In rugby, what is the role of the forwards, could i play in the forwards?

Question

i'm 14, 5ft 7in, 147lbs, a friend told me i'd make a great forward, but i don't think i'm strong enough to be play with guys that are 16,

does any know if i'd make a good forward?

Answer 1

At 14 skill sets tend to matter more than physique.

Try playing Hooker if you are slow or flanker of you have some pace.

The hooker must apply pressure to the opposing tighthead and hook the ball in the scrum. He also throws the ball in at the lineout. As well as the usual tackling and rucking a forward must do.

Flankers break from the scrum to pressure the opposing half backs. They are also a teams main tacklers and ball winners in the rucks.

You don't have to be a forward just because your friend says you should. It's the backs who take all the glory, that's why i play there.

Personally i'm a utility back. I'm 17, 6'1in and 177lbs and run the 100m in 11 seconds. I play Centre, Fullback or Wing usually. I have played the odd game at Flanker when required though and it's a fun position to play.

Answer 2

at that age, you really dont have a position that "fits" you unless you have unnatural kicking ability. in which case, you will be a flyhalf. or full back.

i was a lock from under 10 till my 2nd game at u14. in that second game i switched with the 8th man and became a number 8 from there. and an immediate promotion to our under 14 A team for the next game,  based on that one game at a new position.

my twin brother and i were locks together till u14. he switched to wing and was immediately a u14A wing, while i was still u14B lock.

i have since played every position on the field and will at the drop of a dime. but im a flanker or (undersized) 8th man at heart.

my brother ended up at flyhalf. but played every back line position before settling on it.

you can pick your position when youve stopped growing.

Answer 3

At 14 years of age you have a long way to go on what I hope will be an enjoyable rugby career. To be honest mate you are the right height to play in the front row that’s at prop or hooker but at 14 years of age you still have a lot of growing to do so you could end up being the right height to play at lock or in the loose forward trio at flanker or number 8. There no real rules on what size are best in junior footy at 14. I see that you are playing against lads that are older than you but it’s not so much about being strong enough to play against these older boys it’s whether you believe within yourself, that your skills as a player are good enough. When it comes to tackling, scrimmaging and rucking its technique and courage that makes the difference not size.  But you don’t have to play in the forwards you can always go and play in the backs especially if you feel you have a good rugby brain but if even if you feel you don't there’s no reason why you can't try and play both in the forwards and backs and see which you like best because that’s often where you will have the most fun and be willing to do the work necessary to succeed.

Personally I’m 6'1" 115kg I used to play number 8 but found I didn't enjoy it as much and have moved to 2nd 5 now and are enjoying it a whole lot more.

So really when it comes down to it your 14 so just try different positions and find out what you are best at and where you enjoy playing most. Just trust your skills and courage.

Hope this helped

Answer 4

dude you're 14 why not?

Go ahead and try, you don't have to be shrek to play forward, the only requisite is courage.

Answer 5

you need to be short and fat, you might be a decent one with better stamina than the bigger guys, but you need to eat steak for breakfast lunch and dinner and fatten up

Answer 6

Basically as a forward in rugby your main job is to provide somehwta of a stable platform for your scrum-half to pass out to the back line. Forwards are responsible for scrummages, line-outs and also most of rucking. Depending on which position you wish to play, different qualities are needed. To be a prop (number 1 and 3) you'll need to be of average height, and be quite heavy and large in stature. To be a hooker (number 2) you'll need the same skills as a prop but you must also be able to throw the ball into a line-out and also pass the ball back with your foot in a scrum. To be a lock (4 and 5) you must be tall and in most cases quite lean as you will be lifted up in lineouts. If you wish to play in the back row (6,7 and 8) you must be quite fast, have good acceleration, be a good tackler and have very good fitness. Overall, if you want to be a forward, you will need strength and fitness. As a person who has been a forward for 13 years, I would recommend being a back row as it is an important role, especially if you like running with the ball and tackling! :D What role you'd be best at depends on your own natural ability, if you are fast and have good handling, be a back row. Good luck!

Answer 7

Dude, you're 14 and just starting.  Try everything and see what you like!  There's no rush on this.  I've played since I was four and never got my position fully sorted until I was 20, thats after playing top level high school and university.

Jonah Lomu was a #8, his first time on the Wing was at the international level.