Players and Positions
Each team field 15 players split between forwards (they are numbered 1 to 8) and backs and they are numbered 9 to 15 with each team having six substitutes.Each player from 1 to 15 have names and have their own purpose:
Forwards
They are often not seen as the best looking of players, but they do the most work. They’re big and powerful they’re ball winners whose major part is to retain possession when a player on their team is tackled. Also, they take part in the set pieces for example scrums and line outs and secure possession.
1. Loose-head Prop – There’s not much difference between loose-head and tight-head props. Their main job is being he muscle of the team in set pieces as they have the rest of the team behind them, driving them forwards in the scrum and they lift or support the jumper in lineouts to stop opposition winning the ball. (Continued to tight-head)
2. Hooker – As well as lining up with the props, the hooker is one of the main decision makers responsible for hooking the ball in the scrum and throwing the lineout. Along with the two props they are known as the front row.
3. Tight-head Prop – (Continuing from loose-head) Away from set pieces, props are used to secure ball when a player is tackled or used a battering ram when they receive a short pass from a ruck or maul they attack the oppositions defence at pace to create space for their own backs.
4. Lock (Second Row) – Second row forwards (or also known as locks) are sometimes the tallest players on the pitch and normally powerful with brilliant technique and they’re the engine room in scrums and they also need pinpoint timing in lineouts. So these players' key instruments to make sure they win set pieces for their team.
5. Lock (Second Row) – In play the second row supports players in rucks and mauls if they’re comfortable with carrying the ball there bulk and power can make them every hard to stop.
6. Blind-side Flanker – Flankers often have the fewest responsibilities on the pitch, but they must be an excellent all-rounder. Blind-side flankers tend to be bigger and have a more physical role around the pitch and they can also act as a target jumper in lineouts.
7. Open-side Flanker – Open-side flankers however, play on the far side of the scrum from the touchline and normally smaller than a blind-side flanker but makes them more mobile around the pitch. It doesn’t matter which side the flanker players as long as you have speed, strength, fitness, tackling and ball handling skills you’re good as gold.
8. No. 8 – Simple name for a position their main jobs are to support play, tackle and ball carrying and must be an explosive and dynamic runner. Which makes them very similar to the two flankers and altogether they make a unit called the back row. No. 8’s are at the back of the scrum and are the only players to pick the ball up in the scrum.
Backs
Normally the pretty boys of rugby the backs job is pretty simple they have speed, acceleration and creativity and score lots and lots of tries.
9. Scrum Half – Scrum halves act as a link between the forwards and backs and are the key player to build attacks as they stand behind the forwards and will control when the ball is feed the ball at the back of the scrum, ruck or maul to the backs. They also need good vision, speed, awareness, quick hands and lighting reactions.
10. Fly Half – The fly half is the heartbeat of the team and is one of the most influential players on the pitch. Almost every attack will go through the fly half and has the responsibility to decide to either pass to the centres or when to kick it for position. They also conduct the team’s back line putting the moves they’ve practiced in training into action and reacting to gaps in oppositions defence.
In defence, they will marshal the brakes to make sure each player is covering an opposition player and they must also be able to relieve territorial pressure by kicking the ball down field into touch and is also the kicker for conversions, penalties and drop goal attempts.
11. Left Wing – Playing out wide of the pitch the wing is the teams finisher in attack and scores the majority of the teams tries. (Continue to right wing)
12. Inside Centre – They stand near to the fly half when the backs line up and inside centres are normally the more creative of the centre pairings as they should be able to pass and kick as well as the fly half. They also often more all action crashing into tackles and drawing the opposition defence.
13. Outside Centre – Outside centres however are more strong and dynamic runners and tend to find gaps in the opposition backline. They are also faster of the two centres and have the ability to offload the ball quickly to the wingers is vital to create try-scoring opportunities.
14. Right Wing – A winger is often the last line of defence when they don’t have the ball and their main skill is speed and acceleration.
15. Fullback – They line up behind the entire back line they receive deep kicks from the opposition and must be comfortable to catch high balls and launch an attack. They must show tactical awareness to know when to either kick the ball or run with it often within their half. This isn’t a position of the faint-hearted as they combine tackling, kicking, catching and running along with a cool head.
Scoring
There are four different ways to score in rugby union:
· Try (5 Points) – Tries happen when the ball carrier grounds the ball over the try line (here the H shaped posts stand on).
· Conversion (2 Points) – A conversion is a free kick at goal in direct line from where the try was scored and if the ball goes over the bar and between the posts the team will add two points.
· Penalty kick (3 Points) – Penalties are awarded to a team after an infringement. The team captain can choose out of a kick at goal, kick to touch or run with ball in hand. If the captain chooses a kick at goal and converts, it would be worth three points.
· Drop Goal (3 Points) – During open play, a player (normally at fly half) can attempt to kick the ball over the bar and between the posts (like a conversion or penalty) by using a drop kick and if successful the team will earn three points. A drop goal attempt normally happens near the end of game when a game is tight and the clock is running down.
Set Pieces
Set pieces are used to restart the game after the ball as gone out of play or when an infringement occurs and the forwards are the ones involved in set pieces.
Lineout
When a player either kicks, fumbles or carries the ball out of play and into touch a lineout is given to the opposition the only difference is when a team as a penalty and kicks the ball into touch.
Both sets of forwards form two opposing lines a metre apart from where the ball went out and the hooker throws the ball back into play. The hooker must deliver the ball from behind their head and throw the ball straight between the two lines so both opposing teams can compete for the ball with the team jumping the highest winning possession.
This is where second rows and back row forwards dominate.
Scrum
Scrums occur when:
· The ball is knocked on
· The has gone forward
· Accidental offside
· When the ball has not come out from a ruck or maul
Only eight forwards from both teams are involved in the scrum and to form a scrum:
· The hooker binds with a prop under each arm.
· The loose-head prop has one side of his head free when engaging the scrum while the tight-head prop has both sides of their head in the scrum.
· The second rows, bind together, then place their heads between the gaps of the props’ and hooker’s hips.
· While the open-side flanker places themselves on the pitch with the most space and the blind-side flanker are on the side with the less space then bind on either side of the second rows’ hips.
· Finally, the No.8 places themselves behind the second rows and placing their head between the second rows’ hips.
Once both sets of scrums bind together the scrum half with the possession feeds the ball into the gap of the two teams as they push both sets of hookers will try a hook the ball and once the ball is at the feet of No.8 , they will either pick it up, or the scrum half will retrieve it and pass to the fly half to resume play.Rucks and Mauls
Rucks and mauls are one of the more complex parts of rugby, but lets give it a go.
RucksWhen a player gets tackled they must release the ball immediately and when this happens the opposition will get there hands on the ball with the team in possession will not want to give it away.
According to the laws “Players are on their feet. At least one player must be in physical contact with an opponent. The ball must be on the ground. If the ball is off the ground for any reason, the ruck is not formed.”
To gain possession both sides must try and drive over the ball to make it available to team-mates.
Mauls
Much like a ruck the only difference is that the ball isn’t on the ground, but in hand and players can only join from behind the teammate and once three or more, including the ball carrier, and one player from the other team a maul is formed.
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