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Rugby positions explained | Rugby15s position guides

The England team are seen training in the Gym before an England Rugby Squad training field session at Queensland Academy of Sport. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris - The RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Do you know your loosehead prop from your tighthead prop? Are you aware of how quick you really need to be to play as a winger at the international level? Well, all the rugby positions are explained in our rugby positions guides.

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With the help of our rugby positions guides, you can learn exactly what the roles and responsibilities of each player are during a game. Plus, you can also learn more about the physical and mental attributes that each player needs in order to excel in that position.

On top of this, the rugby positions guides also outline all the rugby positions and numbers, so you’ll find it easier to spot who is playing where next time you’re watching a game on television.

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Our rugby positions guides explain all of the positions in both fifteen-a-side rugby union and rugby 7s. This way, you can also discover how the roles of each player change between the two formats.

Discover more about the positions in rugby by reading our rugby position guides below:

Loosehead Prop

The loosehead prop is a big and strong player who stops the scrum moving backwards and aims to cause maximum disruption. A big tackler who is also responsible for securing possession, the loosehead prop is not to be messed with. Think you fit the role? Check out our full guide below:

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Hooker

The hooker stands in the middle of the scrum and hooks the ball backwards. They’re also responsible for throwing the ball at the lineout, getting around the park and making plenty of tackles. Sound like the perfect role for you? Read our position guide below to find out more:

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Tighthead prop

The tighthead prop is the anchor of the scrum. As a result, the tighthead prop must be a big, strong and powerful player who can take weight on both shoulders and lift people at lineouts. Learn all about the tighthead prop position with the handy guide below:

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Second row

The second row players, otherwise known as locks, wear numbers 4 and 5. Often the tallest players in the team, they’re crucial at lineouts and are the ‘engine room’ of the scrum. They’re also key defensive players who need to possess good handling skills. Learn more below with our full position guide for second rows:

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Blindside flanker

The blindside flanker is tasked with covering plenty of ground. They’re also mainly responsible for preventing the opposition from launching an attack at the scrum. On top of this, the blindside flanker is also quick to arrive at the breakdown and must try to claim the ball when an opposition player is tackled. Learn everything you need to know about blindside flankers below:

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Openside flanker

The openside flanker is usually slightly smaller than their blindside counterpart. This is because they’re tasked with covering even more ground. They’re vital for stopping opposition attacks, securing possession from turnovers and making big tackles. Discover the intricacies of the openside flanker’s role with this position guide:

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Number 8

The number 8 stands at the base of the scrum. They’re responsible for offering additional pushing power and for providing the ball to the scrum half. A popular member of the team, the number 8 is the crucial link between the forwards and the backs. Learn more below with the full position guide for number 8s:

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Scrum half

The scrum half is responsible for putting the ball into their team’s scrum and collecting it once possession has been secured. They’re also responsible for feeding the ball out of a ruck and other set pieces. Due to this, they’re excellent ball handlers and passers who are also incredibly quick thinkers. Learn all about the scrum half position here:

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Fly half

Often the first receiver during an attack, the fly half is traditionally the playmaker of the team. Due to this, they must have an excellent passing range. However, they’re also responsible for putting boot to ball during free play and from the kicking tee. See our full position guide below for Fly halves:

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Wingers

The wingers, wearing 11 and 14, stand on the left and the right of the field, respectively. Often the most potent try scorers in a team, wingers are quick runners who are also capable of eluding opposition tacklers. Learn more below:

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Inside centre

The inside centre is usually the second receiver during an attack. However, these players can also be second playmakers or powerful midfield runners. Like a fly half, they also need to be excellent kickers who can create space effectively. Check out the full position guide below:

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Outside centre

The outside centre tends to be a fast runner and an aggressive tackler. Like the inside centre, they’re also required to create space for others. Learn all about the outside centre position below:

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Fullback

The fullback plays as the deepest player on a team. They need to be every bit as comfortable in defence as they are in attack. They also need to be reliable handlers, kickers and have phenomenal positional sense. See our full position guide for fullbacks below:

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J
JW 52 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

This piece is nothing more than the result of revisionist fancy of Northern Hemisphere rugby fans. Seeing what they want to see, helped but some surprisingly good results and a desire to get excited about doing something well.


I went back through the 6N highlights and sure enough in every English win I remembered seeing these exact holes on the inside, that are supposedly the fallout out of a Felix Jones system breaking down in the hands of some replacement. Every time the commentators mentioned England being targeted up the seam/around the ruck or whatever. Each game had a try scored on the inside of the blitz, no doubt it was a theme throughout all of their games. Will Jordan specifically says that Holland had design that move to target space he saw during their home series win.


Well I'm here to tell you they were the same holes in a Felix Jones system being built as well. This woe is now sentiment has got to stop. The game is on a high, these games have been fantastic! It is Englands attack that has seen their stocks increase this year, and no doubt that is what SB told him was the teams priority. Or it's simply science, with Englands elite players having worked towards a new player welfare and management system, as part of new partnership with the ERU, that's dictating what the players can and can't put their bodies through.


The only bit of truth in this article is that Felix is not there to work on fixing his defence. England threw away another good chance of winning in the weekend when they froze all enterprise under pressure when no longer playing attacking footy for the second half. That mindset helped (or not helped if you like) of course by all this knee jerk, red brained criticism.

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