Positions

Coaching guides

The fifteen positions, what each one does, and why young players should try several.

1. Who does what
2. No. | Position | The job, in short
3. 1 | Loosehead prop | Scrums, lifts at the line-out, carries and tackles close to the ruck.
4. 2 | Hooker | Throws in at the line-out and hooks the ball in the scrum.
5. 3 | Tighthead prop | Anchors the scrum and lifts at the line-out.
6. 4, 5 | Locks | Line-out jumpers and the power in the scrum; hard workers at rucks and mauls.
7. 6 | Blindside flanker | Tackles, carries and jumps; guards the short side.
8. 7 | Openside flanker | First to the breakdown: tackles and fights for the ball.
9. 8 | Number eight | Controls the ball at the back of the scrum; a strong carrier.
10. 9 | Scrum-half | Links forwards and backs: passes from every ruck, scrum and line-out.
11. 10 | Fly-half | Decides how to attack (pass, run or kick); often the goal-kicker.
12. 12 | Inside centre | Strong in contact; a second decision-maker next to the fly-half.
13. 13 | Outside centre | Attacks the space out wide and leads the defence in the outside channel.
14. 11, 14 | Wings | Fast finishers; chase kicks and cover the back field.
15. 15 | Full-back | The last defender: catches high balls and joins the attack.
16. For young players
17. Let them try several positions before they settle on one: size at 12 says little about size at 18.
18. Games for the youngest have fewer players and simpler set pieces, so positions are looser. Your union decides the format.

• For drills for the forwards' set pieces, filter the session planner's drill library by the scrum or line-out category.