Boots For Positions

Below you will find links to all the positions played in a game of rugby union, click the shirt to find out more about the position and most importantly how to choose the right pair of boots for the role.

Teams are made up with fifteen players, eigh t forwards (wearing numbers one through nine) and seven backs (wearing numbers nine through fifteen). Up to eight replacements allowed, depending on the competition being played in, for a maximum of twenty-three in the match day squad.

Front Five

The Tight Five is composed of the hooker, the props, and the locks, with the hooker and the props also being referred to as front rowers and the locks as second rowers due to their respective scrum positioning.

The hooker is the front and center of a team’s scrum play and, during those instances, is responsible for gaining possession of the ball by controlling it with his feet and passing it back to the base of the scrum. The hooker is generally tasked to throw the ball into the lineout. Going back to scrums, the hooker is supported on his either side by the props.

Locks

On lineouts props carry the lock designated to receive the ball during lineouts, these players are the tall players positioned behind the hooker and the props during scrums to deliver the power needed to dominate in that kind of play restart. Their build usully makes them powerful forces in open play, rucks, and mauls.

Loose Forwards

The loose forwards are the flankers and the no. 8, and this group of players are also called back rowers relative to scrum positioning. They provide additional support to the scrum but will generally be the first players to breakout from it as soon as the game transitions to loose play. The flankers, while having less set of responsibilities, are nonetheless crucial as they can aggressively pursue the ball to gain possession in defence, as well as take off running to provide additional attack lines. The no. 8’s job is to serve as the base of the scrum by binding behind the locks. Once the ball reaches this base, the no. 8 could either initiate the attack himself or defer that decision to the scrum-half.

The Halves

While technically considered as back players themselves, the scrum-half and the fly-half are actually the chain that links the forwards to the rest of the backs. The scrum-half is the one that feeds the ball into the scrum and retrieves it from the no. 8. The scrum-half also retrieves the ball during rucks and mauls. At the beginning of the attack from a scrum restart, the scrum-half usually passes the ball to the fly-half. The fly-half then calls the plays for the backline, making back passes or taking situational kicks, including goal scoring attempts.

Centres

As soon as the passage of the game transitions to open play, the centres are ready to break the game wide open by serving as the powerful runners that provides the heart of the attack. They are usually the first ones to attempt to break the opposition’s defensive line. On the other hand, they are part of the first responders who would provide the blockade if their team is the one playing defence. Either way, the centres becomes the frontliners as soon as the ball reaches the fly-half.

Three Quarters and Backs

This group refers to the wings and the fullback. What they do is first and foremost provide the defensive shield, making sure that the acres of space behind the forwards have coverage, helping cover kicks and counterattacks. In attack, the wingers stationed at their respective flanks are expected to provide the most burst of speed to finally drive the ball towards the tryline. If additional support in attack is needed, the fullback, with his deep backline position as his vantage point, is adept at hitting unexpected holes in enemy territory.

Similar Posts