Tips on Playing Fullback in Rugby?

Question

Hey,

This year I've been slotted as a fullback on my school rugby team and I've never played fullback before. Does anyone have any tips on playing fullback or any drills that I could do by myself to practice fielding kicks or anything like that.

Thank you very much

Answer 1

It's a good position to read the game from try to predict what the opposition is doing and communicate with your wingers and centre.

Practice to kick off both feet.

Answer 2

As the South USA and  Northeast  USA FB at times . Here is the biggest pointers I have.  Keep an eye  on their fly and  SH at all times know where they are when they might kick and observe  where they look when they look at your side of the field  for space to kick too.   See who they talk too. Watch them at pre game.  organize  your weak wing  in Defense  and  call out pack players  top cover overloads .  ORGANIZE the  defense and   be  vocal. You are your own and the teams last hope.  Attack on both sides  of the field quickly . dont be afraid to be  scrum half  or  fly  or whereever  your team needs  to be  filled  in at the  time.  You can be anywhere you want  on  offense. read the field and be in space or a place you are needed .  Dont be afraid to ruck sometimes  especially out wide.

Most importantly  be on the move  as  ball comes  out .  Be in one place  when the opposition  flyhalf looks  over the field to kick and  then be  somewhere else (the place he looked when he is catching the pass). Never allow  him to hit the sweeper  kick for masive yards strong side  always  shut down the middle and  then be  in that  spot  wide  when he  kicks.

Control the game --If they are a good attacking team allow  them some space to kick too and  then close that space  down catch ball on the  fly and now  you have not only kept them from running the  ball but  you have gotten them to kick to you .  And for the team sake the ball is always  safest in your hands . Right. after all you can run and  drop a little  kick or a bomb back.  later boss and  good luck whereever your playing ---nyamericansrugbycom Joel

Answer 3

Watch footage of the greats, Cullen etc

Answer 4

If you are near a good team, super14 or other senior level team, go to the game, not just on TV, go and spend your whole time watching the player you want to learn from.

I played second row and it is completely different obviously, but the principle is the same.

Listen to your coach, listen to your captain, the forceback game (or boundries) is a good game, get someone to video you kicking and watch yourself, that can help, you know what a good kicker does, you will see where you head is at, follow through etc.

Best thing though, go to the game

Answer 5

i myself play fullback  it takes time to master the position so don't worry about it to much the way i learned is by taking advice from older people in your team and from my local rugby club

Answer 6

Apart from normal backline skills (ie. tackling, speed, kicking), positioning is very important for a fullback. As is catching high balls. Watch rugby videos or games, and just get a feel for where the team's flyhalf is going to kick the ball, then see where the fullback is when he catches it.

Play Boundaries with a friend who kicks well. Boundaries is a game you can play with 2 or more people on half a field, using the try line and the halfway line. You try to kick straight over the other guys head to drive him back. He kicks back to you from where your kick landed. If you catch his kick without it bouncing, you get to take 5 big steps towards his line. The first one pushing his opponent over his line wins. This is a good drill for catching and kicking.