tighthead to loosehead prop

Question
hi nick,my names ross i am 15 and play tighthead prop. for my club a play tighthead which i have all of my rugby experience of playing, in the regional squads i often get asked to play loosehead which i haven't played before. so am asking if you have any tips or advice?

also could i get some tips on how to improve my core strength?

thanks in advance
Ross

Answer
Hi Ross,

here are the basics:

Bind last and be slightly behind the hooker who should also be slightly behind the tighthead.This opens the hookers hips to the loose head side and make for a better hook.

A loose head can start with his left foot back more and step it up level with his right foot (like a tight head) after the ball is put in.

A tight head's job is to try to force the loose head down and back to make it harder for your hooker to hook the ball. As a loose head your job is to get under the tight head and drive him up and back opening the channel up for your hooker.

Your crouch needs to be deep and your weight on the ball s of your feet. eyes up as if you are looking over a pair of sunglasses.

As you drive forward in the engage dip your hips and pop forward driving your right shoulder hard at the head of the tight head. Keep you should tweeked down as hard as you can to try and press the tight heads head down and then drive hard forward and up slightly.

If you get under the tighthead and have a hard hit you should be able to get him to come up and open the tunnel fo ryour hooker.

Here are some links for you:

I suggest going over all my old answered questions and looking for scrum related subject to read. Also I have provided some links below.

Here is a link of technique  / body position which you should treat as your gospel:

Scrummaging:

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

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

http://www.texasyouthrugby.com/download/748/docs/Building_the_scrum.pdf

Also there are some great pointers on UTube. If you go to UTube and search using the key words: "building the scrum" you will find a great set of videos about scrum technique originally from www.rugbydevelopment.com Get the whole team to view them.

Core stength do "planks" or bridges: in a push up position but with elbows on the ground hands in front keep you body in a straight plank. After 30 seconds your body will shake in the places it is weekest. Do sets of 3-5 30 second reps to start and build it up to 1 and 2 minutes.

Do leg raises lifting you ass of the ground hand under your ass on the ground.

Pull ups, wide grip, lifting knees up then progrss to leg ups as you pul up.

"Axe chops" on the cross overs, look it up. One arm rows using a swiss ball not a bench.

Talk to a trainer at the gym for more ideas.