| Shirt
Number |
Position
|
Description
|
| 1 |
Loose Head prop
|
The loosehead lines up on the left-hand side of the hooker in the
scrum, with the left-side of his head exposed.
You don't have to be tall to be a prop, although
upper body strength is essential. Props also
support the jumpers in the lineout. Props also
love getting stuck into tackles and you will
often find them at the bottom of a rucks or a
maul |
| 2 |
Hooker
|
Hookers are similar in build to
the props, except they tend to be slightly more
flexible and mobile. As well as hooking the ball
for the scrum-half to collect, hookers must
throw the ball in the lineout for the jumpers to
catch, a very important part of today's game |
| 3 |
Tight Head prop
|
Lines up on the right-hand side
of the hooker in a scrum, with both sides of his
head embedded by opposition shoulders. Props
also support the jumpers in the lineout. Props
also love getting stuck into tackles and you
will often find them at the bottom of a rucks or
a maul |
| 4 and 5 |
Locks/
Second row
|
As well as providing power for the big push
in the scrum, the second row are the big targets
in the line out, their job is to catch the
hooker's throw and get the ball to the
scrum-half. The second row also make good balls
carriers, bashing holes in the defence around
the ruck and maul |
|
6 |
Blindside flanker
|
Flankers form the first line of
defence and make all-important big tackles in
open play. The blindside attaches to the scrum
on whichever side is closest to the touchline
and is usually slightly bigger than his
counterpart, the openside. Flankers are always
involved in the game, winning ball and making
the big tackles in open play. The blind side is
often a target for the hooker in the line out. |
|
7 |
Openside flanker
|
The openside attaches to the
scrum on whichever side is furthest from the
touchline. Usually smaller and quicker than his
counterpart nearer the touchline, the openside
acts as an extra man in opening attacks and is
the first man to close down the opposition in
open play. The openside flanker will often be
the player with the responsibility to mark the
other side's fly-half. They do this by quickly
closing them down, reducing the time they have
to kick or pass
|
|
8 |
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 sits
at the back of the scrum, controlling the
movement and feeding the ball to the scrum-half.
Occasionally used as a target in the lineout and
as 'battering rams' at the front of rucks.
|
| 9 |
Scrum-half
|
The scrum-half is the
all-important link between the scrum and the
rest of the backs often acting as a 'General'
for the forwards during rucks and mauls.
Scrum-halves have to be nimble and quick with
superb handling skills. They have to able to
react to situations very quickly. A key player
in defence and attack, |
|
10 |
Fly-half
|
Also known as
outside Half or stand-off. The fly-half is
probably the most influential player on the
pitch. They are the players who make the big
decisions under pressure - run with the ball or
kick for territory. Games are rarely won on
tries alone, which makes the fly-half the most
important player in the side, the fly-half is
usually the side's kicker, and therefore main
points-scorer either placed kicks or dropped
goals. As well as requiring brilliant handling
skills, a quick brain, and quick feet |
|
11 |
Left Wing
|
Speed is what the winger is all
about, a truly world class winger needs to pick
up those difficult passes in tight spaces and
break through tackles. Often the winger can be
the last line of defence, so they need to be
able to make those important tackles when they
count. |
|
12 |
Inside centre
|
The inside tends to be the
larger of the two centres. 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 their partner,
the outside centre and dishing out the tackles
in defence along with the forwards. Accurate
handling and passing skills are a must for any
centre, along with a good kicking game.
|
|
13 |
Outside centre
|
The outside is
typically the lighter, more agile of the two
centres. It is up to the outside to exploit the
gaps made for him by his team-mates, a good
centre is capable of unlocking defences with
inspired sparks of genius, hitting the holes in
the opposition's defence and making valuable
ground, before offloading to the wingers after
drawing the last line of defence.
|
| 14 |
Right Wing
|
Speed is what the winger is all
about, a truly world class winger needs to pick
up those difficult passes in tight spaces and
break through tackles. Often the winger can be
the last line of defence, so they need to be
able to make those important tackles when they
count. |
| 15 |
Fullback
|
The number 15 is often the last line of
defence, collecting high balls, creating quick
breaks and making last ditch tackles. Modern
fullbacks also tend to have a strong kicking
game in their armoury and often become the extra
man in attack.
|
