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

Full-back 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 often stays well back, positioned like this...

Rugby full-back position in relation to the scrum

Full-back physiques are usually large-ish but still agile and speedy. Skills tend to be more important.

Aim to have the following

Great kicking ability - essential
Great handling ability, especially catching high balls
Speed and accelleration are very useful

also

good vision and ability to read the game
know when to hang back and when to join the attack
great tackling ability and the attitude that NOBOBY is going to get past you

Rugby full-back play - 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.

Sometimes the half-backs pass.

They 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
you might catch and run past your opposition
you may take the ball into contact with the oppostion

continue play with a clever kick, chip and chase perhaps
or maybe slip the ball 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.

Make sure you practice until you catch them perfectly every time. Then practice more, so you can deal with pressure situations.

Rugby fullback - 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.

When you practice enough, your skills will be so good you can do anything required to rescue the situation.

Rugby full-back - in general play

Full-backs must 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.

Their duties outlined for set pieces, which always involves defending and often involves attacking, are the essential general play of the full-back.

It amounts to being the last line of defence and a surprise additional attacker when needed.

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.

Sometimes they combine to turn defence into attack.

You often find yourself covering large areas of the field and deciding where you should be.

It`s a matter of general experience and knowledge of the players you are playing against. You must

defend against chip and chase or grubbers - they will happen more in your half of the field. Be close enough behind the three-quarters to get to the ball before the chasers.

defend against high and long opposition clearing kicks. Be sure you are positioned so they can`t kick over or past you because it`s always more difficult to turn, chase the ball and deal with attackers you can`t see.

defend against attackers breaking through the defensive line. You need to be close enoughto deal with a break if you are the only player available, yet stay out of it if you can, so you can still perform as the last line of defence.

You constantly reassess your position.

You make sure you are near enough in case one thing happens and far enough away in case another thing happens! Also adjusting your position across the field for the same reasons.

Players like Christian Cullen were not born in their rugby positions.

Like you and any other player, once you find out what to do you just can`t practice enough because you enjoy it so much and become a good player.

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

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

If you find yourself performing the function of the full back on the field you can benefit hugely like other sidesteppers.

You can often beat the first one or two chasers and start a counterattack when the players of both teams are scattered and disorganised - the best time to do it!.

Maybe you will be one.

Here`s a good example of the damage you can do from full back...