FLY-Half and center

Question
I'v e been playing rugby for two years and been playing on the wing. i've excellent handling and kick the conversions and penalties, however i get inreasingly frustrated at the lack of ball that i see during the game, i'm 6'1'' and 15 stone with good pace as a result i told my coach this and he said that he is toying with the idea of putting me in the fly half or outside center, could any body give me some 'golden rules' or handy unwritten rules to help me tranfer more smoothly

Answer
Hi Eamon,

There are many changes when going from wing to center. I will leave the details to you and your coach.

The big thing to do is communicate to your inside and outside players constantly during the game, make up play names and code words if need be. Know your plays very well and understand the depth that your back line plays at in offence and defense.

keep you field positioning consistent - this makes sure you aren't "projecting" your next move. A lot of centers tend to creep back and get all excited if they know a pass is coming to them in a play. Be a little poker faced and try to keep a consistent distance between you and your outside players.

On crash ball look to off load the pass to the flanker or support player. Be sure to put a step in before contact with the tackler if possible to pass "around" the tackler to support. If you do get rapt up keep your feet. Get with your open side flanker and find out what he prefers: to strip the ball off you or to take a pass. Either way communicate and go through a lot of "what if" scenarios.

Have fun and good luck