How did the rugby playing positions get their names?
” Originally there were only two Rugby Positions – forwards and backs. It was only when the rules were first drafted in the 1870’s that the full back, of which there were three, was named and his role defined. A rule change limited the position to one player on the rugby field for each team. The decision was then made that the other two players would be stationed at a midpoint between the forwards and the full backs and were to be called halfway backs. In time this was shortened to half backs. Their role and that of the full back continued to be in position to fall on the ball in the event of the opposition hacking it out of the scrum. In 1878 at Cardiff, in Wales, they developed a short pass to one of the half backs who would then go charging ahead with the ball. He became known as the flying half back which in time was shortened to the fly half. In addition they reorganised the scrum, developed short passes amongst the forwards and long passes amongst the backs. This lead to the need
