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Rugby union numbering schemes - Definition and Overview |
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A rugby union team consists of 15 players plus up to seven replacements (depending on the competition). These are normally numbered 1-15 and the replacements 16 onwards.
Traditionally however, some clubs, notably notably Leicester Tigers and Bristol used alternative schemes consisting of letters, whilst others Bath and Richmond used a scheme with no number 13. Leicester's numbers were from 1-15 corresponding A to O with the exception of the openside which who wore H which is the eighth letter of the alphabet. English Zurich Premiership sides have ceased using these numbers/letters to better aid the understanding of those new to the sport.
Nowadays the players are numbered 1 to 15 with 1 being loosehead prop and 15 being the fullback. However, the numbering used to be reversed with 1 being the fullback. This change happened in the 1950s.
Another common variations in the numbering is the interchange of 6 and 7
(particularly in South Africa and Argentina) or of 11 and 14.
There also are regional variations to the way line-ups are listed. Most of
the time, the first player mentioned is actually the number 15. The two
mainstream styles of listing a line-up are 15-9 then 1-8 and 15-1. However,
you may see the centres messed up and the same is often done to the back row.
| Position |
Standard number |
No 13-number |
Letters — Leicester-style |
Letters — Bristol-style |
| Full back |
15 |
16 |
O |
A |
| Right wing |
14 |
15 |
N |
B |
| Outside centre |
13 |
14 |
M |
C |
| Inside centre |
12 |
12 |
L |
D |
| Left wing |
11 |
11 |
K |
E |
| Fly-half |
10 |
10 |
J |
F |
| Scrum-half |
9 |
9 |
I |
G |
| Loosehead prop |
1 |
1 |
A |
H |
| Hooker |
2 |
2 |
B |
I |
| Tighthead prop |
3 |
3 |
C |
J |
| Lock |
4 |
4 |
D |
K |
| Lock |
5 |
5 |
E |
L |
| Blindside flanker |
6 |
6 |
F |
M |
| Openside flanker |
7 |
7 |
H |
N |
| Number eight |
8 |
8 |
G |
O |
| Replacements |
16 onwards, up to 22 |
17 onwards, up to 23 |
P onwards, up to V |
P onwards, up to V |
See also
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Example Usage of numbering |
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weimeng: I just discovered how to do automatic paragraph numbering in Word. It's so awesome! |
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alwysabridesmd: @DirtyCityRedux @MarkWSchumann The streets in CLE have never really confused me -- the numbering is especially great. But the burbs...ugh. |
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joalin: @spiceupurlife "numbering your days & making it count."!! ;)! |
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