By the way did I mention the sheep and the river? The sheep will be congregating on the pitch and will have to be shooed off, as will the Canada geese. I refereed once on a pitch that was full of Canada geese. They are easy to shoo off but have you seen the mess they leave? They excremental habits cannot be described in this family publication. The laws of coarse rugby say that when you only have one ball there will always be a river running along the side of the pitch. Most of then game will be spent retrieving the ball.

But I digress. The subject of this article is players. Before we can start our game we need some players. It has always been advisable to have around 15. Below I give a list of playing positions, numbering and roles.

Forwards

Traditionally forwards were big hulks with nothing between their ears who could amble from one set piece to another. Like pub bouncers they were not recruited for their artistic or intellectual properties. In fact the first article in this series would not have been of any interest to them especially the bit about the ball. Forwards could have gone for years without even touching the ball.

But all that has changed. In the modern game forwards have evolved into attacking machines that get involved in set pieces. They are:

1. Loose head Prop – with his colleague provides support for the Hooker. Known as loose head as he is at the left of the scrum with his head outside it.

2. Hooker – his job is main jobs are hooking the ball in the scrum and throwing the ball in at the Lineout.

3. Tight Head Prop – is at the right of the front line and his head bound between those of the opposing loose head prop and hooker.

4& 5. Locks – The second row of the scrum – they are usually the tallest of the forwards. As well as providing drive in the scrum they are usually the main lineout jumpers.

6 & 7 Wing Forwards (Flankers) – In the scrum they bind of the outside of and slightly to the rear of the locks. They are the speediest forwards. They are important in defence, as they should be the ones to get to the opposing scrum half to tackle him. In attack they can either be the first carrier of the ball from the scrum or support the Number 8 as he breaks away from the scrum.

For some reason or other known as the Number 8. Is the main channel for the ball as it emerges from the scrum. Will control the ball, heeling it as required by the scrum half or taking it on himself. In the lineout will generally be placed at the back to take the ball on from that position.

They are the pretty boys of rugby. They are ones who usually do the running and score the tries.

12 & 13. Centres – They are the midfield attacking players.

Full Back - Sometimes can seem like the rugby equivalent of the goalkeeper, patrolling the 22-metre area to repel all invaders. The ability to relieve pressure by finding touch as far up the field as possible is paramount. In attack he should be versatile normally slotting into the attacking line among the centres but sometimes out on the wing. The full back used to be the main place kicker but this is now usually the role of the out half but an accomplished kicker at 15 can be a back up.

A team consists of 15 players if the numbers fall below that number there must be at least 5 players in the scrum.

Those of us of a more mature disposition (if you mean old, say old Billy – Ed), will remember the time when replacing a rugby player was a bit like cremation. It wasn’t done then it could be done but you needed a death certificate signed by two doctors.

Now it seems to be a free for all. But there are two different operations – replacement and substitution.

If a player is injured he can be replaced. If a player is taken off for tactical reasons he can be substituted.

Replacements/substitutions have to be authorised by the referee and can only occur when the ball is dead.

Generally up to 7 subs can be named for a game but the national union sets the rules. Where 7 subs are named at, least 2 must be trained and experienced to play in the front row.

Up to 2 front row and 5 other players can be substituted

A substituted player may not resume except as a temporary replacement or to replace an injured front row player.

A player who is bleeding or has an open wound will be replaced to have this treated. He can resume so long as this is done within 15 minutes.

A permanent replacement can only be authorised by a doctor or other medically trained person or in their absence the referee.