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Rugby full-back

A rugby full-back must enjoy defending and be speedy when attacking. The team depends on you to cover loads of ground by reading the game. Maybe this is your position

Position in the team

15 players are on the field at any one time.

8 forwards make up the scrum (or line-out)

The forwards in the scrum or line-out...
...get the ball for the team...
...and send it away...
...to the backs
...sometimes the full-back joins in...
...but usually stays well back...like this...

Rugby full-back
Rugby full-back position in relation to the scrum

Rugby full-back position in relation to the scrum

Full-back physiques...
...usually large-ish but still agile, speedy...
...skills tend to be more important

Having...
Kicking ability essential
Handling ability is excellent...especially catching...high balls
Speed is very useful
Accelleration is great
Vision is useful
Agility good
Elusiveness is useful

Rugby full-back - 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.

When your forwards win the ball...
...it goes to the...
...half-backs...
...who decide...
...what happens next

Sometimes half-backs kick forward...
...for field position or into space.
As a full-back you hang back...
...making sure you cover...
...the open spaces and
...to gather the ball...
...if kicked back by the opposition

and sometimes they pass...
...to attack by moving the ball to faster outside backs...
...this is where you as a full-back may be needed.
If called upon you might join the back-line formation...
...running at high speed...
You are maybe a decoy runner or you...
...either catch and...
...run past your opposition...
....or take the ball into contact with the opposition...
...or continue play...
...with a clever kick...
...chip and chase perhaps...
. ..or slip the ball maybe back inside...
...to players coming through to support

...or the half-backs run ...to get across the advantage line...
...and move it to the centres...
...so you hang back...
..you position yourself...
...covering the ground behind the attack...
...prepared to defuse any counter-attack

If you are a rugby full-back and defending...
...you defend a huge amount of territory...
Rarely in the defensive line...
...unless you are on your own-goal-line...
...usually you will be...
...just the right distance back...
...reading the game...
...working out...
... where the real threats will come from.
Will it be a kick through...
...which you take because...
...you have judged well where it`s going.
If the ball spins along the opposition...
...back-line you sweep behind the backs in your back-line...
...and stop breaks or prevent overlaps forming.

And you will have to be aware of the "Bombs"...
...the high kicks...put up especially...
...to test your nerve if you are a rugby full-back...
...but make sure...
...you practice until you...
...catch them perfectly every time....
...then practice more...
...so you can deal with pressure situations.

Rugby full-back - at line-out time

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

The duties of the rugby full-back...
...at line-out time are...
...similar to scrum time.

You communicate with the backs...
...so you know...
...when you are required...
...to inject yourself into the attack

At other times you will...
...patrol the wide open spaces.

Always be aware...
...even if you plan well...
...you may not cover everything
...and you must be prepared.
With enough practice your skills will be so good...
...you can do anything required to rescue the situation.

Rugby full-back - in general play

Full-backs tend to be...
..good tacklers, good at catching,...
...strong kickers,...
...able to read the game well, skillful,...
...speedy and tactically aware.

Full-backs are not closely involved in scrum and line-out play...
...but duties outlined in the context of set pieces...
....which are always defending...
...and often attacking...
...are the essential general play of the full-back...
...and amount to being the last line of defence...
...and a surprise additional attacker

Full-backs must...
...communicate well and work hard...
...to co-operate with wingers...
...who hang back at times to help...
...defend large areas of territory...
...and sometimes turn defence into attack

Players like Christian Cullen were not born in their rugby positions...
...like you and any other player...
...once they find out what to do they...
...just can`t practice enough...
...because they enjoy it so much...
...and become good players - welcome anywhere...

Some famous players at rugby full-back...no special order!...

JPR williams
Don Clarke
Christian Cullen
Mathew Burke
Andy Irvine
Serge Blanco
Chris Latham

Maybe you will be one...

Return from Rugby full-back to Rugby positions

Evtechs Sports Training
Sydney, Australia