A look at the different roles played by members of the team and what skills they need
Looseheads
Make scrums sexy for the good of the game – and get referees involved!
"Not everyone can be Finn Russell," says scrum coach Alasdair Dickinson
Rugby’s Greatest: Ian McLauchlan
'Mighty Mouse' Ian Mclauchlan made a mockery of those who doubted he could mix it with bigger opponents in Test rugby. The Scot is one of the best prop forwards…
Rugby’s Greatest: Jason Leonard
Introducing the English loosehead prop, who has made one of our ten positional spots for the greatest players
The greatest looseheads of all time: Gethin Jenkins
Major teams: Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors, Cardiff Blues, Toulon Country: Wales Test span: 2002-2016 Wales caps: 126 (90 starts) Lions caps: 5 (5 starts) Test points: 20 (4T) It seems that…
Wilson Whineray
Sir Wilson Whineray was that rugby rarity, a loosehead who had scrummaging maturity beyond his years. The New Zealander’s star shone brightly from the day he made his Test debut…
Fran Cotton
Brain and brawn combined to make Fran Cotton an all-time great. The son of a good rugby league player, young Fran took up union at grammar school, was capped by…
Tom Smith
Size doesn’t matter. Just ask Scotland’s Tom Smith. Despite a lack of size or experience, he rocketed to prominence in 1997 after being picked for the Lions tour of South…
Craig Dowd
Props rarely get much glory but if they did, Craig Dowd would be among the most lauded of all because he was one of the foundation stones upon which the…
Syd Millar
To a younger audience, John Sydney ‘Syd’ Millar will be more familiar as an elder statesman of rugby administration, this recognition coming after a four-year stint as IRB chairman (2003-07) and…