“Scrummage” is the end product of a blend of final year journalism portfolio and a will to help new rugby fans understand the positions of the game. Having played as a tight-head prop for my Universities 1st team it was great how much people wanted to talk to rugby players and yet when I attempted to explain what it was a prop did you could see the look of confusion slide across their face.
So what I did was create a series of video containing some of the biggest names in world rugby to help describe and explain the various positions of Rugby Union. Each episode covers aspects such as training, diet, injury prevention, the difference between two positions of the same name (such as the number 4 & 5 lock) and then end with who the professionals think is the best player in the world at their position.
The next episode in the series is concentrating on the linkman between the forwards and the backs, the scrum-half (the number 9) and to do this we have with us:
Andy Gomarsall MBE
Scrum-half, Leeds Carnegie & England (ret.)
Gomarsall was one of 3 number9’s to go to the victorious 2003 RWC with England. After their successful campaign Andy vowed to be part of the England set up and help take them to the next rugby world final, which he did losing to South Africa in a tightly fought game. Gomarsall is known for his ability to produce very clean ball form the ruck and is also known for his massively powerful one-armed power scoops with the ball.
Shaun Perry
Scrum-half, Worcester Warriors & England (ret.)
Nearly the polar opposite to Gomarsall, Perry was a more strength-based number9, able to take the ball heavier into contact or bust through the line rather than dance around it. He was also part of England’s 2007 RWC squad and, in 2006, scored a wonderful intercept try on his debut for England against the mighty All Blacks.
Darren Allinson
Scrum-half, London Irish
The small and agile Allinson made a great come back after a tackle went horribly wrong leaving Allinson with a broken jaw. With the ability to dart in and out of the line Allinson gives London Irish a great asset in helping the team play fast paced rugby.
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