Whilst there are many common qualities required for each of the ten positions on the field of play, there are also many quite distinct differences.

The role of the coach is to understand and realise the skills and technique required for each of the positions and how to coach these effectively and safely.

As the game changes continuously so will the positional requirement to become an outstanding player or coach. To achieve this the coach will need to be up-to-date with their knowledge and understanding of the game and guard against complacency.

The key to maximising your players performance is to understand the rugby lifestyle. In this section we will highlight the key areas:

• Get ready to play
• Warm up
• After the match or training
• Personal equipment
• The importance of education
• Individual Skills

The information in this section is taken from the Nike Rugby Skills Handbook 2000. Compiled and written by Nike and RFU.