GENERAL. A centre is a key decision-maker when his team is in possession, he must decide instantly whether to pass, kick, make contact and retain the ball or make a clean break. In defence the centre is a key man often required to take his opponent head-on.

ATTACK. A centre should have the confidence to take on and beat his opponent. Centres may be involved in set moves from scrum and line-out; must be prepared to read the game, to anticipate "what happens next" from open play. Deliver a variety of short and long passes, kick diagonally, kick high or chip kick to beat a flat defence.

CONTACT. Centres need to have excellent ball retention skills; centres must be good ruckers and maulers as often they are first to the point of tackle; the man who has given the pass must be prepared to support the new ball carrier. (peel) to first of all catch the ball and then drive round the end of the line-out.

DEFENCE. The defence of the centres should be watertight and as a basic rule the centre would come up on the inside of his opposite number, thus allowing him to go only on the outside.

RUNNING LINES. Practices should include the centre taking and giving, under varying pressure from both left and right, all types of pass. A centre should practice running with the ball at pace and beating opponents by change of pace, change of direction, breaking a tackle, dummy, side step and swerve. The player must concentrate on his lines of running i.e. running at gaps, running to draw defenders and release his wingers.