Players who can play more than one position effectively?

First topic message reminder :

On another thread me and fes got into a discussion about locks who could play back row. This got me thinking of other players who can play multiple positions well, either fowards or backs. This can't just be playing 6 and 8 or loose head and tight head.

The one person who I think can do this well at both test and club level is Courteney Lawes, who can play both second row and 6. Austin Healy would be another who got played pretty much everywhere by both England and Leicester. However people often think it can hold a player in getting selected for national honours.

Anyone got any other players who have can play multiple positions well.

No not talking about him at all Gunner. I have only seen him as a second row but I have no doubt he can play well at 6. Donnacha Ryan does the same for my team. I hadn't read your post when writing mine.

nganboy wrote:Sean Fitzpatrick often covered hooker and ref in the same game.

Priceless. Wasn't a bad ref either.

Banahan? Effective....hmm still open to debate. But hes not done bad for a guy who used to be a forward having been capped at wing and OC, and playing a non cap game at 12.

Healys a great example. Its one thing to be shifted around the centers fullback and wings, but to be capped at a highly specialised position like scrum half as well is pretty unusual in the modern game. Foden of course has done both 9 and 15 for England, but its hard to describe his breif appearnce at SH as effective.

Tom Croft is pretty good at wearing 6 and playing on the wing.

The highest class player I ever saw in two positions was Mike Gibson - rated as one of the best fly-halves and possibly the best centre in rugby history.

I'm not sure who you are talking about Red

Umaga was a great winger and a top class centre

Both Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie played wing for SA before becoming centers.

Mike Gibson was certainly a great player at Fly half,better [in my opinion than Barry John]though not as a goal kicker.Best centre ever ,good but nowhere near that.

In the past it was common for forwards too light,or short to fit at lock played as six,eight,prop.A Prop who can play either head is not really a different position though it needs different skills.In the past,both Stan and Colin Meads [started] played as flankers.Tiny Hill,Peter Hilton-Jones flankers went lock.Kel Tremain [lock]to 8,or flanker,Brian Lochore Lock to number 8,Ken Gray lock to prop.Any number of Locks to numerous to mention played 6 or 8,way back tight /loose forwards when they slowed up moved inwards to lock.The only important common factor to lock,6 or 8 is to be a line out option.