How many rugby balls do you need per training goal?

Too few balls means too much waiting. And waiting is the worst thing you can have in a training session. Yet many clubs buy "a few balls" without thinking about what drills they actually want to run. That costs you time, motivation and ball touches per player.

Ball ratio guidelines per training type

There is no universal rule, but there are clear guidelines coaches and club managers use. The ball ratio depends on the type of drill, group size and session intensity.

The gold standard many coaches use: plan your session on 1 ball per 2 players as a baseline minimum. [Source: Gilbert Rugby Ball Buyers Guide]

Passing and attack: how many balls do you need?

Passing is the drill type where ball contact should be highest. More balls means more repetitions per player and less waiting time. For a group of 15 players in a basic passing circuit, you need at least 6 balls. If you want to run separate passing stations simultaneously, that quickly rises to 8 to 10.

In intensive sessions such as individual pass-and-catch, pick-and-go or box-pass circuits, 1 ball per player is the norm. That means 15 balls for a squad of 15. [Source: World Rugby Shop Ball Guide]

For backline training, 6 to 8 balls is the right range: enough to run multi-station drills simultaneously without interruptions.

Consider the Gripper 2.0 Pro Trainer for these sessions: a ball with 3D grip that works in wet conditions too, or the Squad Trainer Ball for clubs running multiple stations at once.

Scrum and lineout: specialised training goals

In scrum training, forwards spend most of their time working without the ball. Technical positioning, pushing power and coordination are the focus. However, you do need balls for the scrum-half feed, ruck-outs and the attacking phase after the scrum.

For a pack session with 8 forwards, 4 to 6 balls is sufficient. More than 6 adds little value since the flow of scrum training differs from passing circuits. [Source: Rhino Guide to Rugby Balls]

Lineout training needs slightly more balls. Hookers throw from one position while jumpers are lifted. A smooth rotation works better with 6 to 8 balls. This prevents players standing idle while the ball is returned to the hooker.

For both scrum and lineout sessions, a durable training ball like the Academy Trainer Ball works well. It provides enough grip for good ball feel and holds up under intensive use on grass or artificial turf.

Kicking and conditioning

Kicking is an underrated discipline when it comes to ball planning. A kicker kicks the ball away, someone retrieves it, and the kicker waits. With only 1 or 2 balls, half the session is spent fetching. With 4 to 6 balls, a kicker can keep training while others bring the balls back.

The same principle applies to drop-kicks, grubbers and penalty practice: more balls equals more kicks per unit of time. For groups of more than 2 kickers, 8 to 10 balls is optimal.

For conditioning and interval training, balls are used as part of exercises rather than as the primary focus. Think shuttle runs with ball handovers, contact drills or circuits. Here 4 to 8 balls is enough for a full squad.

Clubs with multiple teams: smart planning

If your club runs multiple teams, many managers assume balls can simply be shared. In practice, that rarely works well. Separate sets per age group or team prevent three common problems: scheduling conflicts, the wrong size appearing at the wrong session, and excessive wear from overuse.

Concrete recommendation for multi-team clubs:

• Youth U6 to U10 (size 3): own set of at least 10 to 15 balls
• Youth U10 to U14 (size 4): own set of at least 10 balls
• Seniors and U15+ (size 5): own set of at least 15 balls

Clubs that buy balls per age group report less loss through misplacement and more consistency in training quality. [Source: Gilbert Rugby Ball Buyers Guide]

Bundles as a cost-effective choice

Buying individual balls is rarely the smartest choice for clubs. Bundles of 15 or 30 balls are cheaper per ball and come with one or two breathable ball bags. That also saves on storage and transport to the pitch.

Popular options for clubs:

• Squad Trainer Ball Bundle, 15 balls and 1 bag: ideal for smaller squads or specific training groups
• Gripper 2.0 Pro Trainer Bundle, 30 balls and 2 bags: for clubs training intensively and running multiple stations simultaneously
• Academy Trainer Ball Bundle, 30 balls: cost-effective for youth clubs with larger groups

Want a full overview first? Browse the complete training balls collection for all bundles and individual options.

Checklist: always check these

• Do you have the correct ball size per age group? (size 3, 4 or 5)
• Do you have at least 6 balls for a session with 15 players?
• Do you have enough balls for passing-intensive drills? (1 per 2 players minimum)
• Do you have separate sets per team or age group when running multiple squads?
• Are ball bags available for storage and transport to the pitch?
• Consider bundles of 15 or 30 for the best cost per ball
• Check training balls annually and replace when visible wear appears

David Riepma Author, RAM Rugby

Peter van der Hoeven Specific question about balls, equipment or club orders? Peter knows the answer. Get in touch