You need rare courage to be the rock at the rear. So any butter-fingered shrinking violets should step away now – full-backs need to spring like a hare and catch the ball unerringly in the face of dastardly challengers. Positional awareness is a given – you have a lot of ground to cover out there – and a solid boot is required to clear your lines. If you can also kick goals like Leigh Halfpenny, consider yourself hired. The best exponents of fullback play will pose endless threats as a runner, linking with their fellow backs or bursting into the line to create an overlap.

Israel Folau

Major teams: Broncos, Waratahs Country: Australia Test span: 2013 – Australia caps: 41 (41 starts) Test points: 100 (20T) – Figures correct as of 19/07/2016 – He arrived in rugby…

Gavin Hastings takes a high ball against Wales

Major Teams: Watsonians, London Scottish, Cambridge University Country: Scotland Test span: 1986-95 Scotland caps: 61 (61 starts) Lions caps: 6 (6 starts) Test points: 733 (18T, 87C, 160P) He was…

George Nepia of New Zealand

Major Teams: Hawke’s Bay, East Coast Country: New Zealand Test span: 1924-30 Test caps: 9 (9 starts) Test points: 5 (1C, 1P) Twice weekly he displayed remarkable pluck, uniquely appearing…

Ken Scotland

Major Teams: Army, Heriot’s FP, Cambridge University, London Scottish, Leicester Country: Scotland Test span: 1957-65 Scotland caps: 27 (27 starts) Lions caps: 5 (5 starts) Test points: 79 (8C, 16P,…

Tom Kiernan of Ireland

Major teams: University College Cork, Cork Constitution, Munster Country: Ireland Test span: 1960-73 Ireland caps: 54 (54 starts) Lions caps: 5 (5 starts) Test points: 193 (2T, 27C, 42P, 2DG)…

Andy Irvine

Major teams: Heriot’s Country: Scotland Test span: 1972-82 Scotland caps: 51 (51 starts) Lions caps: 9 (9 starts) Test points: 301 (12T, 26C, 67P) The owner of an extremely accurate…