Player Position Calculator

DerTierarzt

Please forgive me the selfish nature of this post, but perhaps by helping me out you can help others in my, pardon the pun, position...

From 12-16 years old I was a forward, coached from number eight through the numbers until I settled at tighthead prop.

A neck injury curtailed any other involvement until taking the sport back up in my twenties. This time as a back, playing all the way from scrum-half to full-back, most time spent at left wing.

Background aside, here is my question. I'd love to play rugby properly, but I've played every position and a coach has never stuck me in one apart from tighthead when I was younger and heavier.

I read somewhere, rightly or wrongly, that first centres are required to be quick, good ball handling skills, stay up in the tackle to offload, run good angles, not necessarily amazing at passing but decent, and possess some kicking. Is this true? If so i would imagine myself suited to this position, as I don't believe I'm fast enough for wing, tankish enough for forwards, pass master enough for ten, skilled enough for second centre, or tackler supremo enough for full back...

I'm six foot, fast enough, good kicker out of hand, good passer off my right, decent tackler, 85kg if that helps anyone.

If this is a ridiculous post please delete.

CatFromHue

What position do YOU want to play?

FrPhelimYoung

CatFromHue wrote: »

What position do YOU want to play?

I think you've answered your own question. The most important thing is to be honest in your own self assessment. The club, team and level your playing at will ultimately decide whether your assessment is correct. All you can do is turn up to training. Tell the coach your (preferred) position and then get on with it. You'll find your level pretty quick I would say, after that it's up to you to reassess where you are and endeavour to work hard where required and improve. You've thought about it, now just go do it.

profitius

Centers need to be good in all areas otherwise their failing will hurt the team.

FrPhelimYoung

profitius wrote: »

Centers need to be good in all areas otherwise their failing will hurt the team.

What are 'all areas'??? Scrums n' lineouts too? ;~)

DerTierarzt

FrPhelimYoung wrote: »

What are 'all areas'??? Scrums n' lineouts too? ;~)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTUiI1bb_ks

Fireball07

One thing I would say is that I don't think full-backs have to tackle supremos. Good enough because they are the last line of defence but I'd have thought centres would be put under more pressure defensively. Full-backs need to have a good kicking game, it's vital that they're good under a high ball and they need to be able to counter-attack well, run good lines.

CoDy1

DerTierarzt wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTUiI1bb_ks

What weight are you now, a year later too? You can be guaranteed, that SC got a 'clip' across the ear after from the lads he danced across with his studs on his way over!

BTW you are some roll tonight diggin up all these old threads!

roycon

I think Full back seems like your most natural position to be honest. ive played every position in the outside backs 11,12,13,14,15 several times. First centres dont need to be able to kick. i dont think ive ever seen nonu or jamie roberts kick and rarely do you see darcy kick. First centres two main jobs are

1. communicating with 10 and 13 and anchoring the defence. if there are forward runners off the opposition 10 then the 1st centre rather than the outhalf preferably tackles them unless they run inside 10 or are looking to pass

2. holding(keeping them from drifting out) the inside men of the opposition team in attack. making sure the openside, 1st centre and outhalf of the other team or targeting you to tackle. if they leave you space you can take the ball on. if they dont the ball is shifted past you out to second centre. usually with a skip or screen pass or dummmy switch on you.

In all set backline moves the first centre almost always plays the most important role in holding the inside defence.

From my experience a first centre has the most narrow range of actions to perform of anyone on a rugby pitch. Jamie Roberts is a prime example of someone considered a world class first centre while not necessarily a world class footballer or all round rugby player.

Full backs never have to make a hit so they dont need to be as bulky as other positions I believe. they are usually the least physical players. GAA converts I always feel make good full back converts if they can pass a bit.

main duties are positional play most importantly, directing your wingers as you have a better view of things usually

essential skills needed: comfortable under high balls, good-ish passer off both sides, fitness, good footballer, good at passing while running whereas an outhalf passes while more static, pace but usually not as much as wingers or 2nd centre or openside would have

Girvan Dempsey is a stereotypical even tempered full back. Mils Muliana is another. neither had huge pace or power really but were both excellent passers and solid under the high ball. neither of them were actually that good at kicking but they always made touch and took the safe option when they had to

pickarooney

roycon wrote: »

I think Full back seems like your most natural position to be honest. ive played every position in the outside backs 11,12,13,14,15 several times. First centres dont need to be able to kick. i dont think ive ever seen nonu or jamie roberts kick and rarely do you see darcy kick. First centres two main jobs are

Then again Carter, Sexton and Farrell often move to 12 when required.

rje66

Yon never mentioned the most important attribute........
BRAINS!!!!!!

[Jackass]

Fireball07 wrote: »

One thing I would say is that I don't think full-backs have to tackle supremos. Good enough because they are the last line of defence but I'd have thought centres would be put under more pressure defensively. Full-backs need to have a good kicking game, it's vital that they're good under a high ball and they need to be able to counter-attack well, run good lines.

Personally, I think it's easier to defend as a centre than it is as a full-back.

I've played from 10 - 13 in my time, and I found the most challanging position by far to be 13, but having deputised at full-back on one or two occassions, the hardest part of that position is your positiong, reading the game and what happens before it happens. Luckily I wasn't too exposed on the days I was there, but you need a lot of pace and a good tackle to be a full-back, especially if there's a line break and your left one on one with a tricky winger or something.

Centres are kind of all rounders in my opinion, a centre can preform many different roles. OP says a 12 mighn't need to have great passing, but a great passing 12 can keep a defence very flat and wide if he has the range to skip a ball out to the wing.

OP, my advice would be just to play wherever you feel most comfortable. In every position in the backs it's nice to have great pace, great defence, great hands and passing, great boot and an eye for a gap, as well as a bit of height and power...but just go for where you feel most comfortable and enjoy playing the most, and bring your own attributes to the role.

If you're a bigish fella at 12 but passing isn't your strongest attribute, then maybe try working on big carries and offloads in the middle of the pitch instead...there are many ways to unlock a defence.

.ak

Zombie thread.