Hooker - Position Guide
Alongside the two props, the hooker makes up the front row of the scrum. They’re powerful players who have a lot of responsibilities at set pieces and in open play.
In this guide, we’ll take an in-depth look at the role a hooker plays during the game. In doing so, we’ll pay close attention to their responsibilities during set pieces.
We’ll also take a detailed look at the basics of the position, the physical attributes of a hooker in rugby and some of the best players to ever play the position. Then we’ll conclude by answering some popular reader questions about rugby hookers.
What is a hooker in rugby?
The hooker is one of the eight forwards in a rugby union team. They’re also a member of the front row, alongside the loosehead prop and the tighthead prop.
Only specialist front row players can play hooker in rugby; if a team cannot field one for any reason, the scrums become uncontested.
Hookers play a vital role during set pieces and they’re the main decision maker of the forwards. They’re responsible for coordinating the timing of the scrum, gaining possession in the scrum and throwing the ball into play at the lineout.
In open play, a hooker in rugby acts like the props. This means they’re responsible for securing possession of the ball in rucks and mauls. They also receive short ‘crash’ passes where they put pressure on the opposition’s defence.
Other names for a hooker
In rugby union, the names of the player positions have changed over time. For example, in the early days of the sport, people were only ever really known as forwards or tends, who got their name from goaltenders (people who were tends are now called backs).
In the modern game, people from different parts of the world sometimes refer to certain positions differently. For example, the fly-half is sometimes also known as the outside half, standoff or outhalf.
Similarly, in New Zealand, the scrum-half is still referred to as the half-back, the fly-half is referred to as the first five-eighth, the inside centre is called the second five-eighth and the outside centre is simply known as the centre.
Thankfully, with the hooker, we can avoid this confusion. This is because rugby fans from all over the world use the term hooker.
What number is a hooker in rugby?
In a rugby union match, all the players on a team are numbered from 1 to 15.
As they’re a member of the team’s front row, the hooker wears number 2. They’re placed right at the front of the team’s scrum, between the loosehead prop (1) and the tighthead prop (3).
What is the average size of a hooker in rugby?
Rugby hookers come in many different shapes and sizes. However, generally speaking, hookers at the elite level look like a smaller version of a prop. They’re usually powerfully built and quite tall. On top of this, it’s also advantageous for a hooker to be muscular and have a short but powerful neck. This then helps them in the scrum.
Generally speaking, rugby hookers are around 1.8m (5’11ft) tall. Due to the fact they’re usually slightly shorter than the props (who are often 6ft and above), the hooker in rugby can act like a pendulum and swing their legs forward in the scrum while still hanging on the shoulders of the two props.
Due to the versatility involved in playing at hooker in rugby union, people in the position usually weigh less than the average prop does. At the elite level, the average hooker usually weighs 105-110kg (232-243lbs). This is because hookers need to move around the field much more than props do. After all, hookers in the modern game need to have good ball-handling skills, a bit of speed and be effective in a ruck. All of these skills require a slight reduction in weight.
What does a hooker do in rugby?
The exact role of the hooker in a rugby union team depends on the ability of the player and the type of game the coach wants to play. However, generally speaking, a rugby hooker is mainly involved in set pieces. On top of this, they’re responsible for working in close contact situations, such as scrums, rucks, mauls and lineouts.
As well as their ball-carrying duties, the hooker is judged on their lineout ability and their ability to win the ball at the scrum. With this in mind, let’s look at those important functions in closer detail.
What is the hooker’s role in scrums?
The hooker plays a vital role in the scrum, where they’re supported by the two props on the front row. In fact, this part of the game is where the name ‘hooker’ comes from. They’re used to ‘hook’ the ball backwards when it enters the scrum.
In the scrum, the opposing front rows create a tunnel into which the scrum half rolls the ball. The hooker in each team will then aim to immediately strike the ball and move it backwards. From here, the ball travels through the scrum and emerges at the back.
The hooker is also responsible for coordinating the timing of when the ball is put into the scrum. Due to this, they must also be a good communicator. On top of this, they’re also responsible for forming and maintaining a tight bond with the two props.
What is the hooker’s role in lineouts?
At the lineout, the rugby hooker on the attacking team is responsible for throwing the ball into play. Meanwhile, the hooker on the defensive team defends the space between the touchline and the front of the lineout.
The hooker must throw the ball along an imaginary line between the two teams. This means that they cannot simply throw the ball straight to their own team. However, because lineouts are rehearsed and practised regularly, the team in possession has a slight advantage because they know where the ball will go. That said, the hooker still has to execute the throw perfectly.
After the lineout has been completed, a hooker in rugby may be asked to fulfil a number of roles. For example, they may be required to:
- Join a ruck where a player was tackled
- Join a maul that was formed by the jumper (this can be an effective way of scoring tries)
- Chase a kick after a maul or ruck has collapsed
What is a hooker’s role in open play?
Hookers in rugby union matches are forwards. As a result, they need to be highly competitive and take pride in being tough. Much like the props, they need to carry the ball towards the opposing goal-line, often against fierce tackling.
On top of this, they also need to cooperate with other forwards and get involved in mauls and rucks. By being highly competitive and aggressive, they can wear down and break down opposition defences during the game.
Generally speaking, most hookers in rugby union matches take pride in their defensive skills. These skills allow them to use their strength and endurance to repel opposition forwards.
Notable rugby hookers
Across the history of rugby union, some of the game’s best players have featured at the hooker position. In the RugbyPass Hall of Fame vote, rugby fans from around the world suggested that Sean Fitzpatrick was the best hooker in rugby history. A former captain of the All Blacks, he played almost 100 games for his country and won the inaugural Rugby World Cup. Other hookers who have been sensational in the role include Bismarck Du Plessis, Keith Wood and Keven Mealamu.
Today, Dane Coles is regarded as the best hooker in the world. But, he’s rivalled by other legends of the game, such as Agustín Creevy and Jamie George.
FAQs
To help you learn even more about the role of the hooker in rugby and the things you need to know about how the position works, we’ve answered a number of popular reader questions.
How many hookers are in a scrum?
There are two hookers in every rugby scrum (one for each team). They both line up in the middle of the front row for their team and they directly compete for possession of the rugby ball when it’s thrown into the scrum.
What gym exercises do rugby hookers complete?
Hookers often contest for the ball at the breakdown. Due to this, they need to be incredibly strong in their posterior chain.
The hamstrings, glutes and lower back work to stabilise a rugby hooker when they’re contesting the ball. As a result, hookers usually work on strengthening these muscles so they can stay on their feet for longer.
At the elite level, most rugby hookers can complete a back squat of at least 180kg. Of course, there’s no need for you to squat this much when you’re playing local rugby, but this gives you a really good indication of how dedicated and strong world-class hookers are.
Other exercises that can help you with the posterior chain include:
- Deadlifts
- Front squats
- Lunges
- Barbell rows
But, in addition to hitting the gym, rugby hookers should also continually work on their lineout throws. When practising this skill, you should aim to keep the ball in a tight spiral and keep your eyes on the intended target. For this drill, many hookers use a swimming pool stick that has a net attachment.
Try to hit the net attachment as many times as you can in 50 attempts. Following this, work relentlessly on beating your initial score. This is a great drill because it can be done alone and it’s really easy to track your progress.
What can I do to improve my scrummaging technique?
When your team has the put-in, your job is to get the ball to the back of the scrum in a controlled fashion. The best way of doing this is to do drills with the front five people in your scrum. This way, you can work on your synchronisation and ensure that the opposition’s hooker is always under pressure and cannot easily disrupt you.
On the other hand, when the opposition has the ball, it’s your turn to be the disruptor. Of course, you won’t always be able to hook the ball backwards. However, if you can kick the ball forwards as hard as you possibly can, then you’ll disrupt the opposition’s scrum. You’ll also make it incredibly difficult for the opposing number eight to not fumble the ball as it pops out of the back.
To maximise your effectiveness in the scrum, you need to make sure you’re in position to strike the ball. To do this, you should aim at the opposition hooker’s right side (which is known as ‘the cup’). This is where the shoulders of the opposition tighthead prop and hooker meet.
From here, make sure you have your eyes open at impact. This is the key to connecting with the ball effectively and avoiding injury. Finally, try to scrunch your neck into your shoulders just before impact. This will stop your head moving around and will square your shoulders.
Comments on RugbyPass
Very unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to comments