Rugby position, lock, prop or 8thman

Question
Hello Nick, my name is Jason

I just turned 16 and I want to join rugby this year.
I am uncertain on what position i want to play.
I have asked many people on what position they think I should play and 100% of them told me that I should be a prop, lock or 8th man.

I am 193cm/6'4 feet tall and I am 105kg.

I hear I shouldn't be a prop because I am too tall.

I also hear that i am too heavy to be a lock. I have heard of a supporting lock that doesn't jump in the line-outs but still does all of the other things a lock does, do you know anything about that?

I also hear that i am too slow in my sprints to be an 8th man. my 100m sprint time is 15seconds.

so I am in a bit of a tight spot of choosing on what position to play.

if you could help me out that would be much appreciated! :)

Answer
Hi Jason, The best prop in the world is 6'4" (Carl Hayman, with good technique you could be a great prop.

As for lock, you are right there are non-jumping locks who lift flankers at the back of the line. As for #8 and your speed it ties into your weight at lock. Are you truely as fit as you can be? if your diet and training levels are excellent but you are still slow and large then stick with prop if you feel you could put more work in trainin gthen go for lock or #8.

Get started on gettign fit and learning about the game as a whole. You are 16 so your body will probably start to change and fill out and as you get older your fitness and mental abilities usually improve.

Get involved just focus on learning hte game, being a team player and getting very fit. The position will take care of itself. It is ok to change positions. At 16 I was a flanker, then a prop, then hooker and then prop again and last Saturday I played flanker again - don't sweat it too much just get involved and have fun.