Rugby Positions | LineoutCoach.com Key Partners Rugby Positions Rugby positions each have a specific role to play. Different physical attributes are required, although strength and speed are key across the team. Most players will specialise in one or two positions which uses their skills and size to best advantage. The 15 players for each team are on the pitch at all times and play both attacking and defending roles unlike American Football which has offence, defence and special teams that alternate depending on possession. The team is divided into two packs, the Forwards (8 players) and Backs (7 players) and they can stand in any position on the field of play as long as they remain onside. The exception is set piece plays when rugby rules stipulate where each player should be in relation to the ball and opposition. The players wear rugby jerseys with the numbers 1-15 on the back. The number stays with the rugby positions and not the player as it can do in other sports so the hooker is always number 2 for example. The numbers were introduced in 1920s as a way for coaches to rate the players.

Teams can call on substitute players with team numbers (16-23) to cover rugby positions where players are injured, tired or as impact players to turn a match around or close down an opposing team in a close game. Rugby Positions Explained A basic understanding of the rugby positions and the skills of each player will help you enjoy the sport more and appreciate the tactics of the game. Rugby positions names Some of the names for the 15 rugby positions have changed over the years and some have different names in other countries. The IRB use terms favoured by northern hemisphere countries. Variations to these include: Flanker – wing forwards Outside centre – centre three-quarter, centre Wing – wing three-quarter Fly-half – outside half, stand-off half, out half, first five-eighth Scrum-half – half-back Number 8 – 8 man Rugby Positions: Forwards Rugby positions numbers 1-8 on the field are called the Forward pack. They are involved in all the set piece plays and contest the lineouts and scrums. Larger and more powerful than the Backs, they aim to win or retain the ball and drive the team up the field and in that respect are similar to linebackers or linesman in American Football.

Rugby Positions: Front Row Supports hooker in the scrum Lifts jumpers in the lineout Key power at rucks and mauls for retaining ball 2 Hooker Middle of the front row of the scrum Responsible for winning the ball Throws ball at lineouts Rugby positions: Second row (loose forwards/loosies) 4 Lock or lock forward 5 Lock or lock forward Tallest on the field Bind in the scrum and drive forward Rugby positions: Back Row At the back of the scrum Aim to win ball through turnovers 8 Number Eight Link between the forward pack and backs Controls ball at back of scrum before attack begins Rugby Positions: Backs Rugby positions numbers 9-15 are called the Backs. They tend to be smaller than their Foward brothers as they need speed and agility to run the ball into space or kick for goal. They have to maximise the possession and get points on the board so would be similar to running backs or wide receivers in American Football.

Rugby positions: Half-backs Links between forwards and backs Feeds ball into scrum Collects ball from the back 10 Fly-half Directs play on the pitch Good decision maker and communicator Commonly the goal kicker Good reader of the game Direct attacks Score tries and finish plays Fast and agile Powerful enough to break tackles 15 Full Back Rugby Football History All Blacks Barbarians Canada British & Irish Lions Ireland Scotland Springboks USA Wales Wallabies Introduction Originally the number of players in a game of Rugby football was not limited, and there were no formal playing positions. Games at rugby school were simply played by however many boys wanted to play in a particular game. A kind of huge rolling maul developed, moving around the field since there was a very limited amount of space on the field in which to run. As the game began to be played between different schools and clubs a fixed number of players was needed. This then allowed players to start specializing in certain positions and to develop particular skills appropriate to those positions. Rugby teams were then limited to twenty players made up of seventeen forwards and three full backs whose sole job was to maintain possession if the opposition managed to hack it out the scrum.

Circa 1875 the number of players in a team was reduced to fifteen (ten forwards and five backs). Today the player names, positions and numbers worn on shirts are defined by the International Rugby Board (IRB). Players usually have the following position names and numbers although there are some local variations in namingin common use: F full back 1 & 3 Prop Along with the hooker, the loose-head and tight-head props make up what is known as the front row, which refers to their position in the scrum. To be successful, both props must be extremely strong in the neck, shoulders, upper body and legs, and they should relish head-to-head competition. While stopping their side of the scrum from moving backwards, the props also support the hooker's body weight, allowing him or her to see and strike the ball when it is put into the scrum. In the lineout, props should be able to support or lift the jumper to prevent the opposition winning the ball. Away from set pieces, props help to secure the ball when a player has been tackled, so it helps if they can combine their power with a degree of mobility.

You’ll also often see them used as battering rams in attack, receiving short passes after a ruck or maul and hitting the opposition defence at pace in an attempt to occupy the defenders and make space for their own backs. 2 Hooker Lining up in the scrum between the two props, the hooker is one of the forwards’ key decision-makers. He or she will coordinate the timing at the scrum, and is also responsible for winning possession in the scrummage by hooking the ball back through the props' legs. To allow the hooker to do this effectively, the props support much of the hooker’s weight, leaving him or her free to concentrate on hooking the ball back, rather than pushing against the opposition forwards. For this reason the hooker is often the smallest member of a front-row trio. At the lineout he or she is responsible for throwing the ball in and must be able to accurately hit the lineout jumper who is expecting the ball. In open play the hooker plays a similar role to the props, securing possession at rucks and mauls, or taking short ‘crash’ passes.

4 & 5 Lock The second row forwards (also known as locks) are the engine room of the scrum and the target men in the lineout, meaning that they need to be tall, powerful players with excellent scrummaging technique and pinpoint timing. If they bind to each other and the props too loosely in the scrum their pack will lose power, and if they are not accurate and dynamic with their lineout jumping, it offers the opposition forwards a chance to steal possession. In open play the second row’s duties have evolved from being support players at rucks and mauls to ball carriers. If a marauding second row is comfortable with the ball in hand, their bulk and power makes them very difficult to stop. 6 & 7 Flanker Open-side and blind-side flankers are often considered to be the players with the fewest set responsibilities, but as such must be excellent all-rounders with inexhaustible energy. Speed, strength, fitness, tackling and handling skills are all vital. Flankers are more often than not at the centre of the action – winning balls at the ruck and maul, collecting short passes from tackled players and making their own big tackles in open play.

While they can rarely be blamed for a loss, they can certainly be the key to victory. The open-side flanker plays on the far side of the scrum from the touchline and is often smaller in size than their blind-side partner, making them more mobile around the pitch. The blind-side flanker tends to have bigger, more physical role around the pitch, and also acts as a target jumper in the lineout. 8 Number Eight Support play, tackling and ball-carrying are the No.8’s areas of expertise, making his or her duties similar to the two flankers. Together the trio forms a unit called the back row. Binding on right at the back of the scrum, the No.8 is also the only player from the forwards who is allowed to pick the ball up from the base of the scrum. It is a move that is often used to gain vital yards when a team is scrummaging close to the opposition try line, and for it to be truly effective the No.8 must be an explosive, dynamic runner. 9 Scrum-Half Acting as the link between the forwards and the backs, the scrum half is a key player when it comes to building attacks.

Playing just behind the forwards, a good scrum half will control exactly when the ball is fed out to the backs from the rear of a scrum, ruck or maul. A scrum half needs good vision, speed and awareness, quick hands and lightning reactions. They tend to be one of the smaller players on the pitch and so rely on protection from their own forwards. An indecisive or poorly protected scrum half makes easy meat for a rampaging opposition flanker. 10 Fly-Half The heartbeat of the side and arguably the most influential player on the pitch. Almost every attack will go through the fly half, who also has the responsibility of deciding when to pass the ball out to the centres and when to kick for position. The fly half must orchestrate the team's back line, deciding what rehearsed moves to put into action and reacting to gaps in defence. He or she is also the main target for the defending team's open-side flanker and so must be strong in the tackle. The fly half has to be able to relieve territorial pressure by kicking down the field into touch, and is often the team's designated place kicker for conversions, penalties and drop goal attempts.

In defence he or she will marshal the backs to ensure each opposition player is covered, and a strong-tackling fly half can snuff out opposition attacks before they start. 11 & 14 Wing Playing out wide on the side of the pitch, the winger is a team’s finisher in attack. A winger is also often the last line of defence when they don’t have the ball and as such, pace is their major resource. 12 & 13 Centre The inside centre – who stands closest to the fly half when the backs line up – and the outside centre tend to be strong, dynamic runners with a good eye for exposing gaps in the opposition defence. In attack they tend to run very direct lines. The centres take on their opposite number in an attempt to either break the defensive line, or draw in enough opposition defenders to create space and try-scoring opportunities for their team-mates. As such they need to be strong and powerful, and when attack turns into defence, they must also be accomplished at tackling. The inside centre is often the more creative in a centre pairing and should be able to pass and kick nearly as well as the fly half.

In either defence or attack, the inside centre tends to be all action – dishing out the tackles and then drawing the opposition defence. Meanwhile, the outside centre tends to be the faster of the two and the ability to offload the ball quickly to the wingers is also vital. 15 Full-back Lining up behind the entire back line, the full back is the closest thing that rugby has to a sweeper in defence. But they also receive deep kicks from the opposition, so they must be comfortable catching high balls and launching attacks from the resulting possession. As such, the full back must have enough tactical awareness to recognise when to counter-kick, and when to run with the ball, often from deep within his or her half. Having started life as a winger, ex-England, Sale and British Lions player Jason Robinson was an excellent example of a running full back who also had the ability to kick his way out of trouble – the perfect combination for a number 15. This high-pressure position is not for the faint-hearted, but those who can combine tackling, kicking, catching and running with a cool head can excel here.

Player line-up Players will typically line up as follows at a scrum: Position Hierarchy Here is a hierarchy of player position naming including collective terms, the corresponding common player numbering shown in parenthesis: Forwards Notes: In some countries the term halfback refers solely to the scrum half, while in other countries it applies to both the scrum half and the fly half. New Zealand saw advantage in having a fourth player in the three-quarters placing a forward between the half back and the three-quarters. Legend has it that the position was named by deciding that the half back was 4/8ths and the three-quarters 6/8ths, so therefore the new position must be a 5/8ths. When fly half play developed they introduced the first 5/8th and the second 5/8th. Hence the fly half is sometimes referred to as the 1st 5/8, implying a slightly deeper position than halfback and the inside centre is sometimes referred to as the 2nd 5/8 implying a more forward position than a 3/4 back. Centres used to be called Centre Three-quarters and Wings, Wing Three-quarters. The term three quarters collectively describes the centers, wings and full-back.

In some countries the Flankers are referred to as 'Break-aways' e.g. New Zealand. In some countries the No. 8 is referred to as the 'Last man down' e.g. New Zealand. Additional collective terms: History of Positions Origin of the Half-Back (collective name for Fly-half and Scrum-half) Originally the rules described three full backs which was later changed to one and the other two players were then stationed at a midpoint between the forwards and the full backs and were to be called half-way backs. In time this was shortened to half backs. Their role and that of the full back continued to be to fall on the ball in the event of the opposition hacking it out of the scrum. Origin of Fly-Half In 1878 at Cardiff, in Wales, they developed a short pass to one of the half backs who would then go charging ahead with the ball. He became known as the flying half back which in time was shortened to the fly half. In New Zealand the fly half is sometimes referred to as the 1st 5/8, implying a slightly deeper position than halfback.

Origin of the three-quarters In the 1880’s the game had spread to the Universities, particularly Cambridge and Oxford, whose input lead to far more thought being put into the game and the style of play that was developed. They were instrumental in the development of the games tactics, the introduction of need to practice and the coaching of the players. In addition they re organised the scrum, developed short passes amongst the forwards and long passes amongst the backs. This led to the need for more players to be placed in the back line between the halves and the full back. The fraction between a half and a whole (full) is three-quarters. Note: One alternative theory for why they are called three-quarters is that these new positions were called 'quarters' and the fact that three of them were put in this position led to them being known as three-quarters. But this seems unlikely since there is an obvious progression from Half-back (half-way from the from of the scrum to the full back), Five-eighths, three-quarters, full back.. Scotland claim the honour of having first introduced a third three-quarter, against Ireland in 1881.

Origin of the centre and wings The middle player being called the centre with the two on his outside called wings. Fouth three-quarter The introduction of a fourth player into the three-quarters was to a large extent, accidental, with Wales again being allowed to take the honour. In 1885 Cardiff were due to play a tough match away from home and their first choice centre was not available so they promoted one Frank E. Hancock from the second side in his place. Hancock was a great success scoring two vital tries. When the Cardiff selectors sat down to pick their team for the next match they were keen to revert to their original team, but they were most reluctant to drop Hancock, so they compromised by introducing a fourth three-quarter. Within two years Wales had introduced it at international level. The New Zealanders were quick to see the advantage of having a fourth player in the three-quarters. Their solution was to pull a forward out the pack and put him between the half back and the three-quarters. Their problem was what did they call the new position.

Legend has it that consent was reached by deciding that the half back was 4/8ths and the three-quarters 6/8ths, so therefore the new position must be a 5/8ths, a name that has continued to this day in that country. When fly half play developed they introduced the first 5/8th and the second 5/8th. Origin of the Number 8 This is a two-part question. In summary, the No 8 position evolved in South Africa, but was christened in New Zealand. a) How did the No.8 evolve? The position now known as No.8 evolved in South Africa in the 1920s. Before the Great War a number of scrum patterns were tried. Most involved a three-man front-row in a 3-3-2 or more commonly 3-2-3 pack. Paddy Carolin of the 1906 Springboks claimed to have experimented with a 3-4-1 formation. New Zealand most notably always used a 2-3-2 system. Their so-called diamond scrum had a rover to act as a detached winging forward who could also double as a second scrum-half.

The Law dictating that a scrum must have a three-man front-row did not come into effect until the 1951-2 season (Law 15c.). New Zealand apart, forwards in Test matches were selected primarily for their all-round skills - there were no fixed position in the early days. The first forwards up for a scrum were the first to pack down, although by the early 1900s there was usually one player specifically chosen to hook and one to act as a wing forward. There is evidence that early Australian and French packs experimented with fixed places for their players under the 3-2-3 formation, but it wasn't until 1923 that Wavell Wakefield, as pack leader, allocated fixed positions to England's forwards. Two were devolved to prop up their hooker, while two formed the second-row. Behind them was a back-row of two wing-forwards either side of a middle man who was then called the lock or lock-forward - the position from which the No 8 has evolved. England won the Grand Slam that year and specialism became the norm in the Home Unions.

Meanwhile in South Africa, Oubaas Markötter of the famous Stellenbosch club developed the 3-4-1 pack formation to curb a fly-half named Bennie Osler, who was the master kicker and tactician for their great rivals at the University of Cape Town. Markötter's new scrum was essentially the 3-2-3 scheme but with the wing-forwards from the back-row flanking the second-row instead - and therefore closer to the fly-half. That helped to address the Osler problem, but other advantages of the formation became apparent. With only one man at the back, the ball was heeled from the scrum more quickly, while the opposing scrum-half and loose forwards found it harder to disrupt possession. In addition, the inward push from the flankers at the scrum channelled considerable drive through their props and put extra pressure on the opposition hooker. All South Africa embraced the 3-4-1 scrum and by 1928 it was the preferred formation for the Springboks in their home series with the All Blacks. In the first Test their scrum was a revelation to the New Zealanders, who were demolished 17-0.

It wasn't until a few years later, however, that modern back-row play evolved. Markötter considered how to make the best use of a gifted Stellenbosch threequarter named André McDonald, who was not fast enough for a back and not big enough for a forward. McDonald was moved to the solo position at the back of the scrum where he inter-played with his scrum-half in attack and was deployed as a shadow flanker in defence. So the prototype for the No.8 evolved in South Africa as a much looser player than his forerunner, the lock. South Africa still sought strong forwards who could push from the back of the scrum, but attacking and defensive duties for which the prime attribute was mobility became part of the job description. The Springboks toured Britain/Ireland in 1931-32, demonstrating the new scrum formation and back-row tactics to the Home Unions, and in 1933 Australia saw them for the first time when they were beaten in a series in South Africa.

By the time war broke out in 1939, most of the world's rugby-playing nations had bowed to Springbok supremacy, adopting the 3-4-1 pack and refining back-row tactics. The main dissenters were the Scots, who persisted with the old 3-2-3 system until the mid 1950s. b) When was the term No.8 first used? It was not until the 1940s that the expression No.8 became recognised worldwide as part of rugby's lexicon. Finding a common name for the sole player at the back of the 3-4-1 scrum seems to have taken some time. In the Home Unions he was still referred to as the lock or lock-forward, as he had been in the 3-2-3 system. Australian reports of the 1937 Tests against the Springboks refer to the position as anchor-man or solo-lock. South Africans called him the eighthman (as many of the old-timers out there still do), in New Zealand he was usually the back-row or back-row forward and to the French he was le troisième ligne centre.

Numbering of players in Tests was a haphazard affair until the 1960s. In the Five Nations, some teams numbered from 1 to 15 from the back, starting with the fullback and finishing with a flanker (so that the back-row man was number 14). France and Ireland often numbered in reverse starting from the front-row, making the middle-man of the loose trio number 7. Wales even used letters throughout the 30s and 40s making him letter N! Players on tour were numbered 1 to 30 and kept their allocated numbers for Tests. Old Test programmes show that the earliest efforts to number the back-row man with jersey eight were in New Zealand's South Island during the 1930s. For NZ v Australia at Dunedin in 1936 and NZ v SA at Christchurch in 1937 the All Blacks' back-row man wore this number. Abbreviating the South African term eighthman to No.8 originated there and the noted New Zealand rugby historian, Arthur Swan, was among the first to refer to him in print as the "number-eight".

When post-war Tests resumed in 1946, New Zealand led the way in regularly numbering their back-row man in the eight jersey. Curiously, South Africa's Hennie Muller, who played Test rugby between 1949 and 1953 and was universally hailed as the definitive eighthman of his day, never wore an eight shirt in a Test, although by 1951 the British press were referring to him as the team's No 8. It was not until the 1960s that the shirt number universally matched its position's name in Test matches. Rugby Position Guide : Brooke Weston Position Guide No.15 Full Back As you can see from the diagram the full back is behind all of the players as the name suggests. The full back is an immensely important position; the full back is the last line of defence if a player breaks through, a potent attacking weapon, and a solid kicker. The full back traditionally is a kicker, however nowadays a greater demand is present for a full back who can run with the ball as well as kick and tackle well. No.11 & 14 Wingers The Wingers are positions on the flanks of the team (see diagram).

Traditionally the try scorers the wingers have to be fast so they can run around the opposition defence to score. In defence they have to be able to get back to cover the full back if he is out of position. They have to be a solid tackler in case they are exposed by the opposition winger with no support. However despite these difficulties the wingers as 'finishers' of the team's hard work will always get the glory if the team goes well, whilst being well away from any criticism thrown at the team after a bad performance. No.13 Outside Centre Slightly different to the inside centre the outside centre needs more pace and power as well as good hands. The Outside Centre will normally aim to get on the outside of his outside number and either go round him or step inside leaving him for dead. A linchpin in whatever moves the backline is playing. No.12 Inside Centre The creative flanker, the inside centre plays as a secondary play-maker to the fly half, but is also required to have some 'brick wall' defence and have a big hard line run. A long pass is a bonus, but a good rugby brain is the main requirement for this position, a knowledge as what to do in any situation.

No.10 Fly Half Possibly the most important position on the pitch, if you don't like pressure then this isn't for you. The fly half has to run the attack, organise the defence and kick to relieve pressure. The fly half is the head of directing traffic as he has to move the ball to where the space is and if there isn't any then he must give the ball to a forward to make space. Nearly always the first receiver from a set piece and ruck or maul a good catcher of the ball is an absolute must. No.9 Scrum Half The other half back (with the fly half) the scrum half's primary job is to get the ball to the fly half as quickly a possible and a good of a pass as possible. However a willingness to put his body on the line for his team, a 'nuggety' tackling technique and an ability to carry the ball like an extra flanker help a lot giving the team more options. No.8 Number 8 The number 8 is a very important position. The number 8 is responsible for getting his team over the gain line and supplying clean ball for the half backs.

A skilful forward the 8 should be able to move the ball around with as much conviction as the fly half, but should also be big and powerful as a ball carrier taking the ball into contact creating space for those around him. In the scrum the 8 is responsible for the ball and his relationship with the scrum half can be the difference between a win and a loss No.7 Open Side Flanker The Scavenger. The open side flanker is the hardest working player on the pitch; he has to be everywhere all the time. When a tackle brings the player to the ground there's a split second before the situation becomes a ruck, at which point the ball can be taken from the floor using his hands. This is the sole job of the number 7 in defence – to create turnovers -, in attack the open side should be on the shoulder of the player with the ball – all the time! No.6 Blind Side Flanker The misunderstood child. The No.6 is often thought of as the easiest position in the game, this is defiantly not true. The blind side flanker has to have the strength of a number 8 and the scavenging skills of an open side flanker.

He also has to time his runs to perfection and be just off the shoulder to burst into the space and carry the ball well. No.4 & 5 2nd Row The main function of the lock is the line out. The locks are nearly always the jumpers, and so (along with the hooker) their responsibility to get good clean ball to the half backs. The number 4 is normally larger than the number 5 and usually jumps and the front of the line out whereas the number 5 generally takes the ball in the middle of the line out. No.3 Tight Head Prop As with the 2nd row the front rows main responsibility is the scrum and the line out. The tight head prop is so called because when he lines up in the scrum his head is tight because there is a head either side of his. A big strong power man the tight head does not generally see much of the ball, because most his time is spent scrummaging his opposition loose head in the scrum and in the loose he's nearly always rucking. No.2 Hooker The hooker traditionally was a fat disgruntle old man who had tattoos on his arms and a can of beer in hand.

Nowadays however the hooker is a technically difficult position played by fit rugged players who have to have a degree in astrophysics to understand. The hooker throws into the line out and has to, therefore know and make the line out calls in the match. These can leave him open to a lot of stick if the line out goes badly but he often wins the plaudits if things go well. No.1 Loose Head Prop As with the 2nd row the front rows main responsibility is the scrum and the line out. The loose head prop is so called because when he lines up in the scrum his head is loose because there is only a head on his left hand side of his. A big strong power man the loose head does not generally see much of the ball, because most his time is spent scrummaging his opposition tight head in the scrum and in the loose he's nearly always rucking. Rugby - definition of Rugby by The Free Dictionary Rugby - definition of Rugby by The Free Dictionary Rug·by 1 (rŭg′bē) A borough of central England east-southeast of Birmingham.

It is the site of Rugby School (founded 1567), where the game of Rugby was developed in the 1800s. Rug·by 2 or rug·by (rŭg′bē) n. A game played by two teams of 15 players each on a rectangular field 110 yards long with goal lines and goal posts at either end, the object being to run with an oval ball across the opponent's goal line or kick it through the upper portion of the goal posts, with forward passing and time-outs not permitted. [After Rugby School, England.] rugby football n 1. (Rugby) Also called: rugger a form of football played with an oval ball in which the handling and carrying of the ball is permitted 2. (Rugby) Canadian another name for Canadian football [C19: named after the public school at Rugby, where it was first played] Rugby (ˈrʌɡbɪ) n (Placename) a town in central England, in E Warwickshire: famous public school, founded in 1567. Pop: 61 988 (2001) Rug•by n. 1.

a city in E Warwickshire, in central England: boys' school, founded 1567. 86,400. 2. (sometimes l.c.) Also called Rug′by foot′ball. a form of football, played between two teams of 15 members each, that differs from soccer in freedom to carry the ball, block with the hands and arms, and tackle; characterized by continuous action and prohibition against substitute players. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: throw-in - (rugby) an act or instance of throwing a ball in to put it into play goal-kick - (rugby) an attempt to kick a goal scrum , scrummage - (rugby) the method of beginning play in which the forwards of each team crouch side by side with locked arms; play starts when the ball is thrown in between them and the two sides compete for possession football , football game - any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal knock on - (rugby) knocking the ball forward while trying to catch it (a foul) Britain , Great Britain , U.K.

, UK , United Kingdom , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom hooker - (rugby) the player in the middle of the front row of the scrum who tries to capture the ball with the foot winger - (sports) player in wing position hook - secure with the foot; "hook the ball" hack - kick on the shins rugby Rugby terms back, back row, ball, centre, conversion, crossbar, drop goal, lock forward, loose forward, loose head, five-eighth (Austral.

& N.Z.), flanker or wing forward (rugby union), forward, front row, full back, garryowen (rugby union), goalpost, half back, hooker, knock on, line-out (rugby union), mark (rugby union), maul (rugby union), number eight forward (rugby union), scrum or scrummage, stand-off half, fly half, or outside half, pack, pass, penalty, prop forward, punt, referee, ruck (rugby union), scrum half, second row, tackle, three-quarter, tight head, touch judge, try, up and under (rugby league), winger Translations Rugby scrum - break rule : scrum : why, what, how Rugby scrum A rugby scrum restarts a rugby game after a minor infringement of the rules. Understand what goes on. Who puts in? How do you win? Scrums Often restart the game Minor infringements of the rules occur from time to time during a game. Examples are "knock on", "forward pass" and "accidently offside". When this happens and no advantage is gained by the team that didn`t break the rules, the match official stops the game.

The game is then restarted with a scrum Players involved The eight "forwards" from your team (known as the "pack") form the scrum together with the matching forwards from the opposition. Both packs form up in the same way. Two props, one on either side of the hooker form the front row. The hooker binds to both props, having one arm around each prop. Each prop has one arm around the hooker so they are all bound tightly together. Two locks form the second row. They bind together by putting one arm around each other to pull them close together. Their heads are placed between the hooker and the props at thigh level and their outside arm binds them to the front row. The number eight is the third or "back row", head between the locks at thigh level and binding to the locks with both arms. Also in the back row are two flankers, one on each side of the scrum. They actually bind on to the locks in the second row, so it is really a 3-4-1 formation. For more details of the actual player positions involved in the scrum contest look at the positions of prop, hooker, lock, flanker and number eight in the section on rugby positions.

How they are formed Your eight forwards bind together tightly in the 3-4-1 formation and crouch facing the opposition goal-line at the point where the scrum is to take place. The other team does the same. The two bound-together packs are now close and facing each other. On the word of the match official the two packs crash together. Actually, for a rugby scrum it`s several words! "Crouch", the two packs get in position. The two front rows must be within an arms length of each other. "Touch", the props touch each others outside shoulders. This shows that indeed they are close enough. "Pause", to make sure the two packs of players are stable. "Engage", the two packs may join (crash?) together when ready. An alternative method is being trialled in 2012. Instead of"Pause, Engage" the match official will simply call "Set". It`s not an order. It indicates the teams may engage when ready. The heads and necks of the two front rows are meshed together, holding each other up with equal and opposite forces. There is now one solid mass of opposing bound players with a tunnel between the two opposing groups.

Putting in the ball One team caused the scrum. The other team gets the advantage of restarting the game by putting the ball in to the space between the opposing sets of forwards. The scrumhalf is always the player who puts the ball into the scrum, always at the lefthand side of the team putting in the ball. It`s called "feeding" the scrum. The team feeding the scrum always has an advantage because it knows the exact moment it`s going to happen and because of the way the scrum is formed which deliberately creates a small advantage. The way the front rows ar meshed together means the ball always has slightly less distance to travel to the hooker of the team feeding the ball into the scrum. Scrumaging Once the ball is in the tunnel the hookers use their feet and legs to 'hook' the ball backwards and so win possession of the ball which moves back through the scrum and exits at the rear. Because of the advantages, the team that puts the ball in usually wins possession. If the other team wins the ball it`s said the ball was won "against the feed" or they have won a "tight head". Scrummaging is a very "technical" area of the game.

The forwards use their strength, weight and technique to win clean possession and allow the ball to travel smoothly through to the back where it is picked up by the scrum half or number eight. When the ball is going towards the back of the oppsition side of the scrum your forwards will try to disrupt possession by pushing them off the ball or "wheeling" the scrum (turning it sideways). The scrumhalf not putting the ball into the scrum may stay near the scrum. Any other players not part of the scrum must stay behind their offside line which means staying at leat 5 metres behind the back of the scrum. Law 20 governs the scrum. It is long and complex. For more information on the basics and a link to full World Rugby information look on this site at rule number 20 in basic rugby rules. Rugby Positions - forward packs : running backs : where you fit in Rugby positions Rugby positions in Union and how you play them. Know them all from wing to prop. How you choose so you enjoy yourself, feel good and play well. Layout of positions This is what it's all about, where you fit in.

This diagram shows all of the 15 player positions in a rugby team based on the situation where a rugby union scrum has been formed. The 8 forwards are bound together in the scrum. The 7 backs are spread across the field. Rugby positions based on the scrum [Bodies] About choosing a position In life people come in all shapes and sizes. Rugby, more than most other sports, reflects that fact. People from across a huge range of body shapes and sizes will find a suitable position in a rugby team. Skills, qualities and temperaments also vary with position. A team has 15 players on the field at any one time. Each player has an allocated place on the field. Knowing the position you have been allocated helps you understand and remember what you need to do during the game and where you need to be on the pitch. Age, physical characteristics and grade may affect your choice of position. Age affects choice The younger you are ,the easier it is. When you are starting off you may be given little choice about where you play. You may already admire a player and want to be like that player and want to play that position. If that`s so, it`s maybe a good starting point.

Tell the person in charge about it...but it might not happen Make sure you are flexible, you may be better in another position. Wherever you play you will gather skills and experience. With years ahead, you have time to play every position if you want to! Early in a rugby career many of the positions have very similar requirements. Physically, who knows - you change, so look after yourself! eat good quality food in years to come you may be anything Older players starting off may have more choice. Find out what`s needed for each position. Compare what a position requires with your own physique, skills and temperament My guess is that vacant positions in the team may affect the view of the coach about which is the best position for you! With some research and a bit of thinking you will be able to voice your preferences. Make sure you too, are flexible. Concentrate on the game, get into it, help the team. You can always change positions when you know more and you`ll really enjoy yourself. Physical characteristics affect choice Bear in mind these basics Bigger, heavier, stronger players go somewhere in the forwards Smaller, faster, elusive players go in the backs You want to enjoy yourself - true?

If you are comparatively small and in the forwards you may be very uncomfortable! You will always be facing bigger players. In the backs and slower and less agile - not much fun trying to keep up! Sometimes, depending on age and grade of the game these overall physical requirements can be rendered unimportant by a player with heaps of enthusiasm and attitude. Grade affects choice This is more for older players rather than children considering playing rugby Many people learn to play rugby at school. Others are not so fortunate! If you are new to rugby and interested in playing I`m guessing it`s for the social side, where performance is not hugely important. Or maybe you`re college age and want to get serious about it! Either way, look closely at what is required to play each position. For social players it`s important. Look for a position where you will enjoy yourself and minimise the risk of injury. For competitive environments look for a position where you maximise the advantages of your physical and mental attributes. You will acquire skills quickly because you have the right attitude. This site will help you. With physical and mental attributes suitable for rugby search for good ways to acquire the skills. Hint - stay on this site!

Try the page about being the best player you can be for tips on how to get the most out of this site, Look for the good skills to learn and good ways to do it. You can pack a lot into a short time. Improve your play - know all positions It's useful when you know about all player positions. You will know what to expect from players in other positions and get insight into what they may expect from you. When you get a feel for the other positions you know more about rugby play in general and get an idea of what others are going through. It's also inevitable that during the chaos of a game you will find yourself 'out of position'. This often happens when you are tackled and remain at the bottom of a pile of players while the game moves on. When you do eventually get to your feet you may find that the ball and many players are at the far side of the field. You may be the hooker but find yourself in the position on the field normally occupied by the winger. The game ebbs and flows and you have to do your best in that position until the opportunity comes to get back to your normal position.

It's a good idea to know the role of all player positions so you cope well during the chaos of play. This page contains links to detailed pages for all positions. It would be well worth having a look at them. You'll get a real feel for how to play any position. This also helps if you are having a problem choosing a position. Make sure you know what is required for all of them! Remember nothing is set in stone. You can always move to a different position if you find another one is more suitable. Most players play in a number of positions over the course of their time playing rugby. The individual positions in a team are in two major groups the "forwards" and the "backs". There are 8 forwards in a team. They tend to be the bigger, stronger, heavier players in the team. These are the players who use size and strength to get the ball and move it towards the opposition goal-line. They`re also the positions known collectively as "the pack". In the forwards be prepared to make short bruising runs with the ball against their biggest, strongest players. In many cases making a gain of a few metres is what you are striving for.

You will also be defending against their biggest players, trying to avoid giving up any ground to wave after wave of attackers. Forwards also take part in "set piece" contests for the ball. One is known as a "scrum", where forwards from both teams bind together using their bulk, strength and ability to work together to get the ball. Each set of forwards aims to bind tightly together to form one solid mass. You do this to prevent the other pack from 'splintering' or breaking up and weakening the efforts of your pack. When you are in the scrum you also aim to keep low and have a straight back, parallel to the ground. Doing this helps you push more efficiently and resist the push of the opposition pack more effectively. Another set piece is the "line-out" where the forwards contest for possession of the ball after the ball has gone out of play over the side line. The lineout needs tall players to leap for the ball and strong players to assist the leapers. During the course of a game it is usually clear which team has possession of the ball. You can see it being passed from hand to hand as players run with it. At other times it becomes unclear which team has possession.

Informal struggles for the ball take place. It's usually and mainly the forwards who struggle to gain possession but any player can be involved in it. Ball on ground, with feet it's rucking . Ball off ground, with hands it's mauling . Find out more about rucking and mauling in the section on how to play rugby. The "forwards" also work together in defence, co-operating to stop the opposition from moving the ball towards your goal-line. There are groups within the pack named in relation to the places they take up in a scrum. Front row Front row of the scrum The front row forwards group consists of a chunky hooker (number 2) and two even chunkier props (numbers 1 and 3) . Always Loose head prop on the Left. Always Tight head prop on the Right.. The hooker is bound to both props, with one arm around each of them. Each prop binds to the hooker with one arm and to the opposition prop with the other arm. Back row of the scrum Players in the back row have had a few names over the years. The players on either side of the back row used to be called "wing forwards".

Because they are bound only loosely to the tight 5 they have been known as "loose forwards" They break away quickly from scrums and lineouts so have been know as "break-aways". They are now known as flankers. Each flanker is bound to a lock by one arm. The other arm is free. In the middle of the back row, at the very back of the scrum is the big number eight. The number 8 binds to the two locks, with one arm around each. The only backs left to name are the "three-quarters" and fullback. For these positions you need speed, agility and tactical sense. You will also be expected to use your skills to take advantage of lapses in defence by catching the ball at speed and carrying it forward. In defence you will be stopping your opposite number from gaining ground and attempting to regain possession of the ball. You will be expected to run straight and be able to catch and pass well under pressure. The three-quarters grouping contains and the two even faster wing three-quarters (numbers 11 and 14). Which leaves only the last line of defence. The speedy, hard tackling full-back (number 15). This is a trick position - the op...position!

This is about the other lot. You beat them and win the game. This section is to tell you the best way to defeat the opposition is to find out all about how you do it with EvtecHs Evasion TecHniques This tends to be a neglected area of the roles of positions in rugby. Many players attempt to run through or over the opposition but players in every position can benefit by learning to use clever footwork to avoid tacklers. You will progress rapidly in any position if you treat evasion as a basic skill. Just knowing this is extremely valuable information. It's a skill which most players never learn in their entire playing career. All player positions involve both attack and defence. Treat evasion as a vital part of your role in any position. You will be able to create chaos in attack and get out of tricky defensive situations. You`ll be pleased you did, it`s all about how you avoid tackles when the opposition are trying to put you on the floor!. So, that`s it for positions. Work out where you would play well and ... learn to sidestep so you ...... play good rugby then find and ......... help others ............ be a team, above all remember, ............... have fun!!. Next step ... Previous step ...

Return to Select a topic Bodies Size is important. For some positions bulk and weight are an advantage. For others, height. You can be too tall for some. Relative size can be important too. Being a huge prop may be an advantage or not. Too big in relation to the hooker and the other prop may result in an unbalanced scrum. If you have the right knowledge, skills, qualities and attitude you may still excel even if you are not the ideal size. In the lower levels of rugby there is a huge variation in the sizes of players playing in any given position. The higher you go, the more important size becomes, but even at the elite level variations still exist. For example locks need height but not all locks are the same height. Somewhere, some player is the shortest lock! Wings are getting bigger but somewhere there will be the smallest winger. They may be disadvantaged by size but beating opponents with superior evasion or blistering pace. If you would like to know more about the range of sizes of players playing in rugby teams, go to the main menu and visit the player sizes page. It`s about the size of elite players so you can learn a lot when you look at the the relative sizes of players in the different positions.

Italy name most experienced RWC front row Team Announcement Italy name most experienced RWC front row Matias Aguero, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Martin Castrogiovanni will set a World Cup record against France at Twickenham on Saturday, overtaking South African trio from 2011 game against Namibia by Chris Tipping 17/09/2015 13:40 GIVING IT EVERYTHING: Martin Castrogiovanni, who will become Italy's most capped player, belts out the national anthem LONDON, 17 Sept - Italy will field the most-capped starting front-row in Rugby World Cup history in their opening RWC 2015 match against France at Twickenham on Saturday. Loose-head prop Matias Aguero (36), hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini (78) and tight-head prop Martin Castrogiovanni (113) boast a combined total of 227 test appearances, 12 more than the previous best of 215 when Gurthro Steenkamp, John Smit and CJ van der Linde started South Africa's 87-0 win over Namibia during RWC 2011.

There are four changes to the team that started Italy's last test, the 23-19 away defeat in Wales on 5 September, with captain Sergio Parisse the biggest absentee after suffering a blood-clotting problem with his left calf after the Cardiff game. He is replaced by eight-test Samuela Vunisa in the back-row, while Michele Campagnaro and Matias Aguero come into the team at outside-centre and hooker respectively. Andrea Masi moves from full-back to inside-centre in place of Gonzalo Garcia, and Luke McClean is promoted from the bench to start at 15. CAPTAIN FOR 10th TIME There are seven players involved in this matchday 23 who were involved in Italy's last RWC match, the 36-6 defeat by Ireland in Dunedin in 2011. Masi, Ghiraldini, Castrogiovanni, Quintin Geldenhuys and Alessandro Zanni were all starters four years ago, while Edoardo Gori and Luke McLean both played off the bench.

In the absence of Parisse, Castrogiovani will become Italy's most-capped player, making his 114th appearance, while Ghiraldini gets the responsibility as captain, his 10th match leading Italy. He also did the job during the 2010 Six Nations when Parisse was out injured, including the 46-20 defeat by France in Paris. Parisse has captained Italy 65 times. Despite the absence of 100-test Parisse, the line-up is still Italy's second most experienced RWC line-up in terms of caps with 719, after their final match at RWC 2011, the defeat by Ireland, when they had 744. 1. Matias Aguero

Question: What is the name for the centre player in the front row of a rugby scrum?
Answer: Hooker