 2: Elementary · Sub-level 2.1
Passing and Handling
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown
Passing is how a rugby team moves the ball, and since a pass must not go forward, the skill lies in getting it to the right player at the right speed. The spin pass, the standard one, comes from the back hand rolling the ball, with spread fingers for control and a follow-through that finishes at the target; the longer the pass, the more spin it needs. The pop pass is the opposite: short and soft, into the path of a runner in close support, ideal for tight work near the breakdown.
A long pass moves the point of attack quickly, with power from the whole body, but a slow one can be read and picked off. Most players have a stronger and a weaker passing side, and repetition builds the weaker one; a one-sided scrum-half is easy to read. Switches, loops and inside passes change the angle of attack: in a switch the carrier turns in to hand the ball to a crossing runner, and in a loop the passer runs round outside the receiver to take it back, making one player count twice. An offload releases the ball out of the tackle before the defence resets. Depth gives runners time and space, while a flat attack makes defenders decide fast.
The facts below cover each pass, the offload, flat and deep lines and the drills that build handling.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1The spin passTake a test
The back hand rolls the ball to create the spin.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Fingers finishing at the target steer the ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A stable ball cuts through the air.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Short passes need soft hands, not speed.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Stepping towards the target transfers weight into the pass.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A one-sided passer makes the attack predictable.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Spread fingers give control and spin.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Grip, wind up, roll, follow through.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
The longer the pass, the more spin it needs.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Hands finishing at the target show a clean follow-through.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 2The pop pass techniqueTake a test
A short, soft pass into the runner's path.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
At close range a soft ball is easiest to catch.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Close support makes the pop pass possible.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Keeping the ball free lets it be popped up.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A runner hitting a short ball at speed is hard to stop.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The receiver times a run onto the ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Short passes suit the tight work near the breakdown.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Carry, protect the ball, sense support, release.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
The closer the support, the better the pop pass.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
A soft pop to a runner on the shoulder.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 3The long passTake a test
Long passes move the point of attack quickly.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A long, slow pass gives defenders time to read it.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Power comes from the whole body, not just the arms.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Spin gives accuracy at range.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Early hands make a long ball easier to take.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Looking at the target too early gives the pass away.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Getting the ball to the spare man quickly.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Catch, turn, swing, finish.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Longer passes spend longer in the air.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
A long pass can be read and picked off.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 4Passing off the weaker handTake a test
Most players have a stronger and weaker passing side.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A poor pass gives the defence time.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Repetition builds the weaker side.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Early balance is easier than fixing it later.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Keep it simple when under pressure.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Going both ways along a line works each side.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A one-sided nine is easy to read.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Build speed only once the technique holds.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Longer passes expose a weaker side most.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Nines must pass well both ways.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 5The switch passTake a test
The carrier turns in to hand the ball over.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Defenders drifting one way are caught out.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Both runners must meet at the right moment.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The players are almost touching.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Hiding the ball sells the dummy.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A dummy switch is a strong option.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Midfield switches change the angle of attack.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Run across, crossing runner, turn, hand over.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
A switch is the shortest exchange.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Crossing runners swapping the ball make a switch.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 6The loopTake a test
The passer loops round the outside.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Running round makes one player count twice.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Fixing a defender creates the space.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Any return pass must not go forward.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Ten and twelve are the classic loopers.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Speed of execution beats the cover.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The threat of the loop pulls defenders.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Pass, loop, fix, return.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Crash ball needs one pass, a loop two.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Passing and running round is a loop.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 7The offload in contactTake a test
The ball is released out of the tackle.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A free arm can pop the ball away.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Play goes on before the defence resets.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Fijian rugby is known for flowing offloads.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A forced offload often loses the ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Offloads need runners on the shoulder.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Going forward in contact makes the offload possible.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Contact, free arm, tackle, release.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Arms and ball held make offloads hard.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Legs held, arm free: the offload is on.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 8The inside passTake a test
The ball goes back towards the middle.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The space opens behind the drifting line.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Runners track the break on the inside.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Pulling defenders out opens the inside.
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Covering defenders leave the inside open.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Angles must be judged carefully.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Against the grain means against the flow.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Break, cover, draw, inside ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Inside back towards the middle, miss pass furthest out.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
The inside runner is free.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 9Flat and deep linesTake a test
Flat attack takes the ball close to the defence.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Depth gives time and space to run onto the ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Close to the line, defenders must decide fast.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Depth lets players run onto the pass.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
There is little room for error.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Two layers stretch the defence.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Attacking shapes are built in layers.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Distance behind the gain line sets depth.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Depth, eyes, burst, catch.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Well behind the passer means depth.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 10Handling drillsTake a test
Two attackers learn to beat one defender.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A committed defender cannot mark the receiver.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The ball travels down the line and back.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Small grids force fast decisions.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Keeping the ball builds decision-making.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Pressure turns drills into game practice.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Three attackers against two leaves one free.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Defenders add pressure step by step.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Run, fix, pass, finish.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Fixing the defender frees the team-mate.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Questions people ask
- How do you throw a spin pass?
- Grip with spread fingers, wind up, roll the ball off the back hand to create spin and follow through so the hands finish at the target.
- When should you use a pop pass?
- When support is close: a pop pass is a short, soft ball into a runner's path. It suits the tight work near the breakdown.
- What is a switch pass?
- The carrier turns in and hands the ball to a team-mate running on a crossing line. It catches out defenders drifting one way.
- What is a loop in rugby?
- The passer gives the ball and runs round the outside of the receiver to take a return pass. Running round lets one player count twice.
- What is an offload?
- An offload is a pass released out of the tackle, so play goes on before the defence resets. It needs a free arm and runners on the shoulder.
- Why is depth important in attack?
- Depth gives time and space to run onto the ball. A flat attack takes the ball close to the defence, where there is little room for error.
- How do you improve passing off your weaker hand?
- Through repetition, building speed only once the technique holds. Passing both ways along a line works each side.
Sources
World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.
- General rugby union reference100