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What a Flyhalf Does...

Mike Catt plays for Bath as a Flyhalf and a Centre.
He also played for England as a Flyhalf but also as a Centre, Right Wing and Full Back.

The shirt number for a Flyhalf position is 10 and for Centre it is 12.

The Flyhalf is part of the back line and calls the shots - he can make or break the match.

The Flyhalf should be the leader of the backline, making the decisions, reading the game and calling the moves. To do this the player needs tactical awareness, vision and the ability to read the play. Open, blind, close, wide, run, pass, kick.

The chaps who will want to hurt him the most are open side flankers.

In this he needs to find a balance: varation being important to keep fooling the opposite defense.

A Flyhalf should also be quick off the mark, if there is a gap - penetrate. Nothing keeps the defense guessing more than the threat of the inside backs who can make breaks. Running on the blindside is almost a lost art.

Technically he needs quick hands, tactical kicks and kicks for territory and the good old fashioned 'bomb' (also known as the 'up and under' or 'The Garryowen').

In defense, the Flyhalf should communicate with the back row and #12 to determine the defensive pattern to be used, this can change several times during a match and from game to game.

Tackling is never a strong point of this position (normally due to the physique of players in this position) but tackling can not be avoided !

Fantastic website for Rugby Positions and Explanations: http://ecampus.bentley.edu/org/rugby/whatis/positions.htm

Other Source: http://www.rugbycoach.com

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