What do i have to do as a Flanker in rugby?

Question

I've been playing rugby for 12 months now, and all this time i played at second row. I've become very comfortable, as a forward. I tried playing in center, but i couldn't adjust to the backs. So now I am going to play as flanker this coming season, but i don't know what to do.

Answer 1

Cheat more

Answer 2

you will have to be tireless and basically just scavenge for the ball, tackle your heart out and have all the skills, ie - the all blacks', Richie McCall, the aussie pair of George Smith and Phil Waugh, and the South Africans' Schulk Berger, good flankers are intrical to winning a match, good luck and I hope you succeed

Answer 3

the pack should work as a team, and flankers are integral to a well-working scrum.  apart from that, i agree with the other guy - they will probably coordinate with the backs more, as well as tackle more, because they are able to get away from scrum situations faster.  work on your speed.

Answer 4

your job as flanker is to be first out of the scrum and run a smart line towards the ball carrier. it could be the 8th man. or the scrum half. usually the ball get passed to the flyhalf, so you have to make a beeline towards him, but you have to run smart. if you dont, he will adjust his line and go past you.

ideally, you will be first to the breakdown/ tackle. this is because of where you are in the scrum; on the side, nobody binding on you. being that close to the scrum you can see when they pick up the ball, and you are already only 5 feet from the action. so when they pass it, you are closest, you should be following the ball and making that tackle.

as flanker you are bound to be making more tackles than as a lock/ 2nd row. you need to be able to not only make tackles, but get up quickly and steal the ball from that tackle. or, if youre 2nd to that tackle, you should target the ball, not the ball carrier, in order to create a turnover.

you need to be very fit. and it helps to either be very fast, or be able to run at near max for long periods with a very short recovery time.

Answer 5

As the first or second person to every breakdown, I'd recommend you build your skills also to include basic scrum half passing, and definitely effective ball carrying.  It would be good to also be able to run as a back, for if you're late at a breakdown, you could be the first receiver and your decision making will help you at that point.

Answer 6

Basically tackle everything that moves, take out the opposition back row and fly half. Hit rucks, go for turn overs, get scrappy, bend the rules as much as you can, and just generally make a nuisance of yourself!

Answer 7

going from 2nd row to flanker is not a huge change, but a change nonetheless. you will probally do more tackling then you did then when you were 2nd row but in scrums you will be of less importance.

I would just follow the advice of your coach and you will be good to go.