What rugby position should i be?

Question

Ok, im 17 and i will be playing in the under 18 league. I am around 190 lbs, and Im 6ft tall. I can bench press around 300 lbs and leg press around 800 lbs. My speed is decent, around a 4.9-5.0 second 40 yd dash. Also, since im almost gaurenteed to be a forward, can anyone describe what the differences are? And from what i have seen, I would think i would be a number 8 or a lock. I feel like i could run the ball pretty well, and wouldnt be tackled easily by anyone small. I played a little fullback in football, but i mainly played Defensive tackle. Thanks!

Answer 1

well if you're telling me that you have a decent speed, height and weight and love to tackle and run, then you're definately good for flanker. I was once a prop in high school but after three years I lost a lot of weight (before: 115kg now: 85) and had to play at a postion that suited my physque. since im short and a bit agile, i moved to halfback, but still struggle to maintain the basic skills and speed. So what i do is just work on the fundamentals (train everyday) and watch how the pro's play their postions.

At the mo, i believe im improving, but i still got a long road to go if i want to get to the top level. I am able to read the game more clearly and understand how situations operate in the game ie: when to pass, kick, tackle, catch etc. it takes a bit of training and commitment, so yeah.  

Answer 2

Your stats are impressive for a young guy. Great to see an American kid looking to play one of our major codes in the southern hemisphere.

You have not stopped growing as that will not happen until your 21 so your height currently would suit a loose forward position rather than lock but you could still be a receiver in the line out. You have great short distance speed so definitely a loose forward as getting to the breakdown quickly to secure posession is an asset in attack as well as defence. You need speed to get across the field to mow down any attacking raids by the opposition. If you love the physical challenge of sprinting to the breakdown and wrestling on the ground to gain an advantage for your team for 80 minutes then 6, 7 or 8 is the place for you.

Those are some of the toughest positions you can play on a union team. When you watch the bst players in the world in those positions they are all about dominating their opposite numbers across the field physically taking them out of the game through their physical nature. Ritchie McCaw, Schalk Burger, Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins, George Smith are true 6, 7 and 8 and are physically dominating in an intimidating sense. They completely hold court when they play and their opposites that do not have the same intimidating factors shake in thier boots anticipating being spanked.

Watch those guys if you are able to get footage (youtube would be a place) an you will know what I am talking about. If you are able to reflect any kind of skill and dispaly this with a physical presense on the field you will be successful in Union but find the position that best suits you. Gods and Demons wear the number 7. They are super stars of our game.

Good Luck

Answer 3

lol ur well cocky! but yeh, flanker tbh

Answer 4

well, lock, no way if u weigh that much, i am 15 and i can run 100 metres in 11.5 seconds and i am 6ft 3 and i play second row (lock to americans). Flanker i would say cause by the sounds of it u can tackle and ure fast. Simple really, just improve on your ball skills and your sorted

Answer 5

It doesn't even sound to me like you should be a forward mate.. Definitely Outside Centre (13)

I play and am 14.. I'm about 5'9" and play fullback.. Nobody gets through me ;]

Best of luck anyway mate  

Answer 6

You would be best at open-side flanker (number 7) in my opinoin, at the scrum the open-side flanker binds on to the scrum on the same side as the opponents fly half (10) when the other team has the ball you have to try to stop or slow down the other tams attack by tackling their fly half or inside centre (12) outside of the scrum you basicaly have to follow the ball around the pitch when your attaacking you aswell as the other flanker and number 8 have to be the first players to every ruck and maul and have to look to pick the ball up from the rucks to carry it foward unless the scrum half (9) calls for it and in defence you either have to get realy stuck in or stay slightly behind and wait for an openent to break the defence then make the try saving tackle.

Answer 7

Sounds like an Eight to me at that age. You might grow a bit more and fill out some and end up in the front row with that strength.

Edit: Work on your conditioning!! Wing forwards run their rear ends off in a game.

Answer 8

man up and play league

Answer 9

I'd say you sound like a number 8. The 8man is responsible for a few things on the field and needs to be versatile. Running the ball strongly is important, as is defensive prowess. You needn't be the fastest forward, but you must be able to close gaps on opposing runners with good angles of pursuit.... and when you do catch them, light 'em up.

Good luck.

Answer 10

ummm mate big, strong butt... not exeptionaly tall hummm blind side flanker id say

Answer 11

Your story makes you sound like a mean dude, but at least you have the determination to give it your best. You got height, good physic and speed. You are still growing so you could end up too tall for a backline player, but try the centre position, I have a recollection of many big centres in the past. So flanker you wanna be hey? It is indeed the closest you could get to a line backer, especially an outside backer at blitz time, so you could be in for some fun. The only thing to remember is that unlike grid iron, rugby requires an effort both sides of the ball, so you will not only hit people but you need to be able to attack as well as expect to be hit which most linebackers don't like, ask Bart Scott about Hines Ward. So prototypical flanker would be a Juan Smith, number 7 or blind side flanker. Mostly a tallisman, requires good speed, physical dominance and good hands too in the link up plays. You may also do a bit of line out work due to your height. Don't let some of these guys lie to you about playing open side flanker, number 6 or fetcher. That requires a low centre of gravity which tends to favour shorter men, like Phil Waugh, George Smith and the likes. Its evident by the numeber of times Schalk gets penalised and the number of times rules are igonored to accommodate Richie MacCaw. So back to the point, get some video of Juan Smith, Joe v Niekerk, Chabal of France and Jerry Collins to se what a real blind sider does on a rugby field.  

Answer 12

Oooh Flanker or Number 8, if you get taller then you could be a Lock, and if you think your quick enough, you could be a Centre, but no where else in the Backs though..

Answer 13

the outer winger