Is the hooker a forward or backline player in rugby?

Answer 1

As part of the "pack" The eight forwards in union and 6 in league the hooker binds on (catches around) the prop forwards either side of them and in a scrummage their role is to "hook" back the ball as it is placed in the tunnel by the scrumhalf - This is where the term hooker comes from. IN the line out in Union only, the hooker will be given a call code by the lineout co-ordinator, normally a second row. The call is a code to where to throw the ball so that a jumper can catch the ball and gain advantage. In Rugby league the hooker acts as the "dummy player" Their role is to take a ball from the footback (a play where the tackled ball carrier places the ball to their feet and roles the ball back to the hooker) The ball then is passed in to play.

Answer 2

In rugby it is the hooker's job to call the other players of his team into the scrum around himself. After this the hooker binds onto (grabs) the tighthead and loosehead (big guys to his right and left) and after the scrum begins (two groups of eight guys bash into each other in pyramid formation) it is the hooker's job to scoop the ball back toward his team with his feet. This is called hooking. It also may fall to the hooker to act as a thrower when the ball goes out of bounds as they are usually smaller than the rest of the forwards and not as useful in the potential maul situation that arises out of a lineout (throw in).

Answer 3

A hooker should be a stocky tough player who hooks the ball in scrums to his teams side, throws the lineouts and hit the rucks hard and blows people off his teams ball when they have possesion

Answer 4

A hooker is someone who is in between the two props and hooks the ball to the back of the scrum. No. 2

Answer 5

In both codes, union and league the hooker is a front row player within the scrm and therefore a Forward. In league they are shirt number 9 and in union they are shirt number 2.