Which rugby position

The hooker puts their arms over the top of the props' shoulders and will be supported by the props' larger bodies. The hooker is like a offensive lineman center in football and hikes the ball back to the rugby quarterback. This is done by hooking the ball with the soft swinging motion of one of the feet as the team's eight-man scrum pack pushes forward to give the hooker more room to hook the ball. Locks: 4 and 5 These players are the tallest two of the team.

They are placed dead in the middle of the scrum pack, and you will not be able to see them at all during a scrum down. They use their tall bodies to use leverage when they use their long legs to drive the scrum forward and try to move the scrum 2 or 3 feet forward to win the ball.

When the ball goes out of bounds and there is an in-bounding throw to start the game again, since locks are the tallest two players, they are the ones the ball is tossed to most of the time. Locks are also called second rows since they are the only two in the second row of the set scrum piece.

Flankers: 6 and 7 These players are your tacklers of the team. They are used on defense to make sure the offensive back line has no time to plan any crafty set plays.

If they can outrun the other team's flankers, a high percentage of ball is won by these fearless wonders. Flankers run and tackle more than any person on the team. The 8-Man: 8 The 8-man is on the very back end of the scrum down and in all purposes has the same responsibility as the flankers.

The 8-man will most likely be bigger and a tad slower then the flankers. This is a very effective when you only have to go 1 to 6 yards for a score close to the goal line. Improve a Million Lives. Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. Premiership Rugby Academy. Try Rugby Premiership Rugby Scholarships.

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World Rugby. Modern Slavery Statement. News Archive. Media Centre. Brand Site. Newsletter Sign-up. Jump to main content. You've no doubt heard of a prop or a hooker. These are the players that make up the front row. There are three of them - two props, wearing numbers 1 and 3, and a hooker, wearing number 2 - and they are the first players to come into contact with the opposition.

Their basic role is to push at scrums and to clear out rucks. Stocky and not very tall, they get themselves noticed because they are often at the heart of the action. They are the first line of defence but also have a role to play in helping their team move forward. But why are there two props and one hooker? And what is the difference between the two positions?

The simple explanation is that the two props are positioned on either side of the hooker , who, being lighter on their feet and quicker, must drive holes in the opposition defence and help their side move forward. Hookers need to be brave in playing a central role in the scrums, and they need to have blind faith in their two props.

For their part, props occupy the toughest and most punishing position in rugby and take a lot of hits during the course of a match. Whether you're a hooker or a prop, going in for physical contact is all part of your job, which requires a lot of physical strength. Playing at hooker involves using your speed more. But if you're all about brute strength , then there's no doubt you should be pulling on the No. The second row, which is pretty uncomplicated, is formed by the two players that make up the second row in the scrum.

They wear the No. They stand out because they are often the biggest players in the team. They are, however, very technical players who play a crucial role but are only rarely in the spotlight. Content to operate in the shadows , second-rowers are powerful players who help the first row push in scrums and who do the groundwork in mauls and rucks, either protecting the ball or helping to turn it over.

They also jump to win lineout balls. Infrequent try scorers and rarely seen with ball in hand, second-rowers are nevertheless vital members of the team.

There are some small differences between the No. They are often interchangeable however. So if you're a rugby player with the build of a basketball player, the second row might just be the place for you. A word of warning, though: you'll need to absorb lots of blows and enjoy being out of the limelight.

Like the front row, the back row comprises three players. Wearing the No.