Hooker Meaning in Rugby Union

The hooker is a specialized forward who wears the number two jersey and plays in the middle of the front row. Their most important job is to strike at the ball with their foot during the scrum to win possession. They also act as the primary person who throws the ball into the lineout to restart the play. A hooker must be very strong to withstand the pressure of the scrum but accurate enough to hit their targets. They are often the leaders of the forward pack and are involved in every physical battle on the field. Modern hookers are also very mobile and often act as extra ball-carriers in open play during the match. For example, the hooker might throw a perfect ball to the tall locks at the back of a lineout. They then join the resulting maul to help drive the team toward the opponent’s goal line for a try. They are the heart of the pack.