Forward as primary kicker

blackvalley · 12-03-2021 10:42pm #1

Hi.
Just wondering if its ever happened where a club or indeed a country has had a forward as their main place kicker .
You probably realise from the question that my knowledge of rugby is quite limited.
Thanks.

Buddy Bubs · 12-03-2021 10:46pm

blackvalley wrote: »

Hi.
Just wondering if its ever happened where a club or indeed a country has had a forward as their main place kicker .
You probably realise from the question that my knowledge of rugby is quite limited.
Thanks.

Amateur club level yes. We had a number 8 who was a gaa free taker and he kicked at goal in rugby too. Was pretty good at it too

Haven't seen it in professional apart from the odd one here and there as a backup. John eales etc

razorblunt · 12-03-2021 11:05pm

John Eales was a good man for a phunt.

awec · 12-03-2021 11:31pm

Would never happen in the modern pro game. Forwards specialise in forwards things like scrums and lineouts. They would not have the time to also specialise in place kicks.

Squidgy Black · 12-03-2021 11:56pm

awec wrote: »

Would never happen in the modern pro game. Forwards specialise in forwards things like scrums and lineouts. They would not have the time to also specialise in place kicks.

Cian Healy would fight you for saying that kind of thing.

https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1054001886838378497

RGS · 12-03-2021 11:59pm

John eales kicked a few penalties for Australia.

Going back to the 70's John Taylor a flanker, took kicks left footed for wales.

And I think Gordon brown kicked for Scotland in the 70's.

I do remember zinzan Brookes scored with a drop goal from close to the half way line.

awec · 13-03-2021 12:00am

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Cian Healy would fight you for saying that kind of thing.

https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1054001886838378497

Cian Healy isn't the main place kicker.

arsebiscuits1 · 13-03-2021 12:32am

Rare enough in senior men's game.

Hannah O'Connor is a backrow and has been known to kick for Leinster

TomsOnTheRoof · 13-03-2021 3:01am

John Eales Kicked over 150 points for Australia, including the winning penalty in a Bledisloe Cup game (competition held between NZ and Aus).

Bazzo · 13-03-2021 9:17am

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Cian Healy would fight you for saying that kind of thing.

https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1054001886838378497

Ironic that he's the one who took such great offense to John Muldoon (successfully) kicking a conversion

c.p.w.g.w · 13-03-2021 9:23am

Keith Earle was a back row when he played u14's with thomond, and took the kicks

blackvalley · 13-03-2021 1:59pm

Thanks for all the interesting info.
Now another question.
Is the hooker ALWAYS the lineout thrower.
Tks.

TomsOnTheRoof · 13-03-2021 2:38pm

blackvalley wrote: »

Thanks for all the interesting info.
Now another question.
Is the hooker ALWAYS the lineout thrower.
Tks.

Nowadays they are but it wasn't always like that. At one time wingers threw the ball in.

Yeah_Right · 13-03-2021 3:41pm

I knew as soon as I saw this thread some prick would bring up John Eales!! **** you all ðŸ€¬ especially the poster that mentioned the winning penalty in the Bledisloe Cup match. I think that was in 2000 in Wellington and no I'm not still bitter about it.

There were a few forwards in rugby league that were first choice kickers. One that I remember was Gavin Hill who switched to league from union but I don't think he ever took a shot at goal in union.

Dubinusa · 13-03-2021 7:10pm

Generations ago, Wales lock Alan Martin kicked a penalty from inside his own half.

Lost Ormond · 13-03-2021 9:21pm

Ben Healys brother plays hooker and has kicked on quite a few occasions in AIL for Nenagh.

blackvalley wrote: »

Thanks for all the interesting info.
Now another question.
Is the hooker ALWAYS the lineout thrower.
Tks.

No they are not and they dont have to be. Nearly always will be at the top level but you can occasionally see a prop or backrow throw in at lower levels

penybont exile · 13-03-2021 9:25pm

Dubinusa wrote: »

Generations ago, Wales lock Alan Martin kicked a penalty from inside his own half.

good ole toe poke ..... steel toecaps came in useful back in the day.

Buddy Bubs · 14-03-2021 7:10am

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I knew as soon as I saw this thread some prick would bring up John Eales!! **** you all ðŸ€¬ especially the poster that mentioned the winning penalty in the Bledisloe Cup match. I think that was in 2000 in Wellington and no I'm not still bitter about it.

There were a few forwards in rugby league that were first choice kickers. One that I remember was Gavin Hill who switched to league from union but I don't think he ever took a shot at goal in union.

Andy Farrell was first choice kicker in that savage wigan rugby league team he played for as far as I remember. Think he was a forward.

Bogwoppit · 14-03-2021 7:44am

Martyn Williams took a kick in the penalty shoot out between Cardiff and Leicester in the 2009 HC semi, I think he was 7th choice. Lost them the game when he missed.

All My Stars Aligned · 14-03-2021 2:39pm

French scrum 9's used to throw into lineouts if memory serves. I think this was during the 80's & early 90's

sydthebeat · 14-03-2021 3:34pm

All My Stars Aligned wrote: »

French scrum 9's used to throw into lineouts if memory serves. I think this was during the 80's & early 90's

Folau fakatava was throwing into the line last week when Ash Dixon the hooker was in the bin.

He threw underhand and it was glorious

Forward as primary kicker

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