Quote: DHM "I have to coach it. The RFU is considering changeing the format of mini rugby completely. U8's is tag rugby, 7 a side at the moment, then the next year it's basically proper rugby - 9 a side. You can't do any contact with them before the 1st of September and competitive matches start in October. So you get 4 weeks to teach them to tackle, ruck, maul, lineout and scrum (uncontested until U10 - 3 man). Then there's passing out of the tackle, ball retention, contact skills, attacking lines, support play et.c etc. And then the rules.
Guess what the RFU wants to do? U9 would be rugby league 7 a side. No rucks, no mauls, no lineouts and no scrums. All we would concentrate on would be tackling, attacking lines, contact skills (offloading) and defensive shape.
Still we went to Bath this week and played at the Rec. Scored our first try from a driving maul, pretty awesome for 8 year olds who have only been doing this since September.'"
Having watched a number of recent games on TV, I'd think throwing and catching a rugby ball might be a good place to start.