|Around the Academy:
The flanker should be an all-round athlete.
Strength, speed, fitness, stamina - the list goes on and on.
Flankers are always in the heart of the action, winning ball and making the big tackles in open play.
The openside flanker is a slightly different player from their partner, the blindside flanker.
They are normally smaller in size than their partner, making them more mobile around the pitch.
The openside flanker will often be the player with the responsibility to mark the other side's fly-half.
They do this by quickly closing them down, reducing the time they have to kick or pass.
Because of their high tackle count, flankers are always involved in rucks or mauls either at the bottom or making the big drives.