What is a scrum-half?
Essentially, the team’s scrum-half is the player who recycles possession when their team has it.
It is their job to fetch the ball from the base of the scrum or breakdown and give it to the playmakers, bulldozers and speedsters outside them.
Where do they line up?
The scrum-half lines up right behind the scrum and inside the fly-half.
When the opposition has the put-in at the scrum or throw at the lineout, they are effectively the first line of defence.
What jersey number do they wear?
Scrum-halves wear the number nine jersey traditionally.
What do you need to be a good scrum-half?
Good hands, a good engine and a wily knack of knowing where the ball is going to be. Even before your teammate or opposite number has got possession.
Passing is the bread and butter of a nine but they also need to be astute tactical kickers and have the strength not to get run over in defence.
Who should I keep an eye on at RWC 2025?
France’s Pauline Bourdon-Sansus is arguably the best scrum-half in the game right now. French teams traditionally play through their nines more and Bourdon-Sansus is adept at setting the tempo for Les Bleues.
Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt looks set to start for England and is another who brings control as does Wales’ Keira Bevan, who is also a useful goal-kicker.
