Rugby union positions

A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements. Each player has a fixed role and each teams will therefore play in the same formation, with only slight variations in use. Rugby union is different from other sports such as soccer with its endless number of 'formations' (4-3-3, 3-5-2 etc.) or cricket, where a player may be moved to a completely different position on the field (e.g. from silly mid-on to deep cover point).

Backs

15. Full back

The role of the full back is primarily defensive; they stand back to cover defensive options as a 'sweeper' behind the main line of defence removed from the other backs. As the last line of defence good tackling skills are required.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They also have to catch the high kicks referred to as "up and unders" or "bombs". Having taken a kick, the full back may counter-attack or punt forwards, so speed and good kicking skills are required. Full backs sometimes act as main goalkickers.

Related Topics:
Up and unders

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In attack, the full back is often positioned behind the back line and runs into the back line at pace and may act as either a decoy runner or an extra man creating an overlap.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notable fullbacks include Christian Cullen (New Zealand), JPR Williams (Wales and Lions), Gavin Hastings (Scotland and Lions), Serge Blanco (France), Percy Montgomery (South Africa) and Matt Burke (Australia).

Related Topics:
Christian Cullen - New Zealand - JPR Williams - Wales - Lions - Gavin Hastings - Scotland - Serge Blanco - France - Percy Montgomery - South Africa - Matt Burke - Australia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See also: Fullback

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

14. and 11. Wing

The wings act as "finishers" to finish movements by scoring tries. The idea being that the space should be created by the forwards and backs inside the wingers so once they receive the ball they have a clear run to use their speed and agility to score tries. They are often the quickest members of the team and need to able to jink and side step to finish off scoring situations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They must also be good tacklers, if the other team get past them a big gain or a try is on the cards. They also often act as additional full backs on opposition kicks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A modern use of the wing is as a link player. They retain all the traditional skills of a wing, but are able to combine these with skills more traditionally associated with half backs. As the play goes through multiple phases the scrum half or fly half may be taken out play, if this occurs the blind side wing can step in to perform a creative role. The best example was supplied by Austin Healey, others such as Breyton Paulse, Shane Williams and James Simpson-Daniel play a similar role.

Related Topics:
Austin Healey - Breyton Paulse - Shane Williams - James Simpson-Daniel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notable wings include Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand), David Campese (Australia), Gerald Davies (Wales and Lions), Rory Underwood (England and Lions), Bryan Habana (South Africa) and Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji)

Related Topics:
Jonah Lomu - New Zealand - Joe Rokocoko - David Campese - Australia - Gerald Davies - Wales - Lions - Rory Underwood - England - Bryan Habana - South Africa - Rupeni Caucaunibuca - Fiji

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See also: Winger (sport)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

13. Outside centre & 12. Inside centre

Centres need to have a strong all-round game, they need to be able to break through opposition lines and pass the ball accurately. When attack turns into defence they need to be strong in the tackle. Usually the two centres are divided into outside centre and inside centre, though sometimes teams play with left and right centres.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The outside is typically the lighter, more agile of the two centres. They are the "rapiers" that are given the ball normally via the fly half to make breaks through the opposition backs before offloading to the wingers after drawing the last line of defence. An outside centre should be very strong, fast and able to pass with pinpoint accuracy under pressure.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The inside centre tends to be the larger of the two centres and the largest back. In defence or attack, the inside centre is always in the thick of the action, drawing the opposition's defence, making the breaks to make the space for the outside centre and dishing out the tackles in defence along with the forwards. Some of the skills of the fly-half such as distribution and kicking can be advantageous as the inside centre may be expected to act as a fly-half if the normal fly-half is involved in a ruck or maul.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notable outside centres include Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland and Lions), Danie Gerber (South Africa) and Jeremy Guscott (England and Lions) and Jean de Villiers (South Africa).

Related Topics:
Brian O'Driscoll - Ireland - Lions - Danie Gerber - South Africa - Jeremy Guscott - England - Jean de Villiers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notable inside centres include Scott Gibbs (Wales and Lions), Philippe Sella (France) and Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland and Lions).

Related Topics:
Scott Gibbs - Wales - Lions - Philippe Sella - France - Gordon D'Arcy - Ireland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

10. Fly-half

Fly half is short for flying half back because they take the ball on the run. They are probably the most influential players on the pitch. The fly half is the person who makes key decisions during a game such as whether to kick for space, move the ball wide or run with the ball themselves. They should be very fast, able to kick with both feet, have brilliant handling skills, and operate well under pressure.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Games are rarely won on tries alone, which makes the fly-half the most important player in the side as they are usually the side's kicker, and therefore main points-scorer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notable fly-halves include Joel Stransky (South Africa), Phil Bennett (Wales and Lions), Andrew Mehrtens (New Zealand), Gregor Townsend (Scotland and Lions), Barry John (Wales and Lions), Mark Ella (Australia), Stephen Larkham (Australia), Jonny Wilkinson (England and Lions), Daniel Carter (New Zealand) and Hugo Porta (Argentina).

Related Topics:
Joel Stransky - South Africa - Phil Bennett - Wales - Lions - Andrew Mehrtens - New Zealand - Gregor Townsend - Scotland - Barry John - Mark Ella - Australia - Stephen Larkham - Jonny Wilkinson - England - Daniel Carter - Hugo Porta - Argentina

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

9. Scrum-half

Scrum halves form the all-important link between the forwards and the backs. They normally act as the 'General' for the forwards and are always in the hub of the action. A scrum half is normally quite small but with a high degree of vision and able to react to situations very quickly, pound-for-pound is very strong as they will spend a large percentage of their time up with the forwards and with superb handling skills, enabling more time on the ball and so less 'pressure' for his 'inside' backs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They are often the first tackler in defence and are behind every scrum, maul or ruck to get the ball out and maintain movement. They put the ball into the scrum and collect it afterwards, they also are allowed to stand further forward than other backs at a line-out to try to catch knock downs from the jumper.

Related Topics:
Scrum - Line-out

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is also not unusual to have talkative scrum halves in competitive situations. Though technically illegal, it is seen as a virtue in a scrum half to be able to subtly alert the referee of offences on the part of the opposition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notable scrum-halves include Nick Farr-Jones (Australia), Gary Armstrong (Scotland and Lions), Justin Marshall (New Zealand), Gareth Edwards (Wales and Lions), Rob Howley (Wales and Lions), George Gregan (Australia), Danie Craven (South Africa), Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa) and Dwayne Peel (Wales)

Related Topics:
Nick Farr-Jones - Australia - Gary Armstrong - Scotland - Lions - Justin Marshall - New Zealand - Gareth Edwards - Wales - Rob Howley - George Gregan - Danie Craven - South Africa - Joost van der Westhuizen - Dwayne Peel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~