So You Want To Be a Scrum Half?

You wanna be a scrum half?

If your answer isn't “yes” then you don't know what playing scrum half is all about!

Of the 15 players on the pitch, the scrum half is arguably the most important. From the amount of touches you will get, to the decisions you make, you will have the opportunity to influence the game in an outsized way. So stay tuned if you want to learn how to bring your scrummy skills to the next level and help propel your team to a winning season.

Understanding the Scrum Half Role

The scrum half position is often described as the link between the thuggish fellas of the forward pack and the expansive set plays and intricate patterns of the back line, but scrum half is so much more than that. You are not merely a distributor, or as one former player described himself, "a mindless turret firing off passes". A good scrum half knows that to play at his best he needs to provide inspiration, organization and unity of purpose for his teammates. And with so many touches on the ball, a game-breaking run or inventive moment is never more than one ruck away.

So what makes a good high school scrum half? A really cool name doesn't hurt, but if you don't have that you better keep reading because I have a few tips that will elevate your game from a one-dimensional "mindless turret" into an explosive and lethal play-making machine.

Key Traits of a Successful Scrum Half

Physical Ability

There's no two ways about it, if you want to be a scrum half you have to be fit and athletic. Without explosive speed and the endurance to get from ruck to ruck your scrum half days are numbered. A high level of fitness will not only allow you to perform the basics of the position, but will also pay dividends in your season's longevity and help prevent injury. An injury free season means more time for the team as a whole to develop their chemistry and the greater your chances of having a winning season.

This isn't the 1960's, running around in sweats and a trash bag isn't going to cut it. You should be working on resistance training, explosive lifts and flexibility.

For a introductory guide to rugby fitness check out our previous article:

A good diet, adequate sleep and excessive hydration are also friends in your journey to becoming a physically fit and injury resistant scrum half.

Mental Agility

Much of a scrum half's success can be attributed to what happens between the ears. Rugby is a thinking man's game, and if you want to separate yourself from the pack then you better start using your head to think and not just running into the nearest defender. One of the most common reasons I have seen young players struggle to develop their mental game is their inability to SEE what is in front of them and RECOGNIZE what it means.

It's hard to make informed decisions if you don't have information, and that comes from looking up and really taking a second to see what is out there. Don't fall into the trap of staring at the base of the ruck waiting for the ball to pop out, getting the ball to the back of the ruck is someone else's problem. Take that second to look up, observe, analyze/decide and act.

As you get more game experience this process will become more natural and less mentally taxing. At that point your mental game will only continue to grow as you are more easily able to communicate, plan a few phases ahead and introduce deception and manipulation into your overall game.

Let’s get practical

When it comes to developing your mental game there is no substitute for experience. I highly recommend watching professional and international games to see what those at the very top are doing. But video analysis should be supplemental; no amount of watching games on YouTube (or reading Rugby Riot articles) can replace the invaluable experience you get every time you play, even if it is just touch rugby. The noise, the chaos, and the mental confusion that comes with physical fatigue cannot be replicated anywhere but on the pitch itself.

To improve your physical game:

1. Create a fitness routine focusing on explosive speed and endurance.

2. Incorporate resistance training, explosive lifts, and flexibility work.

3. Maintain a good diet, get adequate sleep, and stay well-hydrated.

To enhance your mental game:

1. Practice looking up and observing the field before making decisions.

2. Watch professional matches to study high-level decision-making.

3. Get as much on-field experience as possible, even in touch rugby games.

What’s next?

Well, now it's up to you. Hit the gym to build that scrum half fitness, sharpen your mental game by watching film, and most importantly, get out there and play.

Pretty simple tips eh? Yep, and they’ll make a massive difference in your performance. Be the physically impressive and mentally sharp scrum half who catalyzes the entire team. Remember, your position is about seizing every chance to influence the game, so take these insights, put in the work, and become the dynamic playmaker your team needs.

…..

Brian Redmond, Rugby Rioter