loose head prop to hooker

Question
hi I'm a 15 year old loose head prop of my team and my coaches think my future in rugby might also be hooker, so their giving me a few games at hooker. my line out throwing is pretty good but is their any good tips on what else i should do at hooker? iv been told they should play like an extra loosie. is this true? thanks

Answer
Hi  Jake


Sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

Hooker can be played like an extra loosie but at the end of the day you are a tight forward and a front rower. Clearing rucks and pushing in malls is still one of your top jobs.

The way you play should be discussed with your coaches. It may suite the conditions or the opposition better to play loose or if the game is slower and maul/ruck orientated it may be better to play like a third prop.

While a loosie has a top priority to be there at the break down first they are also away from the scrum quicker than you can ever be so from scrums you will be more like a prop.

From line outs your arr in a better position to play like a loosie. So try to play a heads up game and if the heavy lifting is required then get into it. If a runner is needed to support the back line and be at the break down then do that. depending on the play of the game.

Read the game and then make the choice don't go into the game with a pre-configure one way of doing things. Good teams play a game plan great teams are able to adapt when the plan doesn't quite follow through. The same goes for players.

Here is some information on hooking in the scrum from a previous answer that may be useful too:

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.