Engage Mudang - Set Piece Rugby Coaching Specialist

15/06/2024

Some of my drills on display here.

This is what I call rugby homework!

28/04/2024

Such a good reminder of the core principles however not so sure about the athletes body shape!
Best
Murray John Harley

05/03/2024

What’s old is new again with Engage Mudang - Set Piece Rugby Coaching Specialist however in a much more refined answer scientific approach to body shape and correct technique.

27/02/2024

So good!

Peter O'Mahony, the ultimate team player

27/02/2024

Love this!

17/10/2023

Love this and highly recommend watching Beckham on Netflix for more insights.
This learning from failure is so good. With a generation that doesn’t handle failure well this is both timely and sage advice!

04/10/2023

Love this and the sooner we get back to contested scrums to teach resilience and the skills required to succeed the better rugby will be!

30/12/2022

Compliments of the season to one and all.
2022 was a slow year for Engage Mudang - Set Piece Rugby Coaching Specialist due to hip replacement surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation.
Big things are planned for 2023 so I look forward to more set piece body shape and technique sessions.
Message me for a quote and to lock in a session/s.
In order for the scrum and code to survive more work must be done to upskill and educate more coaches and athletes on the benefit of good body shape and technique.

29/10/2022

Thankfully Sam Needs at Scrum Strong and Andrew Shaw at Rugby Scrum Skills and Engage Mudang - Set Piece Rugby Coaching Specialist are coaching this important skill correctly.
Too much text book coaching and no understanding of the nuances of head position and strength through the spine.
Engage Mudang is available to schools / clubs / individuals so message me for a quote and to lock in session/s.

Head position is crucial.⁠
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Front rowers in particular need to be capable of working their head underneath their opponent.⁠
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We see many players (rookies and veterans) doing 1v1 drills with their heads out under the outside of their opponents shoulder, rather than working it under their chest.⁠
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Below are 3 key reasons why this is so important:⁠
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1. It's a realistic scrummaging position, especially for the front row. The easy option (which the majority of players are capable of) is to hold up a 1v1 shape with heads out under the armpit. As soon you work the head under, their scrum shape tends to go out the door.⁠
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2. Teaches players to transfer force through their spine, instead of the shoulder and allows them to stay in front of their opponent.⁠
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3. Develops the neck strength of the player, particularly in extension. Neck strength is a weak link in a lot of rugby players, so it's important we try and get more reps in a realistic position at training.⁠
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Next time you program 1v1 and similar drills into your session, focus on the head positioning.⁠
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22/09/2022

This photo is from 1992 when the Wallabies defeated the Springboks for the first time in 21 years due to the Gleneagles Agreement and apartheid.
Look how the scrum set up has changed since then and some of it for the better. The scrum is safer now than it has ever been however it not as well practiced hence the number of uncontested scrums on a weekly basis.
Engage Mudang has had a slow season primarily due to Murray Harley undergoing hip replacement surgery in late March.
Organisations who have utilised Engage Mudang this year include:

C2K Rugby Academy;
Quirindi Lions Rugby Union;
Downlands College;
UQRFC;
Brothers Rugby Union Townsville;
Inverell Highlander's Rugby Union; and
Australian Army Rugby Union.

Engage Mudang - Set Piece Rugby Coaching Specialist is available to schools, clubs and individuals so message me for a quote and to lock in sessions.
The body shape and technique is not all about scrummaging and is applicable at the tackle, jackal, clean out, line out and scrum where good body height and shape will result in better technique and more efficiency.
Best
Murray Harley