Prop is one position on the rugby field where physical dominance is absolutely essential. Props who can physically dominate their opponent in scrums will increase the quality of their team’s possession and similarly decrease the quality of the opposition’s ball. A smaller prop can achieve physical dominance with better technique, but raw strength is perhaps the most crucial physical quality for a prop. Browse the media tools to the left to learn more about this position.

While props often serve as battering rams when carrying the ball, they perform a critical role when restarting play at scrums and line-outs. Props prevent the scrum from twisting and moving backwards, and support the weight of the hooker in scrums. In line-outs, they lift other players who contest for possession of the ball. Thus, props must have strong necks, shoulders, and legs..

Loose Head – The #1 jersey and packs on the left hand side of the scrum. The loose head’s job in the scrum is to put pressure on the opposition’s tight head to provide cover for the hooker to strike for the ball. The #1's stance will be dictated by the scrumhalf’s feeding lane. Since a scrum naturally wheels to the left, it’s the loose head’s responsibility to keep the scrum straight despite this natural turning inclination. The #1 must drive through their opponent, not around them. .

Tight Head – The #3 jersey and packs down on the right hand side of their team’s scrum. The tight head is the lynch-pin of the scrum. They are responsible for scrummaging against two opponents, both the hooker and the loose head. Their primary task on attack is to prevent any backwards progress. On defense, they’re attempting to get “inside” the opposition’s loose head and pressure the hooker.

Physical and mental characteristics: should like the physical stuff, getting close to your opponents at scrum-time, abrasive, often the bigger/heavier player, strong while being agile and having power endurance.