A hydraulic rod and tube extrusion press having a main extrusion ram and a piercer connected to a piston which works in a cylinder within the extrusion ram. In order to extrude tube around the piercer with the tip of the piercer stationary in the mouth of the die means are provided for supplying fluid to the return stroke chamber of the piercer piston cylinder so that the piercer is retracted at an appropriate rate relatively to the extrusion ram as the extrusion ram advances.