Utility Players
Players that have the ability to play a number of positions in a team are called utility players. Utility players can be seen as "Jack of all trades" and they generally occupy the reserve position in a team. For this reason many try to avoid being labeled as utilities. Players in the forward positions are generally more specialised than those that play in the backs. However flankers can usually play number eight and sometimes the blindside may be used as a lock. The front row positions are usually very specialised, although some props can play both sides or even hooker, South African captain John Smit being one player who has played test matches in every front row position. Utility backs tend to cover a greater number of positions, with players commonly switching between scrum-half and fly-half, fly-half and centre or wing and fullback.
No true utility backs are in either the International Rugby or IRB Halls of Fame, although Mike Gibson has 28 caps at fly half, 48 at centre and 4 on the wing while Tim Horan played 62 tests at centre, 2 on the wing and 9 at fullback. Players that have played multiple positions within the backline include Austin Healey (who has started at scrum-half, fly-half, fullback, and wing for England throughout his career), Mike Catt (started multiple tests at fullback, fly-half and centre, and one on the wing) and François Steyn (who has Test caps at every back position except scrum-half). International Rugby Hall of Fame player Danie Craven mostly played at half-back, but has also started a Test in the forwards at number 8.
Read more about this topic: Rugby Union Positions
Famous quotes containing the words utility and/or players:
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—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
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—Ben Jonson (c. 1572–1637)