Working out what position to be....

rchendz92

So I haven't played union for about five years (although I've always followed it), since I was 16. Back then I was a hooker and emergency TH prop. I gave sports a rest for two years, then at University I have started playing rugby league, where I play as a winger or occasional centre (my physique changed quite a bit over the years....).

I'm now approaching the end of Uni and my job next year is not in an area with many rugby league teams, so it looks like I'm going to have to start playing union again. Only thing is, I have no idea what position I'll be now. Wing would be very different due to increased kicking duties (my kicking from hand needs a lot of work) and I'm unsure of how going into the centres would be, as I'm used to having a left and right centre rather than an inside and outside.

Anyway. How do you work out what position to play as? Most people get stuck with a position at a younger age based on their body and just stay there. I'd like to go into my new club with at least an idea of where to play so I can work on what I need to do in the time before then...any suggestions on how to decide this, or any recommendations based on the attributes below? Many thanks.

Strengths - pace, defensive positioning, one on one & cover tackles, spotting lines, accurate pass off both hands
Weaknesses - not particularly physically strong, poor at judging high balls, kicking from hand (passable place kicker though)

Joe Hart

13

TheKeenMachine

Would you consider scrum half?

trouttrout

I'd look at the wing to get comfortable with playing again, and then maybe move into 12 or 13 if you felt more comfortable.

From my own experience of playing in the center I've always found 13 the hardest position to defend in the backline

irishbucsfan

I would start on the wing if I were you. Don't worry too much about the kicking, just keep practicing. I don't think its ever been an absolute requirement for wingers on teams I've played for!

rchendz92

Thanks for advice. I suppose it would be more sensible just to stick on the wing at first with an eye to moving to an infield position, it's just there's so much aerial ping-pong in the modern game (I'm guessing it's that way at club level too?) I'm worried my kicking/catching could get caught out (though that's something a bit of hard work should solve). Scrum-half would be an interesting experience (I have played about five minutes on the league field as hooker, the equivalent of scrum-half). I'm sure my passing would be up to it but I'd probably need to get used to the breakdown and general gameplay of union again before I went down that route.

Tox56

Defo try 13. You can get away (to an extent) without being very strong, you rarely have to take high balls (I'm terrible at this too), defensive positioning is hugely important and picking good lines + accurate pass are big assets. Kicking is useful but definitely not essential.

Liveforrugby

post your height and weight

Gordon Gecko

If in doubt - play flanker (everybody else does) :pac:

rchendz92

Liveforrugby wrote: »

post your height and weight

6"0, haven't weighed myself in ages but I think I'm normally around 12.5 stone but probably lost a bit since I gave up meat for Lent :cool:

rchendz92

Gordon Gecko wrote: »

If in doubt - play flanker (everybody else does) :pac:

I was actually decent at the breakdown back when I played union, but I'd be a liability for carrying, so I'm not sure that would work sadly.

lurtz

Id go 7 if I were you!

justsomebloke

Surely its not you who will decide where you play but more the manager of what team you go to. He will asses your skills and see where you would best fit in

Swiwi

justsomebloke wrote: »

Surely its not you who will decide where you play but more the manager of what team you go to. He will assess your skills and see where you would best fit in

I tend to agree - I reckon 30 minutes of a runaround, and it will quickly become apparent to the coach where you are suited to play (sorry justsomebloke, but I prefer the word coach - manager just seems too soccer to me :pac:)

rchendz92

True, but my league team's season has stopped now, so I'd like to have an idea as I want to use the time in between to try and work out what skills I'll need to develop (to busy on dissertations etc. to have a summer season with a club though). But yeah, I'll listen to whatever the coach says!

Swiwi

rchendz92 wrote: »

True, but my league team's season has stopped now, so I'd like to have an idea as I want to use the time in between to try and work out what skills I'll need to develop (to busy on dissertations etc. to have a summer season with a club though). But yeah, I'll listen to whatever the coach says!

Seriously, spend 15 minutes running around in the forwards, 15 in the backs and that should at least sort that out. Then 15 minutes in the centres, 15 minutes in the back three, and you should have a pretty good idea. You do need a kicking game to play 15.

rchendz92

Sounds a good plan! Yeah, I doubt I'd be able to kick well enough for full back. I've slotted in there once or twice in league, but the kicking responsibility there is pretty much solely in the hands (or feet) of the half backs and dummy half, so all I had to do was pick lines in attack and crap myself whenever there was a bomb. Of course, I could learn with good coaching, but the 15 minutes in the various roles plan sounds good, coach permitting.

Swiwi

rchendz92 wrote: »

Sounds a good plan! Yeah, I doubt I'd be able to kick well enough for full back. I've slotted in there once or twice in league, but the kicking responsibility there is pretty much solely in the hands (or feet) of the half backs and dummy half, so all I had to do was pick lines in attack and crap myself whenever there was a bomb. Of course, I could learn with good coaching, but the 15 minutes in the various roles plan sounds good, coach permitting.

Let us know how you get on

rchendz92

Swiwi wrote: »

Let us know how you get on

Expect a report in a few months time!

justsomebloke

Swiwi wrote: »

(sorry justsomebloke, but I prefer the word coach - manager just seems too soccer to me :pac:)

Ah piss off I'm only back from a stag weekend. I'm more surprised the post made any sense to begin with

Kev_2012

Why not try wing or fullback? If you have a decent pace and are good under a high ball then I reckon you'd be ok here.

I'm 6 foot and 13.5 stone and have always been a winger.

Tried to change to outside centre, got my 1 chance at it, scored 2 tries, and they put me back on the wing! :mad:

rchendz92

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Why not try wing or fullback? If you have a decent pace and are good under a high ball then I reckon you'd be ok here.

I'm 6 foot and 13.5 stone and have always been a winger.

Tried to change to outside centre, got my 1 chance at it, scored 2 tries, and they put me back on the wing! :mad:

Very much a confidence player under a high ball, it's something I need to work on.