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I have started training a union prop that unusually plays loose and tight head. He is about 6'1, 115kg, fairly muscular and 31yo.
He wants have the edge over the other props, and has come to us to increase his field strength and conditioning.
To be honest, I think union is a silly game, and know little about the roles of each player.
After a long chat with Neil about the game, and what he is expected to do, we have some idea on which direction his training need to be pointed in.
From Wiki:
Quote:
The props "prop up" the hooker in the scrum.[27] They form part of the front row of the scrum and push against the oppositions props. The loosehead prop is positioned to the left of the hooker and their head will be on the outside of the scrum when it engages. The tighthead is to the right of the hooker with their head positioned between the opposition hooker and the opposition loosehead prop.[27] The prop's main role is to provide stability at the scrum and support the hooker in quickly winning the ball.[95] At the lineout the prop's role is to support the jumper as they compete for the ball. They are usually positioned at the front of the lineout with a jumper in between them. They are also often involved in lifting jumpers when receiving kick-offs.[92] While scrummaging is still seen as their main responsibility, modern props are also expected to contribute in attack and defence.[95]
Props have to take in pressure from the locks and loose forwards pushing from behind and the opposition pushing against them, so they are often among the strongest players in a team. Some of the more successful props have short necks and broad shoulders to absorb this force as well as powerful legs to drive the scrum forward.[95] Since the game has become professional non-specialist props or hookers cannot play in the front row. If, through sendings-off or injuries, a team does not have enough specialist front row players, the scrums become 'uncontested' (i.e. no pushing is allowed and the team putting the ball into the scrum wins it).[93] On their own scrum the loosehead's role is to provide the hooker with a clear view to strike the ball while the tighthead tries to keep the scrum stable.[96] When the opposition is putting the ball in the tighthead attempts to disrupt the opposing hooker or loosehead, making it difficult for them to win the ball. The loosehead is generally the stronger of the two props.[96]
Quote:
Responsibilities
[edit]In the Scrum
Support the hooker
Push back the other team
Hold the front row together
[edit]In Open Play
Follow the ball, in order to support the runner
Mark and tackle the other team's big players
Be active in the ruck
Be ready to run the ball into the other team's defense
[edit]In Lineouts
Lift the lock into the air
Be ready to stop the other team if they steal the throw-in
Some points that Neil made:
- Need to be very fast over 0-20m
- Need to be very strong and tight when locked in a scrum.
- Props are responsible for the first big drive in the scrum, so explosive power is essential.
- After the initial drive the props then act as link for their teams power to drive the scrum toward the opposition. This is tough on the prop as they can buckle, dive down or pop up out of the scrum.
We will do some work with:
Powerlifts - Working mostly in 5's and 3's
Prowler sprints - undecided whether to go max weight for 10m under 15sec, or lighter weight but faster sprints (see football players adding weight to ankle to increase kicking power)
Yoke runs - heavy between 10-15sec to provide brutal core strength and down right badassness
Water filled keg or sandbag press - working on 3's, 5's and 8's to assist in lifting the lock.
He does plenty of scrum work at training so I really only need to take care of his strength and conditioning.
We will test the progress with his sprint speeds over various distances, weights moved, and his training/on-field performance.
I'll log our training sessions in here incase we have any props lurking the forum.
He wants have the edge over the other props, and has come to us to increase his field strength and conditioning.
To be honest, I think union is a silly game, and know little about the roles of each player.
After a long chat with Neil about the game, and what he is expected to do, we have some idea on which direction his training need to be pointed in.
From Wiki:
Quote:
The props "prop up" the hooker in the scrum.[27] They form part of the front row of the scrum and push against the oppositions props. The loosehead prop is positioned to the left of the hooker and their head will be on the outside of the scrum when it engages. The tighthead is to the right of the hooker with their head positioned between the opposition hooker and the opposition loosehead prop.[27] The prop's main role is to provide stability at the scrum and support the hooker in quickly winning the ball.[95] At the lineout the prop's role is to support the jumper as they compete for the ball. They are usually positioned at the front of the lineout with a jumper in between them. They are also often involved in lifting jumpers when receiving kick-offs.[92] While scrummaging is still seen as their main responsibility, modern props are also expected to contribute in attack and defence.[95]
Props have to take in pressure from the locks and loose forwards pushing from behind and the opposition pushing against them, so they are often among the strongest players in a team. Some of the more successful props have short necks and broad shoulders to absorb this force as well as powerful legs to drive the scrum forward.[95] Since the game has become professional non-specialist props or hookers cannot play in the front row. If, through sendings-off or injuries, a team does not have enough specialist front row players, the scrums become 'uncontested' (i.e. no pushing is allowed and the team putting the ball into the scrum wins it).[93] On their own scrum the loosehead's role is to provide the hooker with a clear view to strike the ball while the tighthead tries to keep the scrum stable.[96] When the opposition is putting the ball in the tighthead attempts to disrupt the opposing hooker or loosehead, making it difficult for them to win the ball. The loosehead is generally the stronger of the two props.[96]
Quote:
Responsibilities
[edit]In the Scrum
Support the hooker
Push back the other team
Hold the front row together
[edit]In Open Play
Follow the ball, in order to support the runner
Mark and tackle the other team's big players
Be active in the ruck
Be ready to run the ball into the other team's defense
[edit]In Lineouts
Lift the lock into the air
Be ready to stop the other team if they steal the throw-in
Some points that Neil made:
- Need to be very fast over 0-20m
- Need to be very strong and tight when locked in a scrum.
- Props are responsible for the first big drive in the scrum, so explosive power is essential.
- After the initial drive the props then act as link for their teams power to drive the scrum toward the opposition. This is tough on the prop as they can buckle, dive down or pop up out of the scrum.
We will do some work with:
Powerlifts - Working mostly in 5's and 3's
Prowler sprints - undecided whether to go max weight for 10m under 15sec, or lighter weight but faster sprints (see football players adding weight to ankle to increase kicking power)
Yoke runs - heavy between 10-15sec to provide brutal core strength and down right badassness
Water filled keg or sandbag press - working on 3's, 5's and 8's to assist in lifting the lock.
He does plenty of scrum work at training so I really only need to take care of his strength and conditioning.
We will test the progress with his sprint speeds over various distances, weights moved, and his training/on-field performance.
I'll log our training sessions in here incase we have any props lurking the forum.
Last edited:
