The UAFC

Question from a relative newbie for anyone who's ever coached rugby.

I know that tighthead prop and loosehead prop are different positions, players specialise as one or the other, and it's very rare these days for one player to play both positons. I know that, because of the way the scrum is set up, the pressures are different and you need to train differently because of that. But how do you decide which position a player is better suited for? Are there particular attributes or aptitudes that make you think "this guy's definitely a loosehead" or "this guy's definitely a tighthead"? Or is it more to do with what the team needs - "this guy would make a good prop, but we've got plenty of good tightheads, so we'll train him to be a loosehead"?

I've couched if that's any good. I'll probably be couched for the rest of the evening.

I'm not very informed sure about the intricacies of proping but most positions in rugby are determined by a PE teacher when you're eleven.

big mervyn wrote:I'm not very informed sure about the intricacies of proping but most positions in rugby are determined by a PE teacher when you're eleven.

That and your life long nickname.

When I saw the thread title I immediately thought it was going to have some salacious gossip. How disappointing.

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It depends on which side of the body is strongest which arm and which leg .

Whether you left or right handed --some people very few the difference in strength is little and they can play either side .

rumncoke wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 6:32 am It depends on which side of the body is strongest which arm and which leg .

Whether you left or right handed --some people very few the difference in strength is little and they can play either side .

is this a new word game?

" ...........for some people ( very few), the difference in comparative strength is small, and they can therefore play either side"

a bit like the Alliance Party??

Right handed/footed wingers are certainly better suited to the left wing and vice versa. Easier to kick to touch and easier to take a pass coming from right to left. That was my experience anyway.

The modern game prefers a left footed player on the left wing. They have more time to kick long as they take the ball from the right and don't have to step back infield to clear, risking charge downs. Lowe and stockdale the 2 best in Ireland at this.

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Being 5ft 23inches would incline one to become a 2nd row forward - or a spectator with a decent view of the game..

Recently retired international hooker Tom Youngs started his pro career as a centre.

There's many a back, who on a cold winters day, wind howling and rain coming at you sideways, wished they played in the pack.

I've a friend who played on the wing for Ballymena back in the day. He said that, depending on the weather, it was a two shirt day...
... or a three shirt day... or more.
No such thing as a one shirt day.