Forwards are the big, powerful players of the rugby team that must secure and protect the ball at all costs.
Props: They form part of the
front row of the scrum and push against the oppositions props. The loosehead
prop is positioned to the left of the hooker and their head will be on the
outside of the scrum when it engages. The tighthead is to the right of the
hooker with their head positioned between the opposition hooker and the
opposition loosehead prop. The prop's main role is to
provide stability at the scrum and support the hooker in quickly winning the
ball. At the line-out the
prop's role is to support the jumper as they compete for the ball.
Hooker: The hooker is positioned between the two props in the scrum and generally throws the ball into the line-out. After the scrumhalf has put the ball into the scrum they use their feet to "hook" the ball back and win possession for their team. Hookers generally have a short back and long arms to aid in binding to props. When the opposition is putting the ball into the scrum the hooker will either attempt to win the ball or try and disrupt the scrum. Hookers are usually more mobile than the props and are often used to carry the ball up during open play. Only specialist front row players can play hooker, and if a team can’t field one for any reason the scrums will become uncontested.
Locks: The locks form the second row push against the front row during the scrum providing much of the power. They are almost always the tallest players on the team and are the primary targets when the ball is thrown in at line-outs Locks must also have good catching ability. At the line-out the locks are supported by team mates allowing them to compete for the ball, either passing or tapping it to the scrumhalf or setting up a drive. In scrums the two locks bind tightly
together and slide their heads between a prop and the hooker. Locks tend to compete for the kick
offs and are involved in securing the ball in rucks and mauls.
Flanker: The Flanker is often regarded as the most athletic position on the rugby pitch. The Flankers main goals are to tackle, steal the ball, and break the opposing defensive line, this requires great stamina and endurance.They bind loosely to the side of the scrum, but
still play an important role in keeping the props tight by pushing at an angle. The blindside is generally the larger of the two and usually
acts as a third jumping option at the line-out. The openside flanker is usually faster
than the blindside with good opensides excellent at turning over the ball at
the tackle.
Eight-Man: Number eights interact
with the scrum-half at the back of the scrum to control and provide clean ball
for the backs. They can also pick the ball from the back of the scrum
and run with it or flick it to the scrum half. At line-outs they can be either
another jumper or a lifter. Around the field they have a similar set of
responsibilities as the flankers at the breakdown. Number eights are
often strong ball carriers and run off the backs.