Rugby Players Terms Part 2

These rugby players terms, lingo and jargon are part of sports gamerisms, Define Your Game!
Part 2 of the glossary begins with a detailed listing of Union and League player position numbers and names and further noted as Forwards and Backs.
Alternate names as used in various countries are listed for each position.
Additionally, there is a collection of other rugby players terms followed by terms, lingo and jargon of the game. Let's begin with the focus on the players. 

While many rugby player positions have similar names, there are some game play differences.
There is no flanker position in rugby league where centers are designated as left and right. Rugby union designates centers as inside and outside.
Also, there are different play styles to include size and strength of players, assigned player duties and strategy methods.

Rugby Union teams have 15 players + subs. Rugby League teams have 13 players + subs.

Rugby Players Terms: Union position numbers and names
Forwards
1. Prop or Tight head or Loosehead
2. Hooker or Hook or Rake
3. Prop or Tight head or Loosehead
4. Lock or Second Row or Lock Forward
5. Locks or Second Row or Lock Forward
6. Flanker: Blindside or Breakaway or Loose Forwards
7. Flanker: Openside or Breakaway or Loose Forwards
8. Number 8 or Eight-man

Rugby Players Terms: Backs
9. Scrum-half or Half-back or Scrummie
10. Fly-half or Five-eighth or Fly or First Five
11. Left wing or Wing or Wingman
12. Inside centre or Centre
13. Outside centre or Centre
14. Right wing or Wing or Wingman
15.Fullback or Custodian or Sweeper
16 – 22=Replacements or Subs

Rugby Players Terms: League position numbers and names
Backs
1. Fullback
2. Right Wing Three-quarter
3. Right Centre Three-quarter
4. Left Centre Three-quarter
5. Left Wing Three-quarter
6. Stand-off Half or Five-eighth or Fly half
7. Scrum Half or Halfback

Rugby Players Terms: Forwards
8. Prop Forwards
9. Hooker
10. Prop Forwards
11. Second Row Forwards
12. Second Row Forwards
13. Lock or Loose Forward
14 - 17=Replacements or Subs
Subs do not take the number of the player they have subbed, but rather play with the number assigned at the start of the match.

Other Rugby Players Terms: Union B – L
Back 3: fullback and wingers
Back 5: centers, wings and full back
Front Row: props and hooker
Half Backs: scrum half and fly-half
Inside Backs: inside centre, fly-half and scrumhalf
Loose 5: back row and half backs
Loose Forwards or Loosies or Back row: flankers & number 8 

Other Rugby Players Terms: Union M - T
Midfield: fly-half and centers
Outside Backs: outside centre, wings and full back
Outside Backs: outside centre, wings and full back
Pack: the forwards
Second Row: both locks
Three-quarters or Three-quarter Line: wingers and centers
Tight Forwards or Tight 5 or Front 5: the combined front row and second row

Rugby Players Terms, Lingo & Jargon, Part 2: C - H

Rugby Players Terms: C

• Calcutta Cup: yearly match that occurs between Scotland and England—a classic match. Cap: refers to an award granted for playing in a match. However, in modern rugby this award is generally only granted if the player has played a match with their national team against another nation's team. There is no physical award most of the time as it is an honor designed to show how many rugby games the player has participated.
• Center: formation of one back along with an inside and outside center.
• Charge Down: lingo for a block made against a kick by an opposing player.
• Chip Kick: jargon for a short shallow kick during rugby games designed for delivery over the head of an oncoming defender. It is typically used when a supporting player is in line to catch the ball behind the defender. If necessary, the kicker may catch it as well.
• Clearance Kick: action of kicking the ball into the touch. This is designed to relieve the pressure from a team under heavy assault.
• Conversion: following a try score, a conversion kick is attempted from the area where the ball was grounded in the try attempt and parallel to the touch-lines. Usually taken as a place kick.
  It is allowed to be rushed if the kicker makes a movement toward the ball. However, if it is taken as a drop kick then it will be uncontested. Conversion points are awarded if the ball passes over the crossbar and between the uprights as in the upper part of the letter H.
  

Rugby Players Terms: D - E

• Dead ball: occurs when the referee halts play or ball goes out of bounds.
• Drop Goal: kick toward the goal that will score three points if successful. During rugby games, the attacking side makes this attempt by first dropping the ball  then kicking it after it hits the ground. See Drop Kick.
• Drop Kick: occurs when the player drops the ball and upon touching the ground, then kicks it to score.
• Drop Out: lingo for action that restarts play via a drop-kick. This will occur when one team takes the ball and touches it down behind their own try-line. It also happens if the ball goes over the dead-ball line.
• Dummy: jargon for a fake pass which is meant to deceive an opponent who is about to tackle the ball holder.
• Dummy-half: term for player's action of passing, running and collecting the ball usually performed by the hooker position, but may be an acting halfback, acting half or dummy-half.
• Eagles: The United States' national team.
• Ellis, William Webb: the individual credited with inspiring the creation of modern rugby in 1823. The story of how he picked up the ball and ran with it did not occur until several years after he died. It is still a popular story though.
  

Rugby Players Terms: F

• Fair Catch: occurs when a player receives the ball resulting from a kick by the challengers and calls 'Mark'. Rules dictate that this player must be within the in-goal area behind his team's 22-meter line. A free kick is generally given from the spot of the kick.
• Feed: term for action in which the ball is thrown into the scrum via the scrum-half.
• Fifteens: jargon for rugby union play that consists of 2 halves along with 15 players on each team.
• First Receiver: term for player receiving the ball--likely from the dummy half.
• Fixture: lingo for a game of rugby
• Flanker: rugby players terms for 1 of 2 forwards who have the responsibility to connect on the outside of the scrum. Other references are wing forward, breakaway, flank and flank forward or loose forwards. There are no flanker positions in rugby league.
• Blindside Flankers:  all-round utility players that possess speed, tackling, handling skills and are typically beefier than other team members. Duties include halting the movements of challengers on the blind side of the scrum. While larger than their fellow open side flankers, their duties entail being used as a jumper, covering defense, breaking tackles and breaking the challengers, thus requiring increased physical strength. Additionally, blindside flankers are generally part of the rucks or mauls.
• Open side Flankers: smaller and faster than their blindside flanker brothers, these players are positioned in the scrum furthest from the touchline and are adept at moving into open play quickly and challenging their opponents' weaknesses.
• Flyhalf: term for back, a player position in the back row and one who receives the ball from the scrumhalf. Other references are outside half, out half, stand-off, stand-off half, five-eighth, first five-eighth, first five, fly or pivot.
• Foot-up: lingo for an action where a hooker puts his foot forward before the ball is put in motion by the scrum-half.
• Forward Pass: as all rugby game passes are directed backward, a forward pass is an illegal motion of the ball. A penalty scrum is called in favor of the opposing team when this happens.
• Forwards: players who form and challenge scrums, typically stronger and bulkier team members. These players bind together to create scrums. They will form a line-out and are involved in nearly all rucks and mauls.
• Foul: as with other sports, tripping, striking, kicking, obstructing, charging, or grabbing a challenger is not permitted and penalties are the result.
• Free Kick: action that takes the form of an uncontested kick. It is awarded to a team when there is a minor penalty by the other team. The only type of direct kick allowed toward the goal is a drop goal.
• Front Five: in rugby players terms, referred to as the tight five. This is a common name for the front and second rows. These are the player positions of props, hookers, and locks.
• Front Row: term for the combination of props, hookers, and locks at the front of a scrum during rugby games.
• Fullback: player positioned deep behind the main defenders. As the last line of defense, he must prevent the attacking challenger from breaking that line. Other name references are custodian, sweeper or number 15.
  

Rugby Players Terms: G

• Goal: ball must pass between cross bar and goal posts either by drop-kicking or during a penalty kick.
• Goal-kicker: specialized player position(s) for goal kicks, however any team member can attempt a kick.
• Goal posts: measuring 18 ft, 4 inches across along with cross bar 9 ft. 10 inches above in the shape of the letter H and placed at each end of the field.
• Grand Slam: occurs when there is a Six Nations Championship that is won with neither a loss nor a draw. Congrats all round!
• Grubber: jargon for a kick that causes the ball to roll and bounce along on the ground.
  

Rugby Players Terms: H

• Haka: ceremonial display including a dance and chant. It is performed by many Southern Pacific teams as these rugby players challenge their opponents before a match.
• Half-back: player position, also known as the Scrum-half. These players typically feed the ball into a scrum. They also retrieve the ball at the base of a scrum.
• Halves: term for 2 players on each team, also known as halfback and five-eighth positions. These team members are skillful at strategy, targeting the ball in attack and are positioned near the forwards.
• High Ball: lingo for an overhead kick that sends the ball high into the air and places pressure on rugby players trying to catch it due to on-rushing opposition.
• Home Nations: Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland
• Hooker: forward play position where the player is responsible for starting the ball followed by running or passing to a team member. Positioned in scrum's front row, he is supported by the props and functions at the dummy half position.
• Hospital Pass: jargon for an unfortunate pass for the catcher. A split second after they receive the ball they are tackled hard by one or more opposition members. Rugby players catching such a pass will often need medical attention. Sometimes this is used as a sneaky way to settle scores with teammates.
  

Rugby Players Terms is followed by terms I – Z
Other Sports Clicks
Tennis Quiz
Golf Trivia Facts
Hockey Game Terms