Rugby: hooker

how does the hooker protect themselves from being bored by the opposition hooker and prop?

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Please can someone tell me the main differance in the role of a loose head and tight head prop in a scrum?

hi, im a hooker. just moved up to senior level. my throwing is good but i want to improve on it, not only at short range but at long range aswell. can you give me some advise to point me in the right direction and some drills that will improve my skill

Does anyone have drills for Line Outs at U12?

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How can we improve on our lineout throw so that the hooker and the jumper get their timing right

My son's u16 team is suffering from a wheeling scrum. The front row's height is 5'6 for the loosehead and hooker and 5'11 for the tighthead. Is this a contributary cause? My guess would be that their shoulders are not hitting squarely, causing an angle.

At a recent u12's match, the home ref, who is also a L2 coach penalized the hooker for foul play. At the end of the match at the debrief, the ref said to the hooker in front of his peers that he would have sent him off if there had been any subs. Is this against the guidelines of the child protection and did he dip out of his duties as a ref. What are your thoughts? Gary SWales

I was asked a question  by email recently and I thought it would be good to put it here as a question for anyone else to comment on%3A Dear sir, I played for 35 yr.s mostly hooker, some back line play. I was tutored in 1972 by former US Eagle hooker Jessie Lopez. We need to stabilize modern era scrums, specifically the front row. The way it's been done forever is wrong. Currently two pressure points come together head to head; and ofcourse the front rows twist amp; turn, left and right, up and down. Thus we are having more injuries with increased focus on scrum strength. FRONT ROWS SHOULD COME TOGETHER CONCAVE AS OPPOSED TO CONVEX. The hookers need to take the under bind on the props instead of the traditional over the top.This technique works much better by dispersing/spreading the impact.Also the hooker being set back about 6 inches is less at risk. If you don't think I know what I am talking about then ask some professionals who serve as the battering ram to try it. Their is a thin line separating safety from serious injury my friend. The way it's done now is time proven to be dangerous. You sir are probably not a hooker or tight head, so go inquire. It might not seem like a noticeable difference, but if it saves a couple people from getting thier necks broke next year - THEN IT BECOMES A BIG DIFFERENCE !! Thanks, Tim Nicodemus Fort Wayne Rugby Club

Hi, Few years ago, I have heard a hooker telling that sometimes he was hooking with the left foot. I did not try to ask further at that time, but now I am wondering to know in which circumstance should a hooker do so. Is he allowed ? mostly for the team introducing the ball or the opposing team ? To have a stronger pressure against the opposing 1st row ? Thx for your comments

I'm about to begin coaching forwards at the college level, any drills, conditioning, tips, or any suggestions from my more experienced ruggers will be greatly appreciated

In 7's rugby, what is the best way to bind in the scrum? Is it the same at 15's, I've seen props bind onto one another then the hooker sits in the middle but slightly back from the props. What is the advantage of doing this?

Hi there, I was wondering thoughts on forward positions at the kickoff. Do you have the catchers deep so the are coming forward to meet the ball or have one deep and one short? For the pods do you have a "quick" pod made up of all three loosies and a lock and a "slow" pod made up of the front row and the lock or do you split them in two pods made up of a prop, a lock and two loosies and the other pod of a prop, a lock, the hooker and a loosie? Who would you tell to be the ball carrier, body movers and bridger? All thoughts welcome. CheersDave

I would like some help/drills to help me introduce U9's to positions ie%3A start playing in set positions during a game ie forwards/backs. Up til now they have not had set positions & its been everyone follow the ball. I need to get them to understand & keep to positions during a game.

please how do idefine the players in the pitchie. who is the flanker, hooker, fly half etc

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can anyoune suggest some line out moves for under 12s?

What would be the likely outcome of a scrum fed from the thrower's tighthead side? Who would more likely win possession and what quality of possession could be expected? What if the law was that most scrums were required to be fed from the thrower's tighthead with the non offender determining who was to feed? The remainder, such as penalty scrums, would stay as is. Could this encourage a more constructive approach to scrummaging?

In a scrum situation, how far apart should a looseheads feet be?