Playing rugby again

Hurricane-Dean

Hi all,

I am back playing rugby after 4 years due to having a kidney removed, I will be playing my old position of flanker and just wondering if any of you guys have advice? Like position, technique....

I played before but even in training it seems weird being back.

Cheers

MrDerp

I was a flanker at underage (a long time ago now as I'm nearly 30) and if you're back after a few years out and building fitness I'd imagine you'll be thrown in at 6 and not 7. Depending on the level you're playing at, 6 isn't quite the specialist position the pros and leading amateurs make it. I played quite a bit at 7, sometimes at 8 and settled at 6 before I gave up rugby to concentrate on my drinking.

It's quite hard to speak about positioning etc without knowing what type of a team you're joining. I'd concentrate on some basics and forget videos of world class flankers

Defence:
- Scrum: watch your opposing no. 8 from the scrum (whether 6 or 7)
- If in opposition 22 and a kick is likely then break your hole running at the 10 from 7. You won't catch him, but this pressure is your job
- keep an eye out for box kicks from 6, but don't attack the blindside too aggressively or someone might make a tit of you
- Breakdown: In theory a 7 should be first, but you won't have top speed until well into the season. Don't pile in just because you're supposed to be there - be an extra defender if there's no danger and look at who is in the line. If there's fatty guarding the 10 or 12 channel cos your back is at the bottom of a ruck then psyche him up with slap on the head and tell him to guard the pillars of the ruck. Don't slap him too hard or he might charge in from the side with tears streaming down his face

Attack:
- Scrum: protect your SH
- Breakdown: get there first, or protect your SH if you're late to the ruck.
- If the scrum half isn't calling players to the ruck, and you're still getting up from the last one, then join the line (on solid ball) between 13 and 11/14. This will put you first to the next breakdown, and you might even get to carry some ball. It's the SH's job to marshall the forwards around the ruck; if he doesn't want you there then there's no need for you to go and lean when the contest is over.
- Make sure you speak to your 8 before the game. A lot of 8s want to carry ball, think they'd make a decent back if it wasn't for their glandular weight problem etc . Talk to the ****er and get him to tap you on the ass if he's going on some demented solo effort off the base without even telling the SH (that was a tip given to me by a SH when I did precisely this from 8 )

Both:
- For god's sake don't forget to cheat . Your bind should be a mere hand on your 4/5s jersey if you can get away with it. Spot the weak refs and exploit them. Keep away from stupid **** like going in from the side, obvious hands on the decks unless you're about to cough up a try, but don't be afraid to peel fingers off the ball in the maul, nudge opposition SHs etc.

Hurricane-Dean

That's great advice, thanks a lot. I was put in at 7 for my first match, the lack of fitness wasn't as much of an issue as I thought it would be.

I am playing on the 2nds team with the Garda Rugby Club, we're in the Leinster 1a league so it's fairly tough.