The Best Examples of Positioning Tactics for Rugby Forwards

Real examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards in open play

Let’s start on the grass, not the whiteboard. Here are real examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards in open play that you’ll see in modern rugby from club level to the international stage.

On attack, imagine your team has just carried off a scrum near midfield. Your tighthead prop carries into contact, gets tackled, and a ruck forms. What should everyone else in the pack do?

The first example of a positioning tactic is the pod reload. The two nearest forwards (often the other prop and a lock) fold around the corner of the ruck and set up as a three‑man pod with the ball carrier getting back to his feet and rejoining the line. They stay about 5–7 yards from the ruck, slightly staggered, with a clear ball carrier and two options for tip‑on or out‑the‑back passes. The rest of the forwards trail behind the ball, not in a straight line, but in layers—one line flat, one line deeper—so the 9 and 10 always have a forward option.

A second example is the inside support lane. The best forwards don’t just run straight behind the ball carrier; they run a step inside the ball. That way, if there’s an offload or the carrier gets turned, the support runner is already in line with the pass and doesn’t have to reach behind. Watch any top‑tier match and you’ll see back‑rowers living in that inside channel.

On defense, a third example of positioning tactics for rugby forwards is the fold and fill pattern. After a tackle is made near the sideline, the tackle assist and jackal attempt might both be forwards. Once the ball is gone, those two don’t jog back through the middle. They fold behind the defensive line and fill the nearest inside channels, often defending as guards and bodies around the next ruck. This keeps the middle of the field from being exposed while the backs hold width.

These are not just theories. They’re repeatable habits. The more deliberately you set up these positions, the more your forwards look organized instead of scattered.

Examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards by position

Every jersey number in the pack comes with slightly different lanes and landmarks. Here are examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards by role so each player knows where they should live on the field.

Front row: Props and hooker

On attack:

Props should think in terms of short, direct options around the ruck. A common example of a positioning tactic is for the tighthead to stay on the same side as the 9, about 3–4 yards out, always available for a pick‑and‑go or a short pass off 9. The loosehead often folds around as part of the next pod, giving 10 a big body to play off.

The hooker often works in the seam between forwards and backs. A good example here: off a lineout launch, instead of walking back into the pod and going missing, the hooker tracks the 10’s inside shoulder. That puts them in prime position for a short crash ball, a tip pass, or a cleanout on the first breakdown.

On defense:

Front rowers should anchor the middle third of the field. One of the best examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards in the front row is the tight three screen: two props and the hooker defend in a compact triangle near the ruck, ready to tackle big ball carriers and then reload as guards and bodyguards on the next phase. They rarely drift too wide; their job is to protect the heart of the field.

Locks

Locks are the engine room, and their positioning reflects that.

On attack:

Locks should usually be in the first or second pod off 9 or 10. A classic example of positioning is the lock who always trails just behind the ball carrier in the middle of the field, ready either to take the next carry or clear the ruck. Many elite teams now use locks as tip‑pass distributors: they stand at the front of a pod, receive the ball from 10, and choose between taking contact or tipping to a back‑rower running a hard line.

On defense:

Locks often defend in the second wave of the line. One example of a positioning tactic is for locks to stay two players out from the ruck, not as the first defender but as the next one out. This keeps them matched up against opposition forwards instead of being dragged into footraces with wings.

Loose forwards: 6, 7, and 8

This is where positioning really shines.

On attack:

One of the best examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards in the modern game is the pendulum back row. When the ball is on the left, the blindside flanker (6) tucks in tight as a carrying option, the openside (7) hovers just off the 9’s shoulder to support or clean out, and the 8 works off 10 or 12 as a wide carrying threat. As play swings back, their roles rotate like a pendulum, always keeping at least one loose forward near the ball and one wider.

Another real example: the link man 8. Off scrums and lineouts, the 8 doesn’t just carry and disappear. After the initial action, they track across field in line with the 10, acting as a bridge between forwards and backs. That gives your flyhalf a hard running option who can also offload.

On defense:

Loose forwards are your firefighters. A strong example of positioning is the openside flanker who shadows the ball: never more than 10 yards from the breakdown, always ready to be first to the jackal or first guard. The 6 and 8 often sit a little wider, covering inside channels against big centers and back‑row runners.

Many pro teams now use a back‑rower as a kick pressure forward. This player positions slightly deeper and wider on defense, ready to chase box kicks and contest in the air. That’s a modern 2024–2025 trend you can copy at club level: designate one forward as your chase leader and give them a clear starting spot before each kick.

Game-situation examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards

Let’s walk through specific game situations and how good packs position themselves.

1. After a line break

Your 12 punches through the line and is tackled 20 yards upfield. This is where examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards separate organized teams from chaos.

The first forward there doesn’t just dive over the ball. They arrive square, low, and stabilize the ruck. The second forward scans: if there’s no threat, they stay on their feet and become a passing option, standing just off 9’s outside shoulder. The third forward sets up as the front of a pod for the next carry, about 5–7 yards away and slightly wider than the ruck.

Meanwhile, at least one loose forward sprints to get ahead of the ball, taking up a position in the tramlines (the wide channel near the touchline) to keep width. That way, when the defense scrambles, you already have a forward in space ready to either carry or link with the wing.

2. Defending in your 22

In your own red zone, positioning has to be tight and deliberate.

Here, a key example of positioning tactics for rugby forwards is the three‑layer defense. The first layer is the tackle line: usually a mix of forwards and backs, but with at least two big forwards near the ruck. The second layer is a forward “spine” right behind the line, ready to tackle short runners who slip through or to cover pick‑and‑goes. The third layer is your 8 or 6 sweeping behind the posts, covering chips and short kicks.

Instead of all eight forwards crowding the ruck, you might assign roles: two guards, one bodyguard, one pillar on the open side, and the rest spaced evenly across the middle third. That’s how you avoid leaving big gaps for opposition 10s to target.

3. Counterattack after a kick

Modern rugby in 2024–2025 puts a huge emphasis on kick return. Forwards who just jog back in a clump are wasting opportunities.

A good example of positioning tactics for rugby forwards on kick return looks like this:

• One or two tight forwards track back through the middle of the field, staying between the 15‑meter lines, ready to take the first carry.
• A back‑rower shadows the fullback or wing catching the ball, staying about 5 yards inside them to offer a short pass option.
• The remaining forwards form a staggered line behind the catcher, not bunched, so that wherever the catcher decides to run, there is a forward option within 5–7 yards.

This organized shape lets you launch a real attack instead of just crashing into the nearest defender.

Modern trends: 2024–2025 examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards

If you watch recent World Cup and top‑tier club matches, a few trends in forward positioning stand out.

High-tempo ruck spacing

Teams are moving away from sending three or four forwards to every ruck. The modern examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards emphasize one or two cleaners max, with everyone else staying in the line.

That means forwards must learn to position themselves two phases ahead. Instead of following the ball blindly, they think: “If we go right twice, where do I need to be?” Locks and back‑rowers often sprint past the ball to pre‑load the next pod, trusting that the nearest forward and a back will secure the current breakdown.

Edge forwards

Another 2024–2025 trend is using a forward, often a 6 or 8, as a permanent edge player. This forward defends and attacks in the 13/wing channel, giving you a big body on the edge.

A real example: your 6 lines up outside the 13 on attack, running hard unders and overs lines. On defense, they stay in that same lane, shutting down wide carries. This requires discipline not to drift back into the middle, but it gives your team more balance and better matchups out wide.

Smarter workload and recovery positioning

With growing awareness of player welfare and fatigue (see resources from organizations like the CDC and NIH on recovery and load management), many high‑level teams are using positioning to manage forward workload.

For example, after a long defensive set, coaches may instruct certain forwards to hang slightly deeper on attack, acting as distributors rather than constant crash runners for a few phases. Their positioning buys them mini recovery windows while still contributing to the pattern.

How to train positioning tactics for rugby forwards

Knowing these patterns is one thing; making them automatic is another. Here’s how to turn these examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards into habits.

Small-sided games with role rules

Run 7v7 or 8v8 games where each forward has a simple positioning rule. For example:

• One prop must always be within 5 yards of the ruck on attack.
• One lock must always be in the next pod, at least 5 yards ahead of the ball.
• One loose forward must always be in the tramline on the open side.

Stop play occasionally and check: are they where they’re supposed to be? This turns abstract concepts into live decisions under pressure.

“Freeze and point” drills

Run live phases, then blow the whistle and freeze everyone. Ask each forward: “Why are you here?” If they can’t answer clearly, the positioning probably isn’t serving the team.

Over time, you want answers like:

• “I’m at first guard because we just tackled near the touchline and they’re likely to pick and go.”
• “I’m at the front of the pod because we’re setting up for a midfield carry.”
• “I’m on the edge because we’re in a two‑pod shape and I’m the wide forward.”

Fitness with purpose

Positioning is heavily tied to conditioning. Forwards need the gas tank to get into the right spots over and over. General conditioning guidance from sources like Mayo Clinic and Harvard Health lines up well with rugby: mix high‑intensity bursts with steady efforts.

Build conditioning games where the only way to “rest” is to be in the correct position. For example, if a forward is late to reload into the pod, they owe a quick sprint. This links fitness to decision‑making instead of random running.

FAQ: Examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards

Q: What are some simple examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards that beginners can use?

For beginners, start with three basics: always have one forward within 3–5 yards of the ruck on attack, one forward just ahead of the ball as a carrying option, and one loose forward slightly wider to link with the backs. On defense, aim to always have two forwards near the ruck as guards and bodyguards, with the rest spaced evenly across the middle of the field.

Q: Can you give an example of how a flanker should position on defense?

A good example is the openside flanker who starts one or two players out from the ruck, slightly tighter than the backs. Their job is to tackle the first forward runner, contest the breakdown if the tackle is dominant, then bounce back into the same lane. They rarely drift too wide; they live near the ball.

Q: How do pro teams get forwards into good positions so quickly?

They use clear, repeatable systems. Forwards are given simple rules like “if you carry, fold around the corner,” or “if you clean a ruck near touch, reload inside.” They drill these patterns at high speed so that in games, players move to their spots automatically instead of thinking about it.

Q: Are these examples of positioning tactics for rugby forwards different for youth or amateur players?

The core ideas are the same, but the patterns should be simpler. Youth and amateur teams don’t need fancy three‑pod systems. Focus on having forwards close to the ball on attack, protecting the middle of the field on defense, and always supporting the ball carrier from inside and behind. As fitness and skill improve, you can layer in more detailed positioning.

Q: How can a coach check if their forwards’ positioning is improving?

Review game film or training footage and pause after each phase. Count how many forwards are in useful positions: near the ruck, ahead of the ball, or providing width. If most of your forwards are either stuck in rucks or jogging behind the play, your positioning tactics need work. If you consistently see pods set, support runners in good lanes, and a balanced defensive line, you’re on the right track.