rugby is a sport with many technical details, which is why it has very strategic positions that are essential for a good match.
Rugby positions, then, are varied to make the most of each player’s abilities, optimizing their talents to make the team effective as a whole.
These skills seen in matches are related to physical strength, speed or even leadership. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of all the rugby positions so that you can better understand how the sport works.
We’re going to talk about each of these different rugby positions, what their roles are on the pitch and the main skills that each player should have.
With this guide, you’ll get to know the sport better and have a completely new experience of watching the game!
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Rugby positions: complete list
- Prop;
- Talonneur (Hooker);
- Second line (Lock);
- Flanker;
- Number 8;
- Scrum-half;
- Fly-half;
- Center;
- Wing;
- Fullback.
Rugby positions: learn more about each one
Prop
The players in the pillar position in rugby are those who need to be the strongest and biggest in the team. This is because they play in the front line of the scrum, which is a formation made up of eight players who advance against the opposing team to compete for possession of the ball.
Pillar athletes are also essential for the formation of rucks and mauls during the game, as they can offer a lot of physical support and stability to the athletes who need to score points in the match.
Pillars can also carry the ball and gain yards of advantage through the opposing team’s defensive line, even if that’s not their main task. So these players need to be prepared to take part in open play whenever necessary.
Talonneur (Hooker)
Also known as hookers, the talloneurs are very important players as they are responsible for hooking the ball with their feet.
Basically, he uses his limb to get between “fishing” the ball backwards towards his team. He then uses all his skill to gain possession of the ball and get the upper hand during a rugby match.
Second line (Lock)
A player who stands in the second row of rugby, also known as a lock in English, is responsible for standing behind the pillars at the scrum. They are also the tallest and strongest in a team and are essential for lifting the ball and receiving players who are thrown into the air to contest possession.
These athletes also have responsibilities in the lineout, as they are the main targets of the balls that are thrown back into play. That’s why they need to be tall and have great jumping skills.
As we’ve already mentioned, the second-rowers need to have a lot of physical strength, especially to push in the scrum and lift the players at this important moment in the match.
In addition, these players must have leadership skills to be able to lead their teams, coordinating scrum and line-out formations and planning the best tactical strategies during a rugby match.
Asa (Flanker)
Players in the asa position in rugby have the main function of contesting possession of the ball during ruck and maul formations.
In addition, they need to help their team’s defense and attack, always supporting the players in the front line. In a game of rugby, there are two players in the wing position: one is the open wing and the other the closed wing.
The open wing is the position that requires skill in both defense and attack, since it is responsible for collecting possession of the ball in moments of confrontation, while also having the agility and technique to anticipate the movements of the opposing team.
In rugby, a tighthead prop is the player who plays on the blind side of the scrum and is tasked with making powerful tackles to prevent opposing players from advancing metres from their side of the field.
In attacking moments, the closed wing player can make the run, breaking the opposing team’s defensive line through his physical strength and dribbling ability.
Number 8
In rugby, players who play in the number 8 position need to be versatile, as their roles require skill in both attack and defense. One of their main missions is to recover possession of the ball in the scrum, controlling it with their feet and pushing it back. That way, their team can pick it up.
The number 8 is also usually the first player to receive the ball when recovering it, and is responsible for initiating his team’s attacking moves.
This player also needs to offer a lot of physical and tactical support to his teammates during moments of confrontation, keeping the ball safe.
Scrum-half
Scrum-half players are those who, in rugby, have the main objective of distributing the ball to their players, as well as coordinating their team’s moves. So this player will work hard to recover and distribute the ball, as well as knowing how to make the best decisions quickly.
The scrum-half also needs to be able to analyse the game situation, the position the opposition players are in and also the options available to them to get the ball forward and try to score a point.
It is essential that these athletes know how to deal with pressure, as they have a lot of responsibility on their hands. They also need to know how to communicate very well in order to lead their team to the best results.
Fly-half
The opener, also known as the fly-half, is one of the most important players in a rugby match, and also the most strategic. This is because they are responsible for attack, ball distribution, tactical kicking and organization.
Basically, this player is considered the thinking head of the team, since as well as leading the attack he has to make the most important decisions about where the ball should be played, and what the offensive tactics will be during the match.
To do this, he will analyze the opposing team’s defense, identifying its weak points and creating the opportunity for his teammates to get the team’s main player.
As well as excelling in attack, the player in this position also needs to know how to defend very well when organizing his team, passing on the most crucial defensive instructions so that the game goes according to plan.
This athlete, however, needs to know how to deal with pressure, maintaining his composure in the most critical moments of a rugby match.
Centers
As for the center players, who are essential to the structure of a rugby team, they have extremely important tasks to perform.
Central midfielders therefore have the task of breaking down the opposing team’s defensive line, which they do by running and dribbling. They also need to be able to distribute the ball very well to their teammates, with plenty of vision to identify the best opportunities.
Despite these individual tasks, he also relies on collaboration with another player in the same position to coordinate the best attacks and combat the opposition’s defense.
As a result, central midfielders also need to know how to defend, intercepting passes, marking the ball players and pressing them until they can regain possession and take the lead.
Wing
In rugby, the point players are those who need to have a lot of agility and speed, as they occupy the outermost parts of the line of attack and defense.
Their main missions include running with the ball, gaining methods of advancing up the field, and overcoming the opposing team’s defense. Therefore, players in this position also need to be great at defending, not just attacking, always keeping an eye on the opposing team’s attacks and preventing them from being able to advance with the ball and score points against your team.
Therefore, these players must be able to run at high speed and be able to react quickly to attacks. Winger players also receive shots from opponents and help form the line of defense for their team. They do this by covering the outside area and ensuring that there is no space for their opponents to get forward.
Rear (Fullback)
Players in the arrière position in rugby have the main responsibility of defending the back line, making important tackles, as well as intercepting passes and preventing players from the opposing team from scoring points.
These players need to be very skilled at reading the game and predicting events, positioning themselves in the best spots to prevent the opposing team’s attempts to advance.
The strikers are still in charge of receiving shots from opposing teams and need to receive this ball safely in order to initiate the best counter-attack for their team’s defense.
However, players in this position can also play in attack, supporting their teammates in their mission to score points and threaten opposing players. They must also have the ability to take conversion kicks, penalty kicks, drop kicks and tactical kicks.
Rugby positions: complete list
- Prop;
- Talonneur (Hooker);
- Second line (Lock);
- Flanker;
- Number 8;
- Scrum-half;
- Fly-half;
- Center;
- Wing;
- Fullback.
If you enjoyed learning about the positions of rugby, take the opportunity to check out our other content on this sport and many others. Don’t forget to leave a comment telling us what you thought!
