Sports Rugby

The half-back is the vital link between the rugby team forwards and backs. The person who plays in this position must be agile, strong, and mentally alert also having the skill to deliver a variety of passes with speed, distance and accuracy.

Each pass needs to be controlled and without waste movement while different situations will dictate the type of pass to be used.

An understanding and flow must exist between the No. 8, the half-back and the first five-eighth. It is essential to the development of effective attacking play.

A half-back must master a variety of kicks, the ability to break and also have a sound defensive ability especially with huge forwards attacking him. (That’s where the agility comes in). Confidence is paramount in this position and mastery plus, of all skills.

When rugby teams are chosen, the first player chosen is the half-back. Agility and quickness as both a physical and mental quality is important for this position.

The speed of the half-back gives the extra second for a drop goal or an advance of play by the back-line.

Capable hands are another essential. The half-back handles the ball often and awkward fingers will strangle your teams attacking efforts before they begin.

Hey guys, I’m hoping you can help me, I’m 23 years old, am 6`2 and weigh 118 kilos. I’m pretty fit, running 6-8 ks, most days along with hard weights training, I’d really love to play rugby union. I was wondering if you could tell me how hard the game is to learn, and what are the responsibilities of a prop? I appreciate any help you can give,

Cheers guys.

The game is pretty easy to learn. The first club I played for, none of us had played before, but we won our first game after about 3 training sessions. The prop usually follows the ball around, like any forward. But they are only expected to get to every second one.

In the scrums, they are the key for your team. The lower you get, the more power you get. In the first year I played, we had the smallest pack, but we had the best scrum because our props were the best.

Stuart Barnes and Dewi Morris detailed breakdown of the open side no7 flanker taken from Sky Sports Rugby Club. A must for every youngster learning the art of the open side fetchers! …

Duration : 0:6:7

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