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Rugby positions

A guide to rugby positions. Use this to see where you will fit in, enjoy yourself, feel good and play well. Backs or forwards? Wing or prop? Which position is best.

Positions based on the scrum

This is what it's all about,
where you fit in.
The diagram which follows
shows all the positions in a rugby,
team based on the scrum.

Rugby positions based on the scrum

Rugby positions based on the scrum

Rugby positions basics

Positions need different sizes and shapes of player

and different skills, qualities and temperaments

The higher the level you want to play,
the more important this becomes.

Find out more in rugby positions basics

Positions in the team

Each rugby team has 15 players on the rugby field at any one time.
Each player has an allocated position.

Knowing the position you have been allocated

   helps you understand

   and remember

      what you need to do during the game

    and where you need to be on the pitch.

The individual positions in a rugby team

   are within two major groups

    the "forwards" and the "backs".

Rugby forwards positions

There are 8 forwards in a team.

They tend to be the bigger, stronger, heavier players in the team.

They`re also known collectively as "the pack".

These are the players who use size and strength
   to get the ball and move it towards the opposition goal-line.

The term "pack" is descriptive.
There are set piece contests
   for possession of the ball called "scrums"
Forwards from both teams pack together
using their bulk, strength and ability to
work together to get the ball.

Forwards tend to stay together in attack,
using their size, weight and strength,
moving around the field, working together
they move the ball towards the opposition goal-line.

Forwards also work together in defence
to stop the opposition from moving the ball
towards your goal-line.

There are groups within the pack
   named in relation to the positions they take up in a scrum

Front row

The front row forwards group
are these positions

   rugby prop   always two of them
    always loose head prop on the left and
    always tight head prop on the right.

   the rugby hooker always in the centre of the front row

Second row

The second row group
contains these positions

   the rugby lock and

   the rugby lock   yes   there are two of them!

they are called lock forwards

Players in the front row rugby positions
   and the second row positions are collectively
   called the "tight five"
   because they are
   all bound tightly to each other.

Back row

The back row group
contains these positions

rugby flanker
(two of them, usually positioned as
blind-side flanker and open-side flanker)

rugby number eight

Players in the back row rugby positions
   are also called
   "loose forwards"
as they are bound loosely
   to the other forwards.

Rugby backs positions

There are 7 backs in the rugby positions in a team.

The backs provide more of
   the speed, agility and evasiveness
    required in many cases to score tries.

They tend to be smaller, faster, more elusive players.

This is only a guide! Many are large and fast!

and many are not elusive!

This is good for you
be elusive
it gets you in the team and
   it`s a great advantage for your side.

Others think
   you`re a good back when you
have good individual
running, passing, catching, kicking and tackling skills.

Backs move the ball to search out
or create weaknesses in defence.
When you find weakness, you still need
   to get the ball through the opposition
      so use your speed and evasion skills.

There are groups within the backs
   named in relation to, I`m not sure what!!!

Half-backs

The half-backs group
contains these positions

the rugby scrum-half   puts the ball into the scrum

the rugby fly-half   (or any of a dozen other names!!!)
   making the big decisions

Three-quarters and fullback

Three-quarters in relation to rugby scrum

The three-quarters group
contains these positions

the rugby centre three-quarters
(two of them, usually positioned as inside and outside)

the rugby wing three-quarters
(two of them, usually positioned as left and right)

And that leaves one position
   there`s no group for this one!!

It`s the rugby full-back

So, that`s it for rugby positions
work out the best position for you so you can
   play good rugby then find
   and help others
make a team, above all remember,
   have fun!!.

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