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At a scrum where the ball has been won by the opposition, the openside flanker often has the best view of when the ball is out and is able to break away and close down the opposing ball-carrier, reducing the time available for a pass or kick. Openside flankers are often smaller and quicker than their blindside counterparts.
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Since most of the back play is usually on the open side, where there is more space, it is usually the openside flanker's job to be the first to any breakdown of play and to get their hands on any loose ball (or to cause a breakdown by tackling the ball carrier or otherwise hurrying him into error).
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The two flankers do not usually bind to the scrum in a fixed position. Instead, the openside (occasionally known as the strong side, traditionally wearing number 7) flanker attaches to the scrum on whichever side is further from the nearer touchline, while the blind-side (occasionally known as weak
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Most countries prefer a quicker openside flanker with the ability to get off the scrum quickly so that he can scavenge for the ball. In South Africa, however, it is preferred for the blindside flanker to be quicker as it is often their duty to carry the ball, meaning they prefer the person running
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than the tight five, but need to be fast as their task is to break quickly and cover the opposing half-backs if the opponents win the scrum. At one time, flankers were allowed to break away from the scrum with the ball but this is no longer allowed and they must remain bound to the scrum until the
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Flankers are the position where the player should have all-round attributes: speed, strength, fitness, tackling and handling skills. Flankers are always involved in the game, as they are the players most commonly involved in winning the ball in open play, especially the openside flanker. Blindside
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In open play, flankers will often stand behind the backs, supporting them. If any ball is dropped by the backs, the flankers' job is to clear up messy ball and start a new phase of play. Because they are always close to the ball, they are often first to the breakdown.
79:, either being lifted to contest or win possession, or to lift other players. Flankers are usually the key participants in the tackling process. The flankers, especially the openside, are often the fastest forwards on the team but still relied upon for tackling.
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The blindside flanker has the job of stopping any move by the opponents on the blind (or 'narrow') side from a scrum. Blindside flankers are often responsible for cover defence from set pieces and may play a more physical role at the
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ball is out. Flankers also have to defend at the back of the scrum if the opposition wins the ball and the opposing number 8 decides to pick and go (i.e. pick up the ball from the back of the scrum and drive forward with it).
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Before it was outlawed in the 1930s, New
Zealand used a 2–3–2 scrum formation that used seven forwards and not eight. The wing-forward did not participate in the scrum and would feed the ball in the scrum instead of the
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often wore the number 6 but would pack down on either the open or blind sides of the scrum, and will often harass the opposition fly-half in the manner of an openside; like Calder and
Jeffrey for Scotland, Betsen and
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played left and right, rather than open and blind. French teams tend not to make a distinction between the two roles, and their flankers also usually play left and right rather than open and blind: thus,
75:. Flankers also assist in pushing in a scrum, but are expected to detach from the scrum as soon as the ball is out to get to the play before the opposition's forwards. Flankers also participate in
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On attack I think my primary role at first phase is to look after our ball. You attack the back line and I'm usually the first person there to make sure we secure that ball.
204:, where they may well be used as a jumper. They can also be used for breaking their opposition line in open play using their speed and strength to break tackles.
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Flankers can be known by several different names. Historically, they were often called wing-forwards, although this name had a more specific meaning in
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can also be known as the back-row forwards – referring to their scrum positions – or as loose forwards because they are loosely bound to the scrum.
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side or closed side, traditionally number 6) flanker attaches themselves to the scrum on the side closer to the touchline.
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formation, the flankers (numbered 6 and 7) are located on the 'flanks' of the two forward packs.
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when they used a now-archaic scrum formation. This term is rarely used any more, but the terms
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Flankers are not always assigned specific roles as opensides and blindsides. For example,
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in which they 'flank' each set of forwards. They compete for the ball – most commonly in
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a record eight times from 2002 to 2012, described three key roles for the flanker:
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flankers, numbers 6 and 7 respectively. The name comes from their position in a
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flankers tend to be bigger, but not as fast as their partners on the openside.
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with the ball being quicker rather than the person trying steal it.
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51:. Each team of 15 players includes two flankers, who play in the
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408:. International Rugby Board. 21 November 2008. Archived from
433:"Betsen back for Biarritz with France place in his sights"
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formed an outstanding left-right partnership for France.
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are sometimes used. Collectively, the flankers and the
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382:. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 November 2004
356:. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 November 2004
154:and make sure I disturb their ball and try to
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402:"Back & McCaw: Open side master class"
431:Fotheringham, William (21 January 2006).
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326:. Rugby Football Union. Archived from
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464:"Position guide: blind-side flanker"
485:"Position guide: open-side flanker"
491:. British Broadcasting Corporation
483:Brooke, Zinzan (5 February 2007).
470:. British Broadcasting Corporation
462:Brooke, Zinzan (5 February 2007).
286:from the original on 21 March 2016
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179:detaches from a scrum to tackle
123:Flankers do less pushing in the
27:Playing position in rugby union
137:World Rugby Player of the Year
47:is a position in the sport of
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131:New Zealand openside flanker
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150:Thirdly I put pressure on
439:. Guardian News and Media
280:South African Rugby Union
135:, who was nominated for
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164:Openside and blindside
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514:Rugby union positions
276:"Origins of the game"
243:Rugby union positions
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156:turn their ball over
376:"Blindside flanker"
330:on 19 December 2013
253:Playing rugby union
248:Scrum (rugby union)
36:In the rugby union
350:"Openside flanker"
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175:blindside flanker
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406:Total Rugby Radio
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185:Shaun Perry
173:New Zealand
152:break downs
89:New Zealand
49:rugby union
259:References
489:BBC Sport
468:BBC Sport
380:BBC Sport
354:BBC Sport
320:"Flanker"
307:half-back
215:flankers
93:breakaway
77:line-outs
57:blindside
508:Category
416:21 April
284:Archived
237:See also
213:Scotland
202:line-out
61:openside
53:forwards
324:rfu.com
181:England
45:Flanker
290:31 May
99:, and
83:Naming
125:scrum
97:flank
73:mauls
69:rucks
65:scrum
38:scrum
497:2007
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