new rugby hooker

Question
hello my name is alyssa and i thought it would be fun to try out for my high school rugby team, just to see what it was like. i ended up making the team and i don't know the first thing about rugby!!!
because of my ability to stand out in a  crowd and my past experiences being a national level gymnast (flexibility and strength), I'm now a 'hooker'...i have no idea what that means!
can you help me??? maybe give me a few exercises to do and a few tips or something?
i really have no idea what im doing here....

Answer
Hi Alyssa,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

Below are some links for the basics of the scrum and body positions in the forwards:

http://www.sru.org.sg/courses/the_scrum_mattryan.pdf

http://www.myoquip.com.au/Scrum_equal_joint_article.htm

At the bottom of this link are these articles that where used as references and are also useful, they are only accessible via the above link though:

New South Wales Rugby 2004 Coach Education Series - Effective Scrummaging
Brian O'Shea Scrum presentation, England July 2004
Bruce Ross Essentials of the Argentinian 'Bajada' rugby scrum
Graham Smith Building the scrum
Phil Vickery Scrummaging Masterclass
Virtual Library of Sport Bajada Scrum

Hooker is a mix of "tight five" and flanker. in the modern game a hooker plays like a flanker. A little more loose at the break down and supporting the loosies and the backs.

This site has some great information for hooker with regard to throwing in:

www.coachingrugby.com

search specifically for line out throw ins.

The hooker needs to practice a lot at line out throw ins and be a good scrummager.

Honestly there is too much to give you in one hit. Read the links I gave you and work with your coach a lot.

Get a list of specific duties and watch a lot of rugby on TV, the world cup is currently on so get into it.

Good luck feel free to ask any more specific questions.

p.s. read as many of my previously answered questions as you can especially with regard to tackling.