Backline Positions in Rugby

Video Transcript

MARK BREWERTON: Mark Brewerton of Austin Rugby here again. Today we are going to go through the backline and the positions and the people that are playing it. Come over here, we have a halfback/scrum-half. He is probably generally the best passer of the ball in the team off his left or his right hand, generally marches with the forwards and keeps them in line. Once he distributes the ball to a standoff, he is our [INDISCERNIBLE]/quarterback on the backline. The reason he generally plays there is because he is quick on his feet, he has good hands, passes the ball well, and kicks off both feet very well. Moving on out, we go to our second five-eighth/inside centre. He does a lot of the work on defense. He talks the backline up, communicates, creates opportunities, takes the ball up, seeks targets. Moving it slightly wider, we inside centre coming onto the ball. He is generally the second to the last link before we finish our attacking moves. He will take the ball up also but what he will do is he will take the defeats on, create opportunities for the goal out wide which is generally out called our winger, which is the finisher in the game. Generally, small, fast, nippy, or in some cases big and strong. Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes but generally speaking if you are playing the backs, size, skill, and speed are greatly required.