The blindside flanker stands out as one of the toughest and most important players on a rugby team. You’ll usually see them powering through contact, covering the narrow side of the field, and shutting down tight spaces. They line up at the back of the scrum and throw themselves into stopping opponents from slipping through the cracks.
People—fans and players alike—often don’t realize just how much the blindside flanker has to do. The job calls for endless tackling, a stubborn attitude, and a love for physical battles.
You need high endurance, sharp decision-making, and the guts to contest every ball. Besides their relentless defense, these players support the attack and scrap for possession at rucks and mauls.
Honestly, a lot of their work goes unnoticed, but if you watch closely, you’ll see how much they shape every phase of the game.
If you want to know what makes a team so tough up front, you should really watch a blindside flanker in action.
Thinking of playing or coaching in this spot? Understanding what’s involved can give you a whole new respect for rugby’s hardest workers.
Blindside Flanker Role and Key Responsibilities
People usually call the blindside flanker the No. 6. Their job focuses on defense, raw physicality, and field position.
That’s what separates them from the other back-row forwards.
Primary Duties on the Field
Blindside flankers spend most of their time stopping opponents from breaking through on the short side of the scrum or lineout. They don’t hesitate to tackle the ball carrier and drive them toward the touchline.
They cover the gaps between the fly-half and the edge of the lineout, especially after set pieces.
During open play, they throw themselves into rucks and mauls. They clear out opposition players and fight to secure possession.
At the lineout, some blindside flankers jump for the ball, bringing height and muscle. Others stay grounded, ready to defend against attacks around the fringes.
If you want more details, check out this comprehensive guide on blindside duties.
Skills and Attributes Required
Blindside flankers need a special mix of physical traits:
- Strength: They need it for tackling, clearing out rucks, and winning collisions.
- Speed: It helps them cover the short side and chase down attackers.
- Awareness: They have to read the play and react fast.
- Tackling ability: They must be reliable and hit hard on defense.
- Endurance: The job keeps them moving all game long.
Coaches look for players with a solid frame who can handle repeated physical contests. Blindside flankers might not be as quick as openside flankers, but they usually make up for it with power and consistency.
The best ones have high rugby IQ, reading the play and adjusting quickly during loose play. You can read more in the RugbyPass position guide.
Distinction from Openside Flanker
The openside flanker, wearing No. 7, focuses on speed and winning the ball at breakdowns. Blindside flankers, though, rely on brute strength and physical presence.
Blindside flankers go up against bigger ball carriers and shut down attacks close to the scrum or maul. Their tackles are usually front-on, stopping advances on the narrow edge.
Openside flankers use their speed to cover wider areas and try to steal the ball or slow it down after a tackle.
Here’s a quick look at the differences:
| Attribute | Blindside Flanker (No. 6) | Openside Flanker (No. 7) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Defense, physicality | Possession, speed |
| Key Attribute | Strength | Speed |
| Coverage Area | Short side, fringes | Open side, wide areas |
This split in duties and skills is what makes the blindside and openside combo so effective in top-level rugby.
Want more on these distinctions? Check out this Rugby Toolbox article.
Tactical Importance Within the Team Structure
A blindside flanker can change the game for the forward pack. They link set pieces and open play, using positioning, strength, and quick decisions to protect possession and disrupt the other team.
Involvement in Scrums and Set Pieces
At scrum time, the blindside flanker lines up on the side with less space, right next to either the loosehead or tighthead prop. They support the lock and prop, adding power and balance.
During set pieces like lineouts and scrums, the blindside flanker helps keep the scrum steady and stops the opposition from breaking away quickly on the short side. They often help the number eight when picking up the ball at the base of the scrum.
Key roles include:
- Supporting the front row to keep a solid platform.
- Covering scrum-half runs around the blindside.
- Talking with the other loose forwards and backs to organize defense.
Their presence matters most when defending against teams with mobile forwards—think Ireland, who love to attack the short side after set pieces.
Impact on Rucks and Breakdowns
At rucks and breakdowns, the blindside flanker usually arrives first. They need a ton of physicality to clear out opposition players and secure quick ball for the scrum-half or fly-half.
Blindside flankers often lead tackle counts because their work rate is relentless. Their speed lets them cross the gain-line and threaten turnovers, which can disrupt the opponent’s phase play and even force handling errors near the touchline.
They back up both locks and props in the fight for possession, making it tough for the opposition to recycle the ball. If someone makes a tackle near the ruck, you’ll often see the blindside flanker jump right into the next phase, either carrying the ball or defending.
By working closely with the number eight and openside flanker, they keep the breakdown under control and patch up defensive holes. Balancing the fight for possession with support for the attack is really what sets the best blindside flankers apart.
Contribution to Defensive and Attacking Strategies
In defense, the blindside flanker steps up to stop runners who try to sneak around the end of the lineout. They’ll also react quickly when someone makes a break near the scrum.
You’ll often see them focus on tackling opponents hard and driving them toward the touchline. That cuts down attacking space and, more often than not, forces mistakes. If you want to dig deeper, Rugby Coach Weekly has a good overview of the role of the blindside flanker.
On attack, blindside flankers don’t just hang back. They’ll charge forward as ball-carriers, backing up the number eight, locks, and centers. Their job? Drive ahead, break a few tackles, and set up a solid platform.
That platform gives fly-halves and wings a real chance to find gaps. You’ll notice their power especially in tight situations, like when they muscle through contact and help secure the ball in mauls near the try line.
Great blindside flankers read the game as it unfolds. They know when to jump into an attack as a support runner and stay in constant communication with the half backs and other forwards.
Honestly, their tactical discipline makes a big difference. It lets the team ramp up the pressure and win back control just when it matters most.
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