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Hooking with left foot

Hi, Few years ago, I have heard a hooker telling that sometimes he was hooking with the left foot.

I did not try to ask further at that time, but now I am wondering to know in which circumstance should a hooker do so.

Is he allowed ? mostly for the team introducing the ball or the opposing team ? To have a stronger pressure against the opposing 1st row ? Thx for your comments

Rugby CoachCoach

1 answer

ANSWERS

Simon JonesCoach, England

Sammy,

Normally hookers will strike for the ball with their right foot as they are right footed and the hooking motion is easy to achieve with a sweep of the right foot.

However, some hookers are able to strike with their left foot and this has a number of advantages:

Their left foot is nearer to the ball and so they can strike quicker
Their foot will be inevitably be ahead of the opposing hookers strike

The left footed strike is not a hook but more a stab of the left foot forward so the ball hits the foot as it is put in and bounces back towards channel 1. (This is the channel between the feet of the left side lock and the flanker).

With referees letting scrum halves put the ball in at a slight angle these days it may not be necessary for your hooker to do this unless they are under pressure.

I hope this helps you.

Simon