Flanker in Rugby: What No. 6 and No. 7 Actually Do

A flanker is a back-row forward in 15-a-side rugby union. World Rugby’s standard position list names No. 6 as the blindside flanker and No. 7 as the openside flanker, although regional naming and team systems can vary. The back row is completed by No. 8. In a full eight-player scrum, those three players form behind the two locks (World Rugby; Law 19).

The flanker’s job is not simply to chase every breakdown. A useful club-level description is: complete the set piece, make the next defensive or support decision early, and arrive at contact legally enough to affect the ball.

Openside and blindside: what is the difference?

At a scrum, the openside is the side with more field width and the blindside is the narrower side. The flankers normally bind on the corresponding sides, but coaches may alter who chases, covers, carries or attacks the first breakdown.

Traditionally, the openside is selected for speed to the tackle area and repeated breakdown work, while the blindside is often given more close-range carrying, tackling and lineout work. Treat that as a team-design choice, not a law. World Rugby’s coaching material gives both flankers a broad remit: tackling from different angles, making ruck and maul decisions, carrying, passing, supporting, linking forwards and backs, and moving quickly into the next role (World Rugby Passport).

The flanker’s five main jobs

1. Add stability and control at the scrum

A flanker is part of the scrum before becoming a defender or attacker. The player needs a strong legal bind on the lock, a stable body position and controlled movement with the pack. World Rugby also identifies supporting the prop, channelling the ball towards No. 8 and taking part in back-row attacking options as flanker tasks (World Rugby Passport).

Checkpoint: the flanker stays connected until the ball is available and the team’s exit call releases them. Breaking early to chase the next play weakens the scrum and can concede a penalty.

2. Defend the correct space

The best first movement is not always towards the ball. From a scrum or lineout, the flanker may have the first carrier, an inside threat, a passing lane or a cover assignment. In phase play, they must stay connected to the defenders on either side rather than opening a soft shoulder by racing ahead.

Cue: scan, call, connect, tackle. Identify the likely receiver, communicate the assignment and keep a workable spacing before accelerating.

3. Tackle, release and reload

A flanker often makes repeated close-area tackles, but the sequence matters more than the collision. Under current World Rugby law, the tackler must tackle below the sanction line that applies to the match, immediately release the ball and ball-carrier after going to ground, move away or regain their feet, and be on their feet before playing the ball (Law 14). Community tackle height depends on the applicable union or competition, so check the rule for your level rather than copying elite footage; see our guide to legal tackle height.

Cue: finish, release, feet, decide. A completed tackle does not automatically create a turnover chance.

4. Choose whether to contest the breakdown

The flanker should read the picture before committing:

• Contest if first there, on feet, through a legal approach and able to play the ball before a ruck forms.
• Counter-ruck if the ruck has formed and teammates can apply controlled, connected pressure.
• Protect when supporting a tackled teammate and possession is threatened.
• Fold into defence when the opposition has already secured the ball.

A ruck forms when at least one player from each team is in contact, on their feet and over the grounded ball. An arriving player must join from behind the offside line and bind; once the ruck exists, handling is generally prohibited unless the player already had hands on the ball and remains on their feet (Law 15). For the entry and binding details, use the legal clean-out checklist.

Cue: early hands or no hands. Do not reach through a formed ruck because the ball looks available.

5. Carry, pass and support

A flanker also keeps attacks connected. That can mean carrying into a weak shoulder, passing before contact, cleaning out for another carrier or staying alive for an offload. World Rugby’s position framework includes carrying for territory, passing both ways, exploiting space and linking forwards with backs—not only defensive work (World Rugby Passport).

At lineouts, flankers may jump, lift, catch, transfer the ball, join a driven lineout or run a peel option, depending on the call. This is why a club should develop both flankers as adaptable back-row players rather than labelling one “the tackler” and the other “the jackal.”

A 20-minute flanker decision progression

This is for contact-ready adult or age-grade players under a qualified coach, using the tackle height and contact limits set by the relevant union.

1. Scan and fold — 4 minutes

Setup: three attackers, two defenders and a coach acting as scrum-half in a 10-by-12-metre channel. Start with touch only.

Action: after each touch, the coach presents a new ball left or right. The flanker must call either “guard,” “fold” or “press” and reconnect with the other defender.

Checkpoint: no defender crosses in front of their teammate before the call.

2. Tackle, release, feet — 5 minutes

Use one ball-carrier and one tackler at controlled pace. Coach the tackle as a sequence rather than asking for a dominant hit. World Rugby’s Tackle Ready framework separates the skill into tracking, preparation, connection, acceleration and finish (World Rugby Passport).

After the finish, the tackler visibly releases, moves clear and regains their feet. Add a second action only when those movements are consistent.

3. Contest or fold — 5 minutes

Add one attacking support player and one defending support player. On the coach’s call, support arrives early or late. The flanker must choose a legal ball contest, a bound counter-ruck or a retreat into the defensive line.

Checkpoint: reward the correct decision, not merely possession won. Stop any entry without a legal approach, bind or stable body position.

4. Conditioned game — 6 minutes

Play five against five in a narrow area. Award one point for a legal turnover, but also one for a flanker who declines a lost contest and fills the next defensive space. Review only three measures:

1. Was the first defensive assignment completed?
2. Was the tackle-release-reload sequence legal?
3. Did the player contest, protect or fold for the right reason?

Increase speed or contact only when technique remains stable. If any player shows clear or suspected concussion symptoms, remove them from playing or training; World Rugby’s public guidance is “Recognise and remove” (World Rugby Passport).

A developing flanker does not need to win every collision. They need to keep making the next useful, legal action: bind, scan, tackle, release, contest or reconnect.