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. The first internationals were played 20 a side (Scotland vs. England being the first in 1871). The number of players was reduced to 15 in 1876 after Oxford persuaded Cambridge to play the varsity match with just 15 players in 1874/75.

The move was a great success since it opened up the space in which to run with the ball. Most club games used 15 players during 1876 and the first international with fifteen players was England vs. Ireland in 1877. "Numbers are not necessary and they savour of professionalism and the circus" The First Numbers The practice of showing the player's number on the shirt/jersey started in 1897 when New Zealand played Queensland in Brisbane (which was the first New Zealand tour match). The idea was to enable spectators to identify players by placing numbers on their backs. Match cards (programmes) were sold listing the players' names and their corresponding numbers, and these proved popular with the public. The numbers used on that tour were 1 to 15 (from full-back to the forwards) for New Zealand and 16 to 30 for the host teams. The Australians quickly adopted the practice for their Tests against New Zealand ( the first Trans-Tasman Test, 15th August, 1903) and the British/Irish (1904) they numbered teams in reverse with the full-back wearing 15, as today.

South Africa wore numbers for the first time in 1906 on their tour to the UK. The All Blacks wore numbers when they made their first official tour to Britain, and for the famous Wales Test at Cardiff on December 16, 1905 both teams were numbered: 1 for full-back (Wales), but 15 for full-back (New Zealand). 1905 All Blacks vs Midland Counties In 1921 England and Wales brought the matter before the IRB but the conclusion was that this was a matter to be decided by the individual unions. In 1922 England played Wales in Cardiff and both teams used player numbering for the first time in a home nations championship game (Six nations). Some other countries did not adopt it till much later e.g. Scotland who adopted it first in 1928 in a game against France. Interestingly enough the committee consulted a senior cap (John Bannerman) afterwards to elicit the the views of the players and after the feedback was against it, they removed the numbers again until re-introducing them in 1933.

When Scotland played England in the Calcutta cup at Twickenham in 1928 King George V asked a former president of the SFU James Aikman Smith (known as Napoleon) why Scotland were not wearing numbers and was told "This sir is a rugby match not a cattle sale". Numbers did not return to Scotland's jerseys until two years after Smith's death. Official programmes were usually very flimsy productions produced by the Union staging a Test, but there were often "pirate" versions issued by opportunists out to make a fast buck. The Unions deliberately chopped and changed numbering methods to outwit the pirates, and the public were warned, in the press and at grounds, that only the official programmes had the "correct numbers for players." Edinburgh Academicals and Herriot's College arranged to number their players for the game on Saturday 21st February 1931. The first time two Scottish teams were numbered. By 1950 all the home nations used numbers but England, Scotland and Wales numbered the players starting from the full back (1) and France and Ireland did the reverse with the fullback being 15.

By 1960/1 they had all agreed to use the France/Ireland numbering. The RFU publication "Rugby Union Football - Know the game" 1950 states that there are no hard and fast rules governing the names of the positions or the numbers worn but lists the custom in Britain at the time. The following table lists some of the common formats although it should be noted that many changes occurred over the years and sometimes just for specific tours. Position 16 onwards, up to 22 Notes: 1. Other common variations in the numbering is the interchange of 6 and 7 (particularly in South Africa and Argentina) or 11 and 14. 2. Wales avoided the number 13 for a number of years and therefore numbered 1-16. 3. Wales switched to letters in the 1930s but ended this practice during the 1950s. Letters Some clubs and international sides like Wales used letters instead of numbers,below is a picture of England vs. Wales in 1939 just after Derek Teden has scored the winning try. The Welsh players can clearly be seen sporting letters not numbers i.e.

Woller (C) and Jenkins (A). Some clubs, out of tradition, used special player labeling schemes for a number of years. Notably Leicester Tigers and Bristol used alternative schemes consisting of letters, whilst others Bath and Richmond used a scheme with no number 13. West Hartlepool hung up their No. 5 jersey in memory of their lock John How who died of a heart condition in a 1994 league match. Below you can see Bristol (letters) playing Bath (no number 13). The English Premiership sides have ceased using these special labeling schemes, to better aid the understanding of those new to the sport. There also used to be regional variations to the way line-ups were listed. Most of the time, the first player mentioned is actually the number 15. The two mainstream styles of listing a line-up are 15-9 then 1-8 and 15-1. However, you may see the centers messed up and the same is often done to the back row.

The British media usually use the 15-9, 1-8 methodology, an article taken from Scrum.com (historian John Griffiths) explains this as follows: "The first Test played under rugby union rules was Scotland v England at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, on March 27, 1871. The most detailed coverage of that match appeared in the next day's edition of The Scotsman. Nearly 24 inches (60 cm) of column space was given to the game and the teams were prominently displayed to show clearly the players' positions on the field. The English Twenty was listed first, with the backs preceding the forwards. The so-called "Scotch" Twenty was listed underneath in the same way" - John Griffiths Formations varied many times in the late 1800s. Teams were reduced to fifteen-a-side for the 1877 international matches, but it was not until 1894, when all four of the Home Unions adopted the four three-quarter system, that team line-ups began to resemble today's formations. For many years teams were listed with the words full-back, three-quarters, half-backs and forwards added for clarification.

Nowadays the British/Irish press assume their readers are familiar with team formations. The earliest Test cards (programmes) that are still in existence date from the Scotland v England match of 1873 at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow. The teams were listed from back to front on that card, as indeed they were on the England v Scotland 1876 card for the match at The Oval and the Ireland v England 1875 card for the game at the Rathmines Cricket Ground in Dublin - the earliest-known programmes still in existence for English and Irish home Tests. It is probable that the media took the team lists from the match programmes. " Player number/letter chart Positions – Talk Rugby Union Scroll Up Rugby Union Positions Aside from the obvious, one major distinction between football and rugby union is the latter’s extra emphasis on positional discipline. Whereas football is decidedly fluid, with most players having the freedom to assist in areas which are not their forte and often having personal squad numbers, rugby union players are numbered according to their position, with each one carrying with it a series of responsibilities.

The basic split in a 15-man rugby union side is between the eight Forwards (numbered 1-8) and the seven Backs (numbered 9-15). These two camps both have basic tasks to achieve as a group but, more specifically, contain players with particular skills to complete them successfully. The Forwards The Forwards’ chief responsibility is to gain and retain possession of the ball, whether in open play or from set pieces such as the scrum and the line-out. They will contain the most physically intimidating members of the team, with weight and power a major issue. However, as general athletic standards have increased in the modern game, so Forwards are today expected to have some speed and agility, particularly when carrying the ball. The Forwards are made up of the following positions: Loosehead Prop (No. 1) The loosehead prop supports the hooker in the scrum and the jumpers in the line-out. He/she must have plenty of power for the scrum but, at the same time, they are vital to the proper functioning and movement of the scrum. Indeed, when substituting a prop, his/her replacement must be a prop themselves, such are the skills required.

More specifically, the loosehead prop can be found on the left-hand side of the scrum and is so called because he/she is not locked into the scrum. Instead, his/her head is outside that of the opposition tighthead prop Tighthead Prop (No. 3) Identical to the loosehead prop, but the tighthead packs down on the right-hand side of the scrum and is named ‘tighthead’ because they are locked between two opponents (the loosehead prop and the hooker). There are other subtle differences in technique, which you will pick up as you get further into the sport. Famous Props – Jason Leonard (England), Wilson James Whineray (New Zealand). Hooker (No. 2) The hookers are unsurprisingly responsible chiefly for hooking the ball with their feet in the scrum, although some are experienced and skilled enough to act as an extra prop as well (to complicate opposition feeds by the scrum-half). The hooker additionally usually throw the ball at line-outs, and it’s their responsibility to ensure success with good distribution. Famous Hookers – Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand) The Locks (Nos.

4 & 5) The locks are typically the tallest players and act as targets at line-outs, having to catch and distribute to the scrum-half or at least pat the ball on his/her team’s side. At the scrum, they are vitally located between the props and the hooker, and provide balance and momentum to the team’s efforts. They are also extremely important in rucks and mauls, and need to be effective ball carriers, making the locks pivotal to how the forwards generally operate and succeed. Famous Locks – Martin Johnson (England), Colin Meads (New Zealand), John Eales (Australia) Blindside Flanker (No. 6) The flanker is a curiosity in rugby union, being the only true all-rounder position with no set duties. It is therefore paradoxical that flankers are considered potential game-winning players. In the scrum, they are not big pushers and, although they must stay locked to the scrum until the ball is out (a recent introduction to the laws), they must respond quickly and unbind when it does.

Blindside flankers are generally larger than their openside counterparts and are so-called because they attach to the scrum on the side closer to the touchline and cover attacks on the blindside of the scrum. Throughout the game, the blindside flanker should act as a real ball-winner and can even perform duties as a jumper in the lineout. Openside Flanker (No. 7) Fundamentally similar to the blindside flanker, the openside equivalent is usually smaller and more agile, with extra pace to provide impetus to attacks. In the scrum, they are found on the side furthest from the touchline, allowing them to get into open play more quickly and, if they receive possession, test out the opponent’s defence for weaknesses. Famous Flankers – Richie McCaw (New Zealand), François Pienaar (South Africa), Wavell Wakefield (England) Number Eight (No. 8) The number eight is very much a linking man for the Forwards and the Backs, incorporating the attributes of both sets. Their fundamental role is to augment the team’s ball-winning and ball-carrying.

As such, they can be found in the rear of the scrum, controlling the movement and either feeding the ball to the scrum-half once it has been hooked back, or taking the ball on and running at the opposition. Similarly, they are typically located at the back of the lineout, providing an option for a long throw-in. Famous Number Eights – Hennie Muller (South Africa), Lawrence Dallaglio (England), Morne du Plessis (South Africa) The Backs The Backs are expected to both create and convert point-scoring opportunities after the ball has been won and taken on by the Forwards. All members have to be agile and dynamic, with pace a major attribute for many positions, but kicking skills are a priority elsewhere. Moreover, just as the Forwards have grown more agile in recent years, so too the disparity in size and strength between the Forwards and the Backs has shrunk markedly to allow the latter to contribute more effectively in defence and attack. Scrum-half (No. 9) Much like the number 8 links the Forwards to the Backs, so too the scrum-half connects the Backs to the Forwards.

The scrum-half is involved in play at all times – feeding the ball into the scrum and usually distributing after it has left, standing at the side of the lineout waiting to receive the ball from the jumpers, and following rucks and mauls. He or she is also the first line of defence in most situations. Precisely because of these duties, the scrum-half has to be smaller than the majority of the team, have outstanding handling and distribution, as well as a fair amount of guile. For example, England’s Matt Dawson set up teammate Jonny Wilkinson’s famous drop goal to win the World Cup final in 2003 with what he later described as a ‘schoolboy dummy’ to evade tacklers and gain the necessary territory, putting Wilkinson in range. Famous Scrum-Halves – Gareth Edwards (Wales; arguably the greatest player of all-time), Matt Dawson (England), George Gregan (Australia) Fly-half (No. 10) Otherwise known as the flying half back, the fly-half is arguably the most influential player on the pitch, as he calls the tactical game on the pitch with his kicking, distribution and ball-carrying from deep.

The fly-half is also typically the goal-kicker. As a result, the fly-half has to be a leader, a powerful and accurate kicker, and yet also perform to the highest standard in defense. Famous Fly-Halves – Jonny Wilkinson (England), Grant Fox (New Zealand), Michael Lynagh (Australia), Daniel Carter (New Zealand) Wingers (Nos. 11 & 14) The wingers are big try scorers and are usually seen on hand finishing a successful attack. Every time you hear a commentator refer to an ‘overlap’, for example, it will typically be the winger who receives the scoring pass. Therefore, the wingers are the quickest players and, during attacks, run into the space up to the try line provided by the forwards and the other backs. That said, because of their defensive duties, recent decades have seen more powerful wingers who can ride tackles as well as put in strong ones of their own. The incredible impact of New Zealand’s 19-stone winger Jonah Lomu in the 1995 and 1999 World Cups was a decisive moment, encouraging wingers to take on the traits of other players as well as their physiques.

As such, wingers today can also be ‘link players’, comprising the skills of half-backs and fullbacks as part of ‘the 3’ (the two wingers and the full-back – all with starting positions closest to their team’s goal area). Famous Wingers – David Campese (Australia), Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), Doug Howlett (New Zealand), Jason Robinson (England) Inside Centre (No. 12) & Outside Centre (No. 13) Like their flanker counterparts in the Forwards, the Centres are all-rounders, but with extra power, mobility and handling to augment the defensive capabilities of the Backs as well as provide some venom to the offence. Both Centres receive frequent balls from the fly-half to test the opposition’s defensive line and expose gaps which either they or the wingers can profit from. However, whereas the outside centre tends more towards wing-play, the inside centre more closely approximates the fly-half in his or her abilities.

It is subsequently far from unique for a fly-half to play at inside centre and vice versa (England’s Jonny Wilkinson is a notable example) Famous Centres – Tana Umaga (New Zealand), Philippe Sella (France), Mike Tindall (England), Mils Muliaina (New Zealand) Fullback (No. 15) The fullback acts as a sweeper behind the first few lines of defence, but his responsibilities don’t end with tackling. The fullback must also have good handling, distribution and kicking. Furthermore, despite his withdrawn position in the scrums and the lineouts, the fullback has become increasingly pivotal to a team’s offensive game in recent years – initiating attacks from deep in the field. One tradition which has endured is the fullback’s duty to contend with high-kicks from opposition players while under pressure. Famous Fullbacks – Christian Cullen (New Zealand), Gavin Hastings (Scotland), George Nepia (New Zealand) 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. World Rugby Shop - T-Shirts | WORLDRUGBYSHOP.COM Rugby Balls Starting At $7.99 Details For a limited time, pick up rugby balls for as low as $7.99. SHOP NOW 9 - Scrum Half | In The Loose Latest Rugby News Contact Us 9 – Scrum Half Although the scrum half is often the smallest player on the pitch, they are also amongst one of the most tenacious. A good number 9 needs to have strong on-field leadership skills to help manage their teams play and be able to influence the referee without becoming a nuisance. The scrum half must also be amongst the fittest players on the pitch as they will need to run from ruck to ruck to distribute the ball. The scrum half must have one of the most rounded skill sets on the field able to kick, tackle and pass well on either sidewith all three of these skill sets being regularly tested throughout a match.

The scrum half is a key leader of the pack and must be the eyes for their forwards during rucks and scrums making decisions for them and distributing them around the field in attack and defence. Build The actual build of a scrum half isn’t really that important in the modern game with number 9’s coming in all shapes and sizes. Whilst Mike Phillips is big enough to play in the back row of his forwards, many other scrum halves are significantly smaller than other members of their team. Ideally a scrum half shouldn’t be too big as they will be required to do a lot of explosive running but must still be large enough to bring down any member of the oppositions team. In The Loose The scrum half has a variety of roles to play whilst the ball is in the loose. One of their key roles is the distribution of the ball from the base of the ruck. After the forwards have secured the ball the scrum half will pick the ball up from the base to either recycle it through their forwards or distribute it out to their backs to run a play. In defensive rucks the scrum half will usually stand behind the ruck ready to defend against any player who may attempt to run over the top.

The scrum half may also opt to kick the ball either to try to gain territory or by utilising the box kick to allow their team to attempt to reclaim the ball after it is punted into the air. As a final alternative the scrum half may decide to run the ball themselves if they feel a gap has opened up in the opposition defensive line which would allow them to dart through. Both in attack and defence the scrum half must organise their teams forwards, distributing them around the field to either create an opening in attack or to counter any potential opposition moves. In defence the scrum half will also often act as a kind of sweeper following the ball across the pitch ready to jump on any balls chipped over their teams defensive line or making a last ditch tackle on any opposition players who breakthrough. In The Scrum Although the scrum half isn’t actually in the scrum they still have an important role to play during the set-piece. On their own put in they will stand on the left hand side of the scrum and feed the ball in between their loosehead and the opposition tighthead.

It is important the ball is fed in straight although the scrum half may provide their hooker with a signal that the ball is being put in so as to give their team the best chance of winning the ball back. Once the ball has been hooked back to the feet of the number 8 the scrum half will move round to the back of the scrum ready to pick the ball up to kick or pass or support their number 8 should they pick up and go. During an opposition put-in the scrum half will follow the opposition 9 round to the back of the scrum but must remain on their teams side of the ball or risk being called as offside. Once the ball comes out of the back of the scrum the number 9 will then often be the first up tackler attempting to disrupt the opposition runners and ball players. Whilst the forwards are bound in the scrum the number 9 becomes their eyes and will therefore be the key decision maker. The scrum half will have to alert their loose forwards to any potential dangers as players attempt to break off the scrum with the ball. They will also let the number 8 know whether there is an opposition to pick the ball up and make a run down either side of the scrum.

In The Line Out The scrum half isn’t directly involved in the actual line-out but will often act as the distributor should their team win the ball. The scrum half must be ready to catch and knock-downs or grab the ball out of the hands of their forwards after it has been caught. Once the ball has been won the scrum half must again decide how best to distribute the ball, this may involve kicking, passing or calling on their forwards to carry it forward. On defensive line outs the scrum half will often stand in the channel whilst the opposition hooker throws the ball into the set piece. This allows the scrum halves hooker to defend the back of the line out whilst the scrum half must defence the channel in front of the line out should and opposition players attempt to run down it. In A Maul The scrum half plays around the back of a maul in a very similar way to how they play around a ruck. Whilst the forwards will attempt to drive the maul forwards the scrum half will remain out of the maul but close at the back ready to receive the ball for distribution.

Should the opposition hold the ball in a maul the scrum half will usually defend around the fringes of the maul ready to tackle and opposition runners. Example Joost van der Westhuizen must be considered one of the greatest scrum halves to have every played the game. A pivotal figure in South Africa’s 1995 World Cup triumph, he perfectly combined brains and brawn to fulfil the scrum half role perfectly. He will forever be remembered for his tackles on giant All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu but his quick bursts through the opposition defence were also key to a South African victory. It's only fair to share... 2013-06-02 5 Ways to Know Positions and Basics of Rugby - wikiHow Forward Positions 1 A rugby team is comprised of 15 players, which are divided into forwards and backs. One of the easiest ways to identify a forward from a back is by their number; it indicates their position. The forwards are also the stronger ones on the team and are responsible for getting mauls, rucks, and comprising the scrum.

The forwards wear numbers one through eight and the backs wear nine through fifteen 2 Numbers one and three are called “props”; they are usually the biggest and/or strongest ones on the team. A prop’s role is to “prop” up the number two position, which is called a “hooker”. 3 A hooker is usually one of the smaller players and their job is to “hook the ball” back for the scrum-half during a scrum. 4 Numbers four and five are “second rows” and are usually the taller ones on the team. Second rows go behind the front three during a scrum and provide support. 5 Numbers six and seven are called “flankers” and they attach to the scrum next to the second rows. They help drive the scrum forward when it is in motion. They are also usually the first ones out of the scrum and are the faster forwards. 6 The number eight position is called “eight man” and that player is allowed to act as the scrum-half and get the ball when the offense is winning the scrum. Method Back Position 1 Number nine is the “scrum-half”. The scrum-half is generally the fastest player on the team.

They are responsible for getting the ball out of the scrum once it has reached the back of it and also putting the ball in once a scrum has been called. 2 Number ten is called the “fly-half” and they are usually the ones who do the kicking if the ball is in a certain area. 3 Numbers eleven and fourteen are “wings” and they are exceptionally fast. During kick-offs, they usually receive the ball and they do most of the scoring. 4 Numbers twelve and thirteen are “centres”. The centres are involved in most of the back line passing and are also very fast. 5 The last position, number fifteen, is called the “full back”. The full back is behind the defense and near the back of the field. They are usually the ones who catch the ball when the other team’s fly-half has kicked it during play. To see a photo of rugby positions in relation to the field, use the following link: [ [1] ] Method Commonly Used Terms 1 Maul = when the ball carrier is tackled, but not brought to the ground. Members of both teams may join to try to pry the ball out and bring it back into play.

If it is held up for a period of time, a scrum is called. 2 Ruck= when the ball carrier is tackled and brought to the ground. Members of both teams may join. Hands are not allowed to get the ball out, only feet. The ball may be picked up when it is out of the ruck. 3 Scrum = occurs after a minor penalty has occurred. Both teams of forwards comprise the scrum and try to regain possession of the ball. 4 Line Out = occurs when the ball is either kicked, thrown, or a player is tackled and the ball goes out of bounds. Method Rules, Regulations, and Gameplay 1 The rules and regulations of rugby may be confusing. A regulation rugby match lasts 80 minutes with a 5-minute halftime. Injury time is also added on to the clock when necessary. Since it is not native to the U.S., the field measurements are metric. 2 The game begins when the “sir” (referee) blows the whistle. Similar to football, there is a kicking and receiving team at the beginning of each half. 3 Once the ball has been kicked and received by the offensive team, play will begin.

Once the ball is in play, it may be passed or kicked to other members of the team; however, kicking is usually only used when the ball is on the ground or to advance on the field. 4 Unlike football, the ball can not be passed forwards; only backwards. 5 The backs do most of the ball handling, as they are the faster ones on the team. Likewise, the forwards do most of the tackling, as they are the stronger or bigger ones on the team. Method Penalty Plays 1 A scrum is called when something occurs within a ruck or maul, or it is offside. The scrum-half of the team the penalty was not called on puts the ball in the scrum once it is in formation. Once the ball is put in, the hookers from both sides use their feet to try to hook the ball back for their team to get possession of the ball. Once it reaches the eight-man, the scrum-half or eight-man may pick up the ball and resume play. However, if the ball goes out of bounds, a line out occurs. 2 Usually the hooker is the one that throws the ball in from the touchline.

The pods vary in size (there may be only one or multiple) and the offensive team chooses how many they wish to do; the defensive team has to match. During a line out, the hooker (or whoever throws the ball) calls the play and the specific pod, comprised of two lifters and a jumper, will jump up to try to knock the ball down to their team’s side. Once the ball is knocked down, the game resumes as normal. Community Q&A If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Video Tips Don't be afraid to ask someone how to do something; it's confusing at first and people will be willing to explain it. Although playing is the best way to learn how to play, watching a few games to get a better understanding of it may help. Wearing a scrum cap and/or a gumshield is advised when playing Rugby. It keeps you safe and no one should feel daft or embarrassed when wearing any protective gear. You'll find that wearing a mouth guard in rugby is mandatory in most games. Warnings Rugby IS a fast-paced and hard-hitting sport. Injuries are likely to occur, even with proper playing skills.

Things You'll Need To Play Rugby ball Rugby field Cleats (Soccer cleats are fine, but avoid those that have studs/blades in the toe section due to regulation reasons) Mouthguard (Optional though recommended)

Question: What number does the scrum half in a rugby union team wear on their shirt?
Answer: 9