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Rugby hooker

A rugby hooker plays in the middle of the front row of the scrum in a rugby game. What do you do and what you need to play well as a hooker.

Position in the team

15 players are on the rugby field at any one time.

This includes 8 forwards...

...of those forwards, 3 are front row...

...one of these is the hooker...

...with a prop on either side...like this...

Rugby hooker
Rugby hooker in the front row of a scrum

Rugby hooker in the front row of a scrum

The shape of the player icons...
...indicates the physique needed!

The more the props resemble cubes the better!

Hookers can be anything...
...but tend to be smaller versions of props.

Lots of muscle is good....
Tough is good...
Strong is good...
Intimidating is good.

A short, thick, muscular neck is good...
...no neck at all...excellent...
...because of all the pressure and twisting in the scrum

Lower body is important...
...flexibility...
...agility...
...co-ordination...are required...
...to get into position in the scrum...
...to strike at...
...and win the ball

Rugby hooker - in the scrum

The scrum...
...restarts play after rules are breached in a minor way.

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

When a scrum is formed...
...the 8 forwards from each team...
...bind together into a pack of players
.
The match official says...
... "crouch...touch...pause...ENGAGE!"...
...the two opposing packs crash together...
...the head and necks (if any) of the two front rows...
...mesh together.

The props in each team take most of the strain...
...and the hooker is right there with them!

The scrum-half ...
...puts the ball into the tunnel between the opposing packs...

..and the hooker...
...gets it out again...using feet only!

The small advantage mentioned above...
...is that the side putting in the ball...
...always gets "the loose head" as well.
(means the ball is put in at the left where the loose head prop is)

The result is that...
...when the ball is put in the tunnel...
the hooker of...
...the non-offending team...
...is nearer the ball than the other hooker...
...and so usually gets the ball.

The hooker "hooks" the ball backwards...
...using only feet...
...and the ball emerges at the back of the scrum

Rugby hooker - in the line-out

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

Hookers are not actually in the line-out...
...but play a vital part...
...they throw the ball in.

Line-outs are frequent in rugby...
...so you must get...
...a good share of possession...
...especially..
. ..from your own throw.

The hooker of the non-offending team...
...(the offending team put the ball into touch)
...throws the ball..
....along the imaginary line between the two rows of the line-out...
....to the position where...
...the jumpers are waiting
...and so the team gets a small advantage...(knowing where it`s going)

Important for the hooker are...
...good communication with the other forwards...
...accurate throwing skills...down the line and correct height/speed...
...and good observation and timing...the jumpers must ready!

There is also a defensive role in the line-out.
There is a 5-metre gap between the touch-line...
...and the front of the line-out...

The rugby hooker must declare and enforce...
...none shall pass!

Rugby hooker - in general play

Hookers vary in size in relation to the other forwards...
...but they are forwards...
...and need to be competitive and take pride...
... in being tough

They work hard...
... to carry the ball forwards...
...often against strong opposition...
...aiming to make ground and...
   ...tire opponents

Hookers must...
... co-operate well with other forwards...
...so skills needed are...
...in mauling...
...and rucking...
... which wear down...
...and break opposition defences

They take pride in defensive skills which allow them...
   ...to use strength and endurance
...to repel opposition forwards...

Playing hooker...
...is about...
... strength...size...technique...
...skills...endurance and pride

And the best rugby hookers if ever asked...
...might agree with me and say...
.    ..learn to sidestep!

Just imagine...
...a metre out from the line...
....sidestep!...
. ..over you go...TRY it...is possible

Return from Rugby hooker to Rugby positions

Evtechs Sports Training
Sydney, Australia