Is it written in stone that the hooker in Rugby Union delivers the ball at a line out?

Question

Is it written in stone that the hooker in Rugby Union delivers the ball at a line out?

Answer 1

Not at all.

Answer 2

Not at all.  The only reason why nowadays it is very common to see hookers deliving the ball in a line out is that many drills and set pieces have been designed with the hooker throwing in and the usual seven players being involved in the lineout.  It's almost a given that hookers are designated to deliver the ball in line outs as it is a given that the All Blacks can be the best team at any given day except during a world cup match.... where somehow they amazingly always fall short of winning the trophy.

Answer 3

He's the one that is most disposable at that time.

Someone has to be the expert at throwing in.

Answer 4

no ive seen teams where the scrum half throws into the lineout

Answer 5

No, not at all. In fact, back in the old days it used to be the winger who threw in. I've played in teams where one of our props threw in & I played 1 or 3 in the lineout. Whoever is the most accurate thrower gets the job......

Answer 6

no it just he dose take it some times and people think they have to take it

Answer 7

no it just seems that it is the hooker who always does.

Answer 8

Good and interesting question!

never thought of it myself!

Just assumed!

As women do;)

Answer 9

Not at all. I help coach a team of schoolchild age and we encourage all the kids to play in every position, they are getting to the age where we can see natural people getting into positions that suit them, but for things like scrum half, full back, hooker, etc, it is a variable position that any member of the team can play, however, the person doing it must be able to perform.

After all it would be pointless to place a prop in full back, a winger into the scrum.

Answer 10

No it has just evolved that way. Anyone takes a quick throw in and when I started playing in the 1960's the wingers threw it in.

Answer 11

Not at all. Anyone can throw the ball in, but it evolved from wingers to hookers taking the responsibility in the 60s/70s.

Answer 12

It isn't written anywhere nor it is a rule for only the hooker to throw ball in during line outs. Since the two props are are usually bigger than the hooker, in my opinion the are to lift the locks and if they start a maul from the line out the can join the maul and with their weight hopefully drive the maul forward.

Answer 13

no the winger used to do it the hooker just has no other job

Answer 14

not at all, but he will be free at the time to take the throw because if he was in the lineout he'd be doing the same job as the loose forwards. overlap anyone