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Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Rugby history
Tuesday 22 February, 2022
3 min read

How rugby positions have changed through history

We take a look at the evolution of rugby positions in the near-200 years since William Webb Ellis is believed to have “displayed a fine disregard for the rules of football”.
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In the two centuries since William Webb Ellis “displayed a fine disregard for the rules of football”, the game that came to be known as rugby and the positions of those who play it have evolved almost beyond recognition.

Back when Webb Ellis attended Rugby School in the early 19th century, ‘bigside’ matches such as those immortalised in Thomas Hughes’ Tom Brown’s School Days could feature 60 or more players on each team and take days to complete.

The objective of these matches was simple: to score more goals than the opposition.

Goals were scored by kicking the ball through your opponents’ posts, and above the crossbar, either from a drop-kick or a place-kick. The latter being earned when the ball was touched down over the opposition goal line, to earn a ‘try at goal’.

Participants were split into one of four positions, players-up (or forwards), who would take part in the many scrums, half-backs, who waited to pounce on the ball as it came loose, and three-quarters and full-backs, who defended their team’s goal line.

From the mid-1800s, as the game was transported from the Close, Rugby’s large playing field, to other schools and universities, and clubs were formed for those keen to play on into adulthood, more organised matches were played by teams of between 12- and 20-a-side.

The very first international matches between England, Scotland and Ireland were contested by teams of 20 players. These line-ups consisted of 15 forwards, two half-backs, one three-quarter and two full-backs.

Back play evolves

Ahead of the 1876-77 season it was decided that all test matches would be 15-a-side. This move had a knock-on effect on the make-up of the line-ups as the first tweaks to formations and positions were made.

Most teams now lined up with a nine-six split of forwards and backs, while the reduction of the number of players in the opposition’s pack ensured many captains felt safe playing with only one full-back.

These subtle changes meant the majority of rugby teams were soon lining up with two half-backs, three three-quarters and a full-back behind their forwards.

As tries began to take on more importance in rugby’s scoring system, pacey backs began to see more of the ball and have greater responsibility in attack.

This would lead Cardiff, inadvertently at first, to make the next positional innovation, one that was later taken by Wales, who had made their test debut against England in 1881, onto the international stage.

Legend has it that in 1884, Cardiff needed to find a way to get Frank Hancock into their team and not wanting to drop the incumbent centre three-quarter, opted to remove a forward from the pack and play with four instead (two centres and two wingers).

The switch enabled Cardiff to develop an attacking game built on short passing that was soon copied throughout Wales and much of the rugby-playing world. 

Without Cardiff’s Hancock conundrum we would have been denied some majestic centre partnerships in recent years, Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll, and Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith among them.

Some teams who played with eight forwards at this time trialled three half-backs, while New Zealand – who played with seven forwards at the turn of the century – used a forward in the backline as a five-eighth (in between a half-back and a three-quarter).

Forwards begin to specialise

Up until this point, the forwards had been left largely untouched by these advancements, operating on a ‘first up, first in’ mentality.

However, at the beginning of the 20th century specialisation in positions in the pack began to come into the game, primarily inspired by the success of the early All Blacks teams.

Some of New Zealand’s forward innovations proved controversial – the two-man front-row and their use of a ‘rover’ wing-forward, for example – but this was the start of specialist forwards as we know them today.

As forwards began to hone the craft of their position, those roles became more defined. Props needed to be strong and sturdy, while height was desirable for a second row, who was required to add heft to a scrum and challenge for possession at the lineout.

Although the All Blacks had proved successful in the early 20th century with a 2-3-2 scrum formation, most teams used 3-2-3 until the development of the number eight – or “eighthman”.

The 3-4-1 scrum formation had first been used in South Africa at the turn of the century, but it was Stellenbosch University coach August ‘Oubaas’ Markötter who developed and popularised the idea in the 1920s.

In this formation, the “eighthman” controlled possession at the base of the scrum and linked with the scrum-half to launch attacks.

The position has evolved over the ensuing century but the ability to turn a scrum into an attacking platform is still a vital aspect of the role today, as evidenced by the regularity with which the likes of Ardie Savea, Poppy Cleall and Sam Simmonds get over the goal line.

Since the advent of professionalism in 1995, and as the game has speeded up, the demands on players in certain positions has also changed.

Openside flankers, for example, have become breakdown specialists as that area of the game has increased while front-row players such as Tadhg Furlong, Kyle Sinckler and Codie Taylor are famed as much for their skill with ball in hand as without it.

But as much as rugby and those who play it have changed over the past 200 years, it remains a game with a simple objective: score more points than the opposition.

READ MORE: Six Nations memories: Henson carries Wales home >>

Trending News Show all
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
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