Okay, so today I got my hands dirty with some “flanker rugby union” stuff. I’ve always been fascinated by the different rugby positions, and flanker seemed like a cool one to explore.
First, I watched a bunch of videos. I just wanted to see what these guys actually do. I mean, I know the basics, like they’re part of the forwards and all, but I really wanted to get a feel for their movement and positioning on the field.
Then, I tried to mimic some of the stuff I saw. Now, I’m no professional athlete, far from it, but I went out to the park and practiced some tackling. I used a big, old cushion as my “opponent”.
- I worked on my tackling technique low and grab.
- I focused on getting my body position right.
- Keep my head up.
- Driving through with my legs.
It was way harder than it looks! Those guys in the videos make it seem so effortless, but I was sweating bullets after just a few minutes. I definitely need to work on my fitness.
After the “tackling”, I did some sprints. Flankers need to be fast, right? They’re always chasing down the ball carrier or getting into position for the next play. I ran back and forth across the park, trying to imagine I was in an actual game. I’m pretty sure I looked ridiculous, but hey, I was having fun.
Finally, I finished up by practicing some support play. This involved a lot of pretending, since I was by myself. I imagined I was running alongside a teammate, ready to receive a pass or clean out a ruck. I even practiced my “jackaling” – trying to steal the ball after a tackle. Again, it was all a bit silly without any real opponents, but it gave me a basic idea of the movements.
My takeaways?
Flankers are seriously tough. They need to be strong, fast, and have incredible stamina. I have a newfound respect for anyone who plays this position. I’m definitely not cut out for it, but it was a fun experiment!
