Rugby Pass

A pressure pass that beats a knee shield by bundling both of the bottom player's legs together, like a rugby tackle. The passer first smashes the knee shield down, then shoots both arms around the outside of the legs and locks the hands behind the thighs, just above the knees, squeezing the knees together into a single bundle. Driving forward with the chest through the bundled thighs, the passer folds the legs off to one side and brings the head across to the far side of the bottom player's torso, keeping the hips low. With the legs pinned away from the upper body, the passer climbs inch by inch past the hip toward side control. A common reaction from the bottom player is to frame on or push the passer's head; keeping the bundle tight is what prevents guard recovery.