Position shift - prop to hooker

Question
Hi Nick.
I asked you a question a year or so back about tighthead prop while i was playing u18s. I've now moved up to senior, and i'm now one the smaller guys on the team rather than a big guy. I'm about 5'8'' and just under 13 stone. Due to this, its been suggested that i switch to hooker. I tried it in the last game because our hooker got injured, so coach asked me to step in. The scrum was good, although the opposition tighthead wasnt too aggresive so i've not got a good grasp of it yet. I'm working on my throw-ins, there coming along ok. Do you think the switch is a good idea? If so, any tips for the scrum and general play?

Regards, Jim

Answer
G'day Jim,

Moving to hooker is fine if you enjoy it and you get game time. As long as you are feeling confident and comfortable it sounds like you are doing good.

Look over my past answers I will paste one below for you. If you haven't already looked at the usual links I provide on scrums then do so.

As for open field play just take it play by play, as a hooker you can be a little looser like a 3rd flanker but at the end of the day you are a front rower so a high work rate in the mauls and rucks is the priority.

Watch a lot of pro rugby looking at the hookers in the game to get a feel for they way they run lines and support. Half the time a hooker is a running flanker the other half they are like a 3rd prop.

Past answer...

Subject:  hooker
Question:  i have played 2 games as hooker and i am sort of good at it. i win the ball when my team throws the ball in but when the other team throws it in i always lose the ball any tips on how i can be a better hooker?
 
Answer:  Hi Thomas, I assume that when you say "throw in" you mean the scrum put in. If you are winning most of your own put ins then great. As for the opposition ball it is not easy to win but you can do a few things differently. I will start with pasting in an answer I did for another hooker...

Subject: Hooker help

Question:
Hi. Just a line to see if you can help. I play hooker and was wondering if you have any tips. I'm fine with line-outs and in the contact situation and my ball handling is good but I'm having problems in the scum,getting pressured too many times and finding hooking the ball difficult on my put-in.

Answer:
Hi Scott

I will put some links to help but in the scrum it sounds like you need to utilize your props more.

Start with the binding. You need to create more room for you to hook. Your tight head needs to bind first. He should stand directly behind you, reach around you and get a firm grip and then step out to your right and pop his shoulder. He should be square to the opposition but his hips, shoulders and feet need to all be ahead of you while having a tight bind. You might even have your hips on a slight angle to the left which is ok.

Your loose head then bind up , just the same method but to your right, only the loose heads should be slightly "behind" you. His feet behind your, hips with should well popped out and a tight grip. His feet need to be just a little wider than his shoulders to allow the ball through.

The loose head has the job of trying to push the opposite tighthead up and keep a bigger tunnel. On the engage the tight head needs to lead in and with all this you will have a better angle and more room to hook.

Try hooking with you right leg, if you aren't already.

You need to have your hips angled towards the whole/ ball with your right foot in front of your left. Let the props do the pushing you focus on the hook so try to keep loose.

Strike at the ball, don't wait for it to come to you. If you pick up one or two penalties getting it right in a game so be it. Strike hard and strike fast, it should be a quick aggresive move, like a quick punch.

You may want to have your half back do a quick put in. So he puts the ball in as soon as the scrum comes together. Tell him not to muck around and get it in quick and to push the envelope as much as possible to get the ball to your feet. Again if he picks up one or two penalties pushing the envelope getting it wright so be it.

Back to you Thomas:

Take the answer about an apply to your current hooking. The thing is you need to reverse it all on the oppositions' put in. You loose head prop acts like a tight head and your tight head acts like a loose head. You need to have your hips swivelled towards the right and try to strike with your left leg.

Also here are some links on srumming for you:
Srummaging:



My favourite:  http://www.coachingrugby.com/rugby/coaching/unitskills/scrum/buildingthescrum.ht...



http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/scrum.pdf