Rugby League Positions – Backs, Forwards, and Interchange (2023)

FAQs

How many interchanges do you get in rugby league? ›

Substitutes 2. (a) Each team may nominate a maximum of four replacements before the start of the game. Their names along with those of the players must be given to the referee before the start of the game. A maximum of eight interchanges will be allowed from the 17 named players.

Interchange (14, 15, 16, 17)

If a player is injured or just not playing well enough, they can be replaced by a substitute, called an interchange. Each team has four interchange replacements to choose from and can they come on at anytime during the game.

Players are divided into two general types, forwards and backs. Forwards are generally chosen for their size and strength. They are expected to run with the ball, to attack, and to make tackles. Forwards are required to improve the team's field position thus creating space and time for the backs.

Five-eighth or Stand-off is one of the positions in a rugby league football team. Wearing jersey number 6, this player is one of the two half backs in a team, partnering the scrum-half. Sometimes known as the pivot or second receiver, in a traditional attacking 'back-line' (No.

In international rugby there are eight replacements on the bench and at least three of these must be front-row specialists. Eddie Jones likes to call them finishers, other coaches term them game changers and some tag them impact players.

Each Rugby League team has 13 players & 4 substitutes available at any time in the game. Each team is made up of 7 'backs' and 6 'forwards'.

A rugby team is divided into forwards and backs. Forwards are usually the larger, stronger players on the team (numbered one to eight). Their main job is to win possession of the ball. The backs are often smaller, faster, and more agile and typically make use of the ball possessions, which are won by the forwards.

The scrum-half is the link between the forwards and the backs. They receive the ball from the line-out and remove the ball from the back of the scrum, usually passing it to the fly-half.

“A player must not intentionally throw or pass the ball forward,” reads the law, with the specific definition of 'forward' being “towards the opposition's dead-ball line”.

Like Richard said, American football has more rest, more pads and a helmet which means they can hit harder for sure. But, when you look at the frequency of hits in rugby, the number of impacts per game, the distances run in a game and other factors. Rugby definitely comes out as the tougher sport to play.

Why are forward rugby players heavier than backs? ›

The forwards are bigger and heavier than the backs so they can work their way up the field to score tries.

What makes a good rugby fullback? To succeed as a rugby fullback at a high level, you must have good positional skills, an ability to stay cool under pressure and supreme confidence under the high ball. On top of this, the best fullbacks in the world also possess the ability to: Kick the up and under effectively.

A three-quarter back, the right wing wears the number 14 on the back of his jersey and positions himself on the right side of the backs; he is expected to score a significant number of tries. This position is usually held by one of the fastest players in the team.

Rugby sevens is so called because it features teams of seven players. Originally called seven-a-side rugby when it was first played in Melrose, Scotland in 1883, the name has since been abbreviated to rugby sevens, or just sevens.

Centers: #12 and #13

These are the two running backs of the team. #12 is called the inside center and is a very hard and powerful runner on offense and loves to tackle. Inside centers are used for the short tough running game of rugby like a fullback in football. #13 is the outside center.

The NRL has confirmed a significant change to the controversial six-again rule for the 2022 season. According to NRL.com, instead of a set-restart, a penalty will be awarded if a team commits a ruck infringement or has a player or players inside the 10 metres while “inside the 40 metre zone of the team in possession”.

The common practice after most Test rugby matches is for each player to get two jerseys. One is for them to swap, if they choose, and the others is to hang onto or present to a proud family member, friend, fan or charity.

Even if he has support close by, a two-man tackle can create an excellent turnover opportunity. If the tacklers can knock the ball carrier back, you will have forward momentum even in defence.

A lock is a position in rugby that requires a player to be strong and have good ball handling skills. They are usually the smallest players on the field, which makes them hard to hit and very difficult to knock over.

The make-up of 15s and sevens teams are different: in 15s rugby there are eight 'forwards' and seven 'backs' and in sevens there are three forwards and four backs.

How many forwards are there on each team? ›

Forward/Striker

Most teams have two strikers. Usually one forward stays just behind the last defender (i.e. in an on-side position), while the other forward is stationed to assist, as well as score. There are three types of forwards: Center Forward: The center forward typically scores the most goals on a team.

Flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Each team of 15 players includes two flankers, who play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside or openside flankers, numbers 6 and 7 respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they 'flank' each set of forwards.

For years, that was the standard that many in rugby used, and World Rugby Laws still appear to support that simplistic reading of the rule. Law 11.7 states: “A player must not intentionally throw or pass the ball forward,” with the definition of forward being: “Towards the opposition's dead-ball line.”

There are many similarities between the two types of rugby, but they have developed different sets of rules over time. The split between the two types occurred because of a disagreement about the way players were treated when they were injured during a game.

In rugby, you can pass the ball any way you like, in any manner, so long as it does not go forward out of your hand. The law, according to World Rugby, says that a pass is deemed forward if the hands are moving forward when the ball is released.

RULES OF RUGBY 15s

Participants may only pass the ball backwards or sideways with no blocking allowed; using a variety of phases such as lineouts, mauls, rucks and scrums to retain possession during play. Rugby is unique in that play is continuous even after players are tackled on the field.

What is a loosehead prop? The loosehead prop is a member of the team's front row (alongside the hooker and the tighthead prop). They're one of the three players in the front row of the scrum. The loosehead prop lines up on the left of the scrum, next to the hooker.

The scrum is a means of restarting play after a stoppage which has been caused by a minor infringement of the Laws (for example, a forward pass or knock-on) or the ball becoming unplayable in a ruck or maul.

So there you have it. Ring's action worked as a ploy to put the ball over the defence, but it was an illegal one. This goes for a quick tap penalty as well. You cannot knee the ball to constitute a kick.

Application: No defender(s), during the course of a tackle, are permitted to lift the ball-carrier (this is not to be confused with a tackle that, in the same motion, “knocks” a player off their feet). If a lift occurs, the Referee must penalise the offending player(s).

What is the number 1 hardest sport? ›

According to Sports Virsa, the top 10 hardest sports in the world to play in 2022 are as follows: Boxing (hardest), American football, mixed martial arts, ice hockey, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, wrestling, rugby, and water polo.

As the ball is in play more and there are fewer players (13 compared to 15) to cover the field it has been implied that rugby league is the more physically demanding sport.

Rugby players run more, hit more and have to be mentally switched on for 69 more minutes than American Football players. Rugby players don't have the luxury of being able to stop the play each breakdown, they must get back up, get back in line, make that last-ditch tackle, cover that kick over the top etc.

All previous data demonstrate that high BMI is commonplace and a desirable attribute for sport performance in professional rugby players. The mean BMI was 26.18 ± 2.37 (kg/m2) and the body fat content 15.87 ± 3.97% in our back position players.

Rugby is one of a few sports that demands a high level of all-round fitness. Players need to be aerobically and anaerobically fit, fast, agile, mobile, powerful, and strong. However, it's not enough to be well-conditioned, ruggers need to be skilled too.

How do rugby players get big legs? Rugby players do a lot of strength training and will eat a high protein diet to support muscle growth and recovery.

The last player on the bench, rugby jersey 23, is often a utility back, able to cover more than one position in the midfield or outside backs.

40/20 - Ball is kicked from behind the kickers own 40m line and goes out within the defensive teams 20m line and the goal line. The ball has to bounce out over the side line to regain possession.

What is the difference between 1 3 3 1 and 2 4 2 in rugby? ›

In a 1-3-3-1, there will be one forward by each sideline, with two pods of three in the middle of the field. In the 2-4-2, there will be two groups of two forwards on the outsides of the field, with one group of four in the middle.

22: The area between the goal line and the 22-metre line, and between the touchlines. It includes the 22-metre line but not the goal line or the touchlines. A.

The humble rugby ball, formerly known as a 'quanco', is iconic in the game for its odd shape, completely different to almost every other sport. Whilst cricket, football, tennis and more use traditional spheres for their playing equipment, the rugby ball is an 'elongated ellipsoid' or basically oval.

Fly-half. Wears the No.10 jersey, is often the first receiver during an attack. Regarded as the playmaker of the team.

The role of the five-eighth is often to pass the ball away from the congested area around the tackle, further out along the 'back-line' to the outside backs, the centres and wingers, who have more space to run with it.

The alternative, a 5-3 split, allows a second specialist back, such as a fly-half, to be selected, as well as a 'utility back' who could slot into multiple three-quarter positions. England head coach Eddie Jones came under scrutiny after the defeat to Ireland in the 2022 Six Nations for selecting a 5-3 split.

THE six-again rule; it was brought in to speed up the game back in 2020, first in the NRL and then in Super League. The ruling allows a referee to award an attacking side six more tackles for ruck infringements rather than a penalty.

Following a try, the scoring team has a chance to convert the try from four points to six with a place kicked goal over the crossbar and between the uprights of the goal-posts; this is known as a conversion and the six-point total is known as a converted try.

Each team in effect, is given six tackles or chances to score. If after six tackles they have not achieved this then the ball is given to the other team who then also have the chance to score with six tackles.

What does the hooter mean in rugby league? ›

A hooter or whistle will indicate the start and finish of the half. Play is only allowed to continue after the whistle or hooter sounds if the ball is still in play. The half will immediately end once a tackle is made or the ball goes out to touch. However, time can be extended for a penalty kick or a kick at goal.

The six-again rule was dreamt up by Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys, and gives the referee an option to restart a set mid-play for offside or ruck infringements, rather than blow a penalty. The idea was to reduce stoppages and introduce more attacking play into the NRL.

A high tackle is an illegal tackling move in rugby football. A high tackle occurs when a player tackles or attempts to tackle an opponent whereby their arm makes contact with the ball carrier's chest. The move is dangerous due to the risk of injury to the head and neck of the player being tackled.

NRL Implemented: 2008 NRL season. The maximum number of interchanges that could be made from a pool of four replacements was reduced from 12 to 10. A second tackler was now permitted to strip the ball if the attacker carrying it was attempting to place ball for a try.

Sanction: If the opposing team at a conversion attempt infringes but the kick is successful, the goal stands. If the kick is unsuccessful, the kicker retakes the conversion and the opposing team is not allowed to charge.

A front-row forward, the hooker wears the number 2 on the back of his jersey. In a scrum, the hooker is positioned in the middle of the front row, bound together with the opposing team's hooker, putting him right in the middle of the scrum.

The biggest change is to the “Six Again” rule. If the infringement occurs within 40 metres to a team's try line, then a penalty will be given instead of a set restart. Meanwhile, clubs will be required to name a 22-man squad this year instead of 21. This coincides with the 18th man rule the NRL brought in last year.

In rugby league, a possible 8-point try is awarded if the defending team commits an act of foul play as the ball is being grounded. The try is awarded, and is followed by a conversion attempt, in-line from where the try was scored, and then a penalty kick from in front of the posts.

In league any tackle around or above the neck is deemed illegal. However, the sport has tightened its concussion policy as the focus on preventing long-lasting damage from head injuries continues.

A try is awarded five points. A successful try is awarded with an additional conversion opportunity for two points. If the referee awards a team a penalty they are allowed to kick for the posts for three points. Finally, a player is allowed to attempt a drop-goal in play for three points.