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).

Forwards

1. Loosehead prop & 3. Tighthead prop

The role of both the loose- and tighthead props is to support the hooker in the scrum and to provide effective, dynamic support for the jumpers in the line-out. Props are provide the main power in the push forward in the scrum, and it is for this reason that they need to be exceptionally strong. Under modern rules non-specialists are not allowed to play as props as they are key to making sure that the scrum does not collapse, which can be very dangerous.

Related Topics:
Scrum - Line-out

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A tighthead prop is so called because they pack down on the right-hand side of the scrum and so their head fits between the opposing loosehead prop and hooker. In contrast, the loosehead prop packs down on the left-hand side where their head is outside that of the opposing tighthead prop. Although it may look to the neutral observer that the two positions are quite similar (and some players have the ability to play on both sides of the scrum), the technical challenges of each are quite different.

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The laws of the game require the tighthead prop to bind with his right arm outside the left upper arm of his opposing loosehead prop and similarly they restrict what the loosehead prop can do with his left arm. Although the scrum half may put the ball in on either side of the scrum, he is unlikely to choose the tighthead side because otherwise the opposing hooker would be between him and his own hooker. Hence, the laws implicitly require the loosehead prop to be on the left side of the scrum.

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Props are also in the position of being able to direct the movement of the scrum in moving side to side to prevent the other teams scrum from "wheeling" the set scrum and forcing another "put in" from the opposing side

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Notable loosehead props include Jason Leonard (England and Lions), who is also one of a rare breed who can prop on either side and Os du Randt (South Africa).

Related Topics:
Jason Leonard - England - Lions - Os du Randt - South Africa

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Notable tighthead props include John Hayes (Ireland and Lions), Graham Price (Wales and Lions), Phil Vickery (England and Lions)and Olo Brown (New Zealand).

Related Topics:
John Hayes - Ireland - Lions - Graham Price - Wales - Phil Vickery - England - Olo Brown - New Zealand

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2. Hooker

The hooker uses their feet to 'hook' the ball in the scrum, because of the pressure put on the body by the scrum it is considered to be one of the most dangerous positions to play. They also normally throw the ball in at line-outs, partly because they are normally the shortest of the forwards, but more usually beacuse they are the most skillfull of the forwards. When line-outs go wrong the hooker is often made a scapegoat even though the fault may actually lie with the jumpers. Hookers have more in common with back row forwards than props or locks as they have a roving role at line-outs and do not push as much in the scrum as other front row forwards.

Related Topics:
Scrum - Line-outs

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Notable hookers include Brian Moore (England and Lions) , Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), Keith Wood (Ireland and Lions), Raphael Ibanez (France), Bobby Windsor (Wales and Lions), Steve Thompson (England and Lions).

Related Topics:
Brian Moore - England - Lions - Sean Fitzpatrick - New Zealand - Keith Wood - Ireland - Raphael Ibanez - France - Bobby Windsor - Wales - Steve Thompson

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4. & 5. Lock

Locks are almost always the tallest players on the team and so are the primary targets at line-outs. At line-outs, locks must jump aggressively to catch the ball and get it to the scrum half or at least get the first touch so that the ball comes down on their own side.

Related Topics:
Line-outs

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The two locks stick their heads between the two props and the hooker in the scrums. They are also responsible for keeping the scrum square and provide the power to shift it forward. (This position is referred to as the "engine room".)

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Locks are normally tall, very athletic and have an excellent standing jump along with good strength. They also make good ball carriers, bashing holes in the defence around the ruck and maul.

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Notable locks include Paul O'Connell (Ireland and Lions), John Eales (Australia), Colin Meads (New Zealand), Malcolm O'Kelly (Ireland and Lions), Fabien Pelous (France), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland and Lions) and Martin Johnson (England and Lions).

Related Topics:
Paul O'Connell - Ireland - Lions - John Eales - Australia - Colin Meads - New Zealand - Malcolm O'Kelly - Fabien Pelous - France - Donncha O'Callaghan - Martin Johnson - England

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6. Blindside flanker & 7. Openside flanker

The players with the fewest set responsibilities and therefore the position where the player should have all round attributes, speed strength fitness handling skills amongst other skills. Flankers are always involved in the game, as they are the real ball winners in broken play especially the no. 7.

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Flankers do less pushing in the scrum than the tight five, but need to be fast as their task is to break quickly and cover the opposing half-backs if the opponents win the scrum. At one time flankers were allowed to break away from the scrum with the ball.

Related Topics:
Scrum

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Flankers can be broken down into opensides (occasionally known as strong side), who attach themselves to the scrum on whichever side is furthest from the touchline and blindsides (occasionally known as weak side or closed side), who attach themselves to the scrum on whichever side is closest to the touchline.

Related Topics:
Scrum

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Since most of the back play is usually on the open side where there is more space it is usually the openside flanker's job to be the first to the breakdown of play and get their hands on any loose ball (or to cause a breakdown by tackling the ball carrier or otherwise harrying him into error). At a scrum where the ball has been won by the opposition they have the best view of when the ball is out. As soon as this happens they will generally break and quickly close them down, reducing the time they have to kick or pass. The openside is normally smaller, faster and more mobile as they start play nearer to the potential action and needs to be the first person to arrive at the breakdown.

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The blindside flanker on the other hand must be able to stop a blindside move and if the play goes openside he must then get to the breakdown as quickly as possible where he may be needed to tidy up after the openside. While he must be fast he doesn't need to be as fast as the openside and his role is more of a stabilizer than havoc-wreaker. They are generally larger as they have a more physical role to play at the line-out and may well be used as a jumper.

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Flankers are not always divided into opensides and blindsides: French teams tend not to make a distinction between the two roles, and usually play left and right rather than open and blind. Nor do shirt numbers necessarily denote which role a flanker plays. As an example, the outstanding flanker Serge Betsen (France) wears the number six (the blindside's number in the Home Nations, New Zealand and Australia), but packs down on both open and blind sides of the scrum during a game, and harasses the opposition fly-half in the manner of an openside. South African teams tend to play the faster, more agile 'fetcher' in the six shirt, while the larger flanker wears seven. Other international teams have also abandoned conventions from time to time; flankers Findlay Calder and John Jeffrey (Scotland) played left and right, rather than open and blind.

Related Topics:
Serge Betsen - France - Findlay Calder - John Jeffrey - Scotland

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Notable blindsides include Francois Pienaar (South Africa), John Jeffrey (Scotland and Lions), and Jerry Collins (New Zealand).

Related Topics:
Francois Pienaar - South Africa - John Jeffrey - Scotland - Lions - Jerry Collins - New Zealand

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Notable opensides include Neil Back (England and Lions), Michael Jones (New Zealand), Fergus Slattery (Ireland and Lions), Finlay Calder (Scotland and Lions), Josh Kronfeld (New Zealand), and Richie McCaw (New Zealand).

Related Topics:
Neil Back - England - Lions - Michael Jones - New Zealand - Fergus Slattery - Ireland - Finlay Calder - Scotland - Josh Kronfeld - Richie McCaw

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George Smith (Australia) is a notable flanker who is often played on the blindside, but generally plays like a second openside in tandem with Phil Waugh. Richard Hill (England and Lions) is similarly versatile, as is the young South Africa star Schalk Burger.

Related Topics:
George Smith - Australia - Phil Waugh - Richard Hill - England - Lions - South Africa - Schalk Burger

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Serge Betsen and Olivier Magne (France) are perhaps the most outstanding left/right combination of recent years.

Related Topics:
Serge Betsen - Olivier Magne - France

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8. Number eight

Number eight is the only position that does not have a specific name and is simply referred to as 'number eight'. The modern number eight has the physical strength of a forward along with the speed and skill of a back. The number eight packs down at the rear of the scrum, controlling the movement and feeding the ball to the scrum-half. The number 8 is the position where the ball enters the backline from the scrum and hence both fly half and inside centre take their role from the number 8 who as the last player in the scrum can elect to pick and run with the ball like a back. No other forward player from a scrum can legally do this. As a result the number 8 has the opportunities as a back to run from set plays.

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Normally tall and athletic and used as an option to win the ball from the back of the lineout. Like flankers they do less of the pushing than locks or props, but need to be quick to cover opposition half-backs. A number eight should be a key ball winner in broken play, and occasionally a 'battering rams' at the front of rucks.

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Notable number eights include Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand), Gary Teichmann (South Africa), Lawrence Dallaglio (England and Lions), Dean Richards (England and Lions), Mervyn Davies (Wales and Lions), Victor Costello (Ireland) and Imanol Harinordoquy (France).

Related Topics:
Zinzan Brooke - New Zealand - Gary Teichmann - South Africa - Lawrence Dallaglio - England - Lions - Dean Richards - Mervyn Davies - Wales - Victor Costello - Ireland - Imanol Harinordoquy - France

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Some back-row players are versatile enough to play either of the flanker positions or at number 8; one notable example is Joe van Niekerk (South Africa).

Related Topics:
Joe van Niekerk - South Africa

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Another even more versatile player in this vein is Michael Owen (Wales and Lions), who is normally a number 8, but has frequently played at both flanker positions, and has even successfully played at lock.

Related Topics:
Michael Owen - Wales - Lions

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