Story: Rugby union

Rugby positions

This diagram shows the positions of the 15 players on a team when the forwards are packing down for a scrum, and during a line-out. The outside backs – the centre and two wings – are known as the three-quarters, so in New Zealand the two inside backs were called the five-eighths because they were between the halfback and the three-quarters. Elsewhere they are called the fly half and the inside centre. The open-side flanker is always positioned on the same side as the majority of the backs.

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How to cite this page:

Ron Palenski, 'Rugby union - Rules, participation and audience', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/39991/rugby-positions (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Ron Palenski, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Sep 2016