▁Rugby ▁Championship . ▁ ▁Teams ▁and ▁positions ▁ ▁Each ▁team ▁starts ▁the ▁match ▁with ▁ 1 5 ▁players ▁on ▁the ▁field ▁and ▁seven ▁or ▁eight ▁subst it utes . ▁Play ers ▁in ▁a ▁team ▁are ▁divided ▁into ▁eight ▁for wards ▁( two ▁more ▁than ▁in ▁rugby ▁league ) ▁and ▁seven ▁back s . ▁ ▁For wards ▁The ▁main ▁respons ib ilities ▁of ▁the ▁forward ▁players ▁are ▁to ▁gain ▁and ▁retain ▁possession ▁of ▁the ▁ball . ▁For wards ▁play ▁a ▁vital ▁role ▁in ▁tack ling ▁and ▁r uck ing ▁oppos ing ▁players . ▁Play ers ▁in ▁these ▁positions ▁are ▁generally ▁bigger ▁and ▁stronger ▁and ▁take ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁sc rum ▁and ▁line - out . ▁The ▁for wards ▁are ▁often ▁collect ively ▁referred ▁to ▁as ▁the ▁' pack ', ▁especially ▁when ▁in ▁the ▁sc rum ▁formation . ▁ ▁Front ▁row ▁The ▁front ▁row ▁consists ▁of ▁three ▁players : ▁two ▁props ▁( the ▁loose head ▁prop ▁and ▁the ▁tight head ▁prop ) ▁and ▁the ▁hook er . ▁The ▁role ▁of ▁the ▁two ▁props ▁is ▁to ▁support ▁the ▁hook er ▁during ▁sc rum s , ▁to ▁provide ▁support ▁for ▁the ▁jump ers ▁during ▁line - outs ▁and ▁to ▁provide ▁strength ▁and ▁power ▁in ▁r uck s ▁and ▁ma uls . ▁The ▁third ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁front ▁row ▁is ▁the ▁hook er . ▁The ▁hook er ▁is ▁a ▁key ▁position ▁in ▁attack ing ▁and ▁def ensive ▁play ▁and ▁is ▁responsible ▁for ▁winning ▁the ▁ball ▁in ▁the ▁sc rum . ▁Hook ers ▁normally ▁throw ▁the ▁ball ▁in ▁at