Rugby Positions: Everything You Need To Know

Rugby Ball. Photo by Edgar Pimenta on Unsplash

Rugby Positions: Everything You Need To Know

There are different types of Rugby played all over the world. The most popular rugby league is Rugby Union, featuring 15 players on the field for each team.  In some countries, you can also engage with the Rugby League, which is less popular but faster-paced brand of the game. It features 13 players on the field per team. Finally, nowadays we have the sevens rugby which is no doubt the most exciting and digestible form of the game for alienated fans. It features seven players on the field per team.  We even have a world circuit for the sevens rugby.

There is a general myth that Rugby is only played by people with large body masses. In this article we will be trying to demystify this notion. For rugby enthusiasts It is worth noting that, all rugby positions requires a different set of physical and technical attributes and it is this diversity which makes the game so accessible to all.

For beginners you need to understand that in rugby there are 15 different positions which are: loose-head prop, hooker, tight-head prop, second row(4), second row (5), blind-side flanker, open-side flanker, number 8, scrum-half, fly-half, left wing, inside center, outside center, right wing, and full-back.

Interestingly, all types of rugby positions will always have the same names. They’ll just be minimized, say if you are playing 7 on 7 instead of 15 on 15. Whether it’s a 15’s, 13’s, or 7’s field that you’re stepping on, each team will be split up into the following two groups, backs and forwards.

1. Loose head and Tight head Prop

Rugby move. Author Jonas de Carvalho. Wikimedia Commons

Props are also said to occupy the toughest and most physically punishing positions in rugby. Along with the hooker, the loose-head and tight-head props make up what is known as the front row, which refers to their rugby positions in the scrum. Playing in this position, you must be extremely strong in the neck, shoulders, upper body and legs. Additionally you should relish head-to-head competition.

On the rugby pitch, while Loose-head props have their heads in between the opposition while in the scrum, the Tight-head props have their heads in between their hooker. They are tasked with taking short-line balls to draw in multiple defenders who will create attacking space for the backs. They also contribute to the rugby scrum by supporting the hooker’s body weight. This allows the hooker to locate the ball once it is placed into the scrum by the scrum-half. They are expected to have the agility to get to rucks and the power to dominate in rucks.

Ordinarily among the most hardworking players in the field, 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 and hitting the opposition defense at pace in an attempt to occupy the defenders and make space for the more athletic players.

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2. Hooker

The hooker is considered a pillar in the forward pack. This player’s role is to spearhead the timing of the scrum and is also responsible for winning possession of the ball once it is in the scrum. They are heavily involved in line-out and open play. To be successful In line outs, they need the crucial skill of throwing the ball accurately so that the team’s line-out jumper can receive it. This also ensures that the other team can’t steal it. In the open field, the hooker will look to carry short balls and control possession in rucks, so they need to have similar props.

At the line out he or she plays the role of throwing the ball in and must be able to accurately hit the line-out 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.

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3. Lock/Second Row

Line-out. Photo by Alex Motoc on Unsplash

These guys (also known as locks) are the heart and soul of the scrum and are the ones who receive the ball in the line-out from the hooker. They need to be strong when binding with the props; otherwise, they will allow the other team to take possession of the ball; the same goes for their line-out jumping. They should be tall and powerful players with the open-field responsibilities of props and hookers.

Once they get into open play, the second row players go from being support players at rucks and mauls to ball carriers also. Don’t forget also the number 4 position in the second row is normally larger than the number 5 position and usually jumps to give chance to the number 5 position to take the ball in the middle of the line out.

4. Flanker/Wing Forward

These are the big boys and girls of rugby and are responsible for controlling the game’s pace with manpower and brute strength. They are key in maintaining possession of the ball with ball carries and their effectiveness in “breakdowns,” where they prevent the other team from trying to steal the ball. They feature prominently at the center 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. This is an effort that needs to be lauded.

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.

5. Number Eight

The eight-man together with the two flankers form what is known as the back row. This is the only player among the forwards who can pick the ball up once it is won in the scrum. Therefore, the eight-man needs to be a very effective runner with the ball who can make plays and be an effective ball-carrier and tackler.

As a number 8 you will be used to gain vital yards when a team is scrummaging close to the opposition try line, and thus a player needs to be an explosive, dynamic runner.

6.  Scrum-Half

Scrum. Author Clément Bucco-Lechat. Wikimedia Commons

The scrum-halves are usually the smallest players on a rugby team, but they carry one of the larger loads of responsibilities during a game. A scrum-half is often used as a moderator between the forwards and backs to help dictate the pace of the game. For the game to flow, they make passes from breakdowns, scrums, and line-outs out to either the forwards or backs. They have the ability to pass in either direction, have a great vision to see the field, the endurance to arrive at every breakdown, and the ball-handling skills as they will be handling the ball a majority of the time during a match.

To deliver in scrum-half, one needs good vision, speed and awareness, quick hands and lightning reactions.

7. Fly-Half

Rugby Pitch. Photo by Henry Be on Unsplash

The fly-half is often referred to as the heartbeat of the side and arguably the most influential player on the pitch. This player is involved in almost every attack who shoulders the responsibility of deciding when to pass the ball out to the centers and when to kick for position. Arguably, the fly-half is the most dynamic play-maker on a rugby team. They should have great chemistry with their scrum-half to ensure the offense runs smoothly. Fly-halves need to have excellent decision-making skills, passing and kicking. They also need to be great tacklers as they will have a target on their back when on defense.

The fly-half orchestrates the team’s backline also has to be able to relieve territorial pressure by kicking down the field into touch, and is often the team’s designated placekicker for conversions, penalties and drop goal attempts.

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8. Wing Centre

The wing center tends 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, while the inside center is often the more creative in a center pairing and should be able to pass and kick nearly as well as the fly-half. Meanwhile, the outside center is faster and tends to have the ability to offload the ball quickly to the wingers is also vital.

Their role is 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.

9. Full-Back

Playmaking. Photo by Philippa Rose-Tite on Unsplash

These players specialize in passing, kicking, playmaking, open-field tackling, and scoring. They make up the smaller players on a rugby team and rely on their ability to score tries using their speed and dynamic ball-handling skills.

They have the ability to break down a defense. In practice, they can either develop plays that only adhere to backs or incorporate the other group of players, known as the forwards, in certain plays.

Lining up behind the entire back line, the fullback 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.

This high-pressure rugby positions are not for the faint-hearted, but those who can combine tackling, kicking, catching and running with a cool head can excel here.

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