Rugby Coaching - What Are the Key Player Skills to Look For?

Part of your job as a rugby coach will likely to be selecting a team. Early in the session when you have no prior experience with the players it may be a rather hard job to figure out which players you should be selecting, and what exactly makes a player good. Some players select themselves, overflowing with talent and skill, where as the quality of players in some less glamorous positions may be harder to select. So what are the key skills to look for when selecting a team?

Prop - It is important that props are strong and are good workers. At the lower levels of the game this is often seen as a position for bigger burley sorts. However, the key is not so much size, although it sure does help, but more strength. A good prop needs to be able to scrum well, lift in the lineouts, and mobility around the field certainly helps.

Hooker - Like the props, it is important for a hooker to be strong and they also need to be good in scrums. It in the modern game hookers are often seen as more mobile dynamic players, often with good ball skills and ability to run with the ball. More importantly though is accuracy in the lineout. This is a key role of the hooker, and a players selection can hinge on their ability to be accurate at throwing the ball into a lineout. Or more to the point it should hinge on this ability.

Lock - Height certainly helps here. A taller player will find their key jobs of winning clean lineout ball, and receiving kickoffs much easier than a shorter player. Strength is also very important. Much of the power in a scrum comes from the 2^nd row.

Loose Forward - All three loose forwards need to be very fast and very good at tackling. Their job is key in the modern game, turn over ball, and tiding up loose ball is their key role. Players in these positions need to be physical, and they need to get involved with all aspects of the game.

Half Back / Scrum Half - Speed, acceleration, and accuracy of tactical kicks and passing of the ball is key here. A half backs key role is to deliver good clean ball to his fly half. If they have a good pass, they are 2/3rds of the way there. Size and strength are less important however, it is a sign of the changing game that many modern halfbacks are much bigger stronger physical players, with more of a running option than many players of this position in times gone.

Fly Half / First Five - This is the Glamour position in rugby. Think Jonny Wilkinson, or Dan Carter. They must have an accurate tactical kicking game. They essentially run the backline, so they need good strategical knowledge of the game. When is it best to kick? When is it best to run? A modern fly half also benefits from having a running option.

Centres - Strength in the tackle, speed, and having a kicking option is good here. The ability to break defensive lines, by hitting the ball at pace and on vary angles is key. Think Stirling Mortlock or Brian O'Driscoll.

Wings - Speed and power, fast acceleration. A good wing goes looking for work, they hit the line at pace, and need to be good finishers. Speed, speed and more speed. Bryan Habana is an outstanding winger. Although most wings are selected on their attacking skill, it is important for wingers to understand their role in defending, as they must have good positional play. When to stay in the line or when to drop back can play a key role in the organisation in a defensive line.

Full Back - Defence is the key here. They must have a good kicking game, and a strong tackle. They are the last line in defence, and have a key strategical role in attack. Deciding when to come into the line or when to stay back can change the dynamic of a whole backline.

In the modern game of rugby players in all positions need to have a good understanding of the break down, and how to gain, or retain possession of the ball. The first player there needs to be able to act fast, effectively acting as a loose forward. Winning ball in this phase of the game is key to the success of any side. I hope you found this article useful for your rugby coaching development.