You May Subscribe To This Site

Rugby centre

A rugby centre needs good handling and running skills to carry out the team plans. Ready for anything. What to expect if you make this your position,

Position in the team

15 players are on the field at any one time.

8 forwards make up the scrum.

The forwards in the scrum or line-out...
...get the ball for the team...
...and send it via the scrum-half...
...and the fly-half decision makers...
...possibly out to the centres

.
Rugby centre
Rugby centre position in relation to the scrum

Rugby centre position in relation to the scrum

Centre physiques vary...
...but of the backs they tend to be...
...the bigger, stockier players

The two centres in a team tend to specialise...
...one as the inside centre...closer to the fly-half..
...one as the outside centre...further from the fly-half

The inside centre... (called 2nd five-eighth in New Zealand)..
...sometimes plays a similar role...
...to that of the fly-half...(sharing the load)...
...kicking, making breaks if possible or...
...passing the ball quickly...
...to faster outside players if warranted

Having...
Speed is good
Accelleration is good
Vision is excellent
Agility good
Elusiveness is good
Handling ability essential
Kicking ability useful
Strength and bulk is useful

Rugby centre - at scrum time

The scrum...
...restarts play after a minor breach of the rules.

It`s a contest for possession of the ball...
...with a small advantage given to the non-offending team.

If your forwards win the ball...
...it goes to the...
...half-backs...
...who make decisions...
...about the ball - where it goes

The decisions they make...
...greatly affect...
...how the centres are involved in the game.

Sometimes half-backs kick...
... for field position or into space...
...as a centre you chase...
...try and regain possession...
...or contain the opposition player who gathers the ball

and sometimes they pass...
...to attack by moving the ball to faster outside backs...
...that is where you as a centre come in...
...either you catch and take the ball through a gap...
....take the ball into contact with the opposition...
...or pass cleverly (quickly or delayed)...
...to create space for the players outside you
...

...or the half-backs run ...to get across the advantage line...
...so you position yourself...
...in support so that you...
...give them options about how to continue

If you are a rugby centre and defending...
...you must tackle your opposite number...
...believe in the abilty of the players on either side of you...
..and stay in position to tackle your own player...
...only when absolutely essential tackle someone else.

Rugby centre - at line-out time

The line-out restarts play after the ball has "gone into touch".

The duties of the centre...
...at line-out time are...
...similar to scrum time.

You communicate with the half-backs...
...so you know...
...and don`t just wonder...
...what is going to happen...

Then, assuming you practice sufficiently and well...
...you will be able to...
...succeed with the plan...
...and deal well with anything else that happens...

Rugby centre - in general play

Centres tend to be...
..elusive, skillful, hard tackling, tactically aware players

As you are at centre...
...what you do depends on...
...actions taken by the half-backs

Depending on circumstance...
...you must be ready for any of the following...

...for running hard and straight...
...for running elusively...be able to side step...
...for chasing long kicks to gain ground...
...for chip kicks which you regather
...for "up-and-unders" to charge on to
...for grubber kicks to dive onto behind the goal-line
...to pass to faster players in better positions...
...to deal with cut out passes which create overlaps
...for moves called to confuse the opposition
...for dummies from the ball carrier
...for passes back inside

As a rugby centre you have...
... plenty of opportunity to...
...vary the options taken for ...
...passing...
...kicking...
....running...
.
You create uncertainty...
...you know the opposition don`t know...
...the plan for what will happen so...
... it`s easier to make it happen

And remember...
if you don`t...
... do enough good practice...
...you`ll never be the best sidestepper...
...you can be!

Some famous players at centre...no special order!...

Jason Little
Tim Horan
Jeremy Guscott
Ray Gravell
Tana Umaga
Frank Bunce

Return from Rugby centre to Rugby positions

Evtechs Sports Training
Sydney, Australia