My Position?

Question
Hello Nick, My name抯 Andy and I'm a Rugby addict. However over the past year I抳e lived abroad and since haven抰 played the beloved game. Now that I'm back in the UK I really want to play the game again. I'm 16 currently going into 6th form college.

Before my weight wasn抰 an issue, but now I抦 older I feel that maybe this could be a problem and deprive me of playing in my favourite position. I used to play at flanker, but back then it didn抰 matter whether I played at blindside or openside. Now I抦 5ft 11in going onto 6ft and weighing at 78kgs. I was wondering whether this was the average weight for a 16/17 year old flanker playing for their college team.

Plus I was also wondering whether flanker is my best suited position. I抦 (well was) never afraid to tackle and always made good carries. I always loved to get stuck in the mauls and rucks. But I could never lift my jumpers because of the lack of arm strength but having said that I have some mighty powerful legs. So? Am I a number 6 or 7?

Thanks in advance.
Andy


Answer
G'day Andy,

I have to be honest, I have been away from high school / 16/17 year old rugby players for long enough so that I am not sure what is big or small any more.

I can't speak for the UK but in NZ your height would be on the low side for an openside and your weight would also be a little low too. That said one of the best flankers I have ever played with is/ was 5'11" and about 80-85kg. He played at that size and even got selected for a top club's senior men's team.

What I am saying it that while weight and height are factors they are not all important at your level. Be as fit and strong as you can be and play smart and you will do very well.

I would work with your coach on what position you would best suite and ask him what you need to do to be considered very good / invaluable.

As for lifting, if your arms are getting tired you are doing it wrong, you must use your legs.

Think of an Olympic power lifter doing an over head "clean" lift. The guys you see who get huge amounts of weight over their head and then have to stand up to have the lift counted.

The same goes for the lineout. Get a solid and firm grip on your jumper and while doing so plant your feet about shoulder width apart and squat your legs deep. As your lock takes their jump stay in the squat but with your arms go with his leap until your arms lock out. Only when you arms lock out do you them power press your legs and stand up. You should be looking up with a straight back, just like a power lifter. Find footage on Youtube if you need too.


So:

1. get grip
2. set stance (feet)
3. squat deep (legs)
4. allow the lock to jump "go with" the leap and let your arms lock straight.
5. stand up, power legs and keep arms locked out.

This takes a lot of practice to perfect. Get video footage of your training if you can and review. The arms need to LOCK out any bend is an inefficiency which will cause undue fatigue over the coarse of a game.

let me know if you have any more questions