If you are a big guy, or are just curious and want to know what positions big guys are suited for in the world of rugby then you are in the right place!
Big rugby players, who weigh in at 100 plus kilos and over 183 cm in height would fit nicely into the forwards. These are the eight players that make up the scrum which consists of: a tight-head prop, a loose head prop, a hooker, two locks/second rows, an open side flanker, a blind side flanker and a number 8.
Each of those positions do have significant differences in terms of what a player is expected to do and what their body type should ideally be, so let’s take a look at the different roles of forwards and see if we can figure out where you might fit in.
Rugby Positions For Big Guys
Second Row/Lock Forward:
In general the tallest players are going to be playing in the second row, as these are the guys that are going to be lifted into the air to compete to catch a ball in the lineout. Ideally, they should also be heavy and powerful as they provide a lot of the power and forward momentum for a team’s scrum.
The average height and weight of a second row playing professional rugby in Europe is: 198cms and 116kg. Current best players in the world at this position include: Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, and Brodie Retallick (full profile).
Recommended reading for you: Basic Rules of the Lineout and How They Work
Number 8:
This guy plays at the back of the scrum. When the ball is put in by the number 9/scrum-half the ball will be heeled backwards by the number 2/hooker in the very middle of the scrum and the ball should roll back to the feet of the number 8.
From this position the number 8 can simply pick the ball up and carry the ball as powerfully as possible around the side of the scrum and into the opposition. He will be hit hard by opposition forwards but if they are powerful enough they will be able to make some good progress.
The average height and weight of a number 8 playing professional rugby in Europe is: 191cms and 111kg. Current best players in the world at this position include: Mako Vunipola, and Talupe Faletau.
Props:
There are two props, the loose-head prop and the tight-head prop. They are named this firstly, because they do effectively ‘prop’ up a scrum as they play on either side of the scrum and hold it up.
Secondly, the tight=head is so called because his head will be wedged in between two opponents’ heads and so it has no room to move, whereas, the ‘loose’ head, you guessed it, has an opponent’s head only on one side of his head, and so has more freedom of movement.
Apart from having to be really strong to push back against opposition scrums, they also have to tackle and make big hits against opposition forwards regularly as well as try to carry the ball forward themselves when the opportunity comes their way.
A further role they have is lifting lineout jumpers, usually the locks/second rows, in the lineout. This is no easy task as the footwork, timing and teamwork between thrower, catcher and lifter has to be spot on in order to get this right – a very underappreciated skill.
The average height and weight of a prop playing professional rugby in Europe is: 185 cm and 117 kg. Current best players in the world at this position include: Kyle Sinckler, Tendai Mtawarira and Wyn Jones.
Why not try our General Knowledge Rugby Quiz here?
Hookers:
These guys have one of the toughest jobs to do on the pitch. They get to pack down right in the middle of the scrum, so not only do they have to push hard, they also have to hook the ball back with the heel of their feet too.
After the pumped up adrenaline filled scrum they may then have to throw into a lineout, which requires them to be extremely calm, communicate clearly with their lifters and jumpers and then be deadly accurate throwing a rugby ball over head to an imaginary spot in the air with everyone watching.
SImilarly then to props, they have their defensive duties and ball carrying duties to fulfill. Sometimes hookers are decent ball players too, meaning they can link play between backs and forwards with well weighted and timed passes to other runners.
The average height and weight of a hooker playing professional rugby in Europe is: 182 cm and 106kg. Current best players in the world at this position include: Jamie George, Ken Owens, and Bongi Mbonambi.
Flankers:
These guys can actually afford to be a touch lighter and a bit more athletic than the rest of the forwards. One of their main jobs, particularly, the open-side flanker the number 7, is to be the first person to any tackle situation and to then either poach the ball from an opponent, or to secure the ball if their team already have it. The number 7, therefore needs to be supremely fit.
The number 6, or blindside flanker does a similar job but is also a very important defender and traditionally a big hitter in the defensive line, they may also be used as an extra jumper in the lineout too.
The average height and weight of a flanker playing professional rugby in Europe is: 191 cm and 107 kg. Current best players in the world at this position include: Tom Curry, Ardie Savea, and Siya Kolisi.
If you want to know more about rugby players and those positions then study soe of the guys i have mentioned in live games. Watch what they do all game, don’t follow the ball, just study where they are and what they are doing at all times and you will notice how much effort, thought, instinct and ability goes into playing in any of those positions.
You might also want to read What is the average size of a rugby player.
What is the strongest position in rugby?
The strongest position in rugby is a front rower, either a prop or a hooker. These players need tremendous strength to hold scrums up and to lift players in lineouts. Typical numbers for a front rowers bench press are between 180 kg and 220 kg.
The South African rugby team require their players to be able to bench press 1.3 to 1.5 times their own body weight (source) and with front row players being the heaviest this means they will be bench pressing more than other positions and should therefore be considered the strongest players.
Famously, Andrew Sheridan a world cup winning prop for England could bench press 225 kilos and squat 300 kilos and was known to be one of the strongest rugby players, but there are many more who could outdo him now.
Who is the hardest player in rugby?
Wayne Shelford is the hardest player in rugby. He played for the New Zealand in a particularly violent game against the French, which became known as ‘The Battle of Nantes’ in which his scrotum was torn clean open by an opponent’s stud and he was left with a testicle hanging out down his leg.
This did not stop the hard man who returned to the pitch soon after with it stitched back up!
Famous rugby referee, Nigel Owens, does disagree with me somewhat and is quoted as saying this about open-side flanker Richie McCaw:
“Capped 148 times by New Zealand despite playing in the most attritional of positions, where every game he would be throwing himself into harm’s way, perhaps by locking himself over possession and soaking up the attention of immensely powerful forwards who would do everything they could wipe him off the ball. Now that’s what I call a genuine hard man!”
I’ll let you be the judge on that one though. You might also want to read The 3 Best Positions For Small Players.
Photo Credits:
Featured photo: European Nations Cup Second Division Match between Poland and Belgium, x-oph, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
New Zealand’s Brodie Retallick in Australia v New Zealand Rugby Championship match at Sydney David Molloy Photography, Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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