Rookie Rugby player

Question
Howdy, I'm 18 years old and goin to be starting with Rugby this fall playing for my university.  I have never played before but have always been very athletic.  I am 5-8 160lbs and my primary sport in high school was swimming (distances of a half mile or more) and water polo (hole D and wing).  I am very tenacious and am a student of every sport i have participated in.  After watching some Six Nations games, looking at rosters etc, I have become interested in playing as a scrum half, flanker, fullback, or fly half.  Which position do you reckon is best for my size, or any other position that you feel would be a better fit.

Thanks and gig em
Chris

Answer
G'day Chris on your size a lone I would go with Scrum half 1st them fullback or even wing if you are fast.

Rugby is the game for all body types but at university level / age a flanker is going to be 6'+ and be at least 190lbs. A scrum half can be (and needs to be) of smaller stature relative to a flanker or inside back. Centers and first 5's tend to hit the line on crash ball runs and need a little more size. Fullback and wing rely on speed and skill and size can be factored out.

That said there are exceptions to everything and rugby is not a game of statistical "rules" unlike say American Football which has basic size requirements for certain positions.

I would invest in a copy of "Rugby for Dummies" and keep watching as much rugby as you can.

If possible get with a local club or team who might be playing a scheduled game of pick up touch rugby every week. My club has games every Wednesday and Sunday as an example. As a good practice for scrum half you can get into touch rugby especially with the "dummy half" (a real term) position which is like a floating scrum half.

Of course universtiy being what it is you could grow and inch and a half and drink your way to 230lbs pretty easy and end up a prop (like me). If you're lucky. (that was prop humor)

Cheers and have fun.