SportsSeptember 3, 2026
tighthead
TITE-hed
Definition
A specific position in a rugby union scrum, played by the player positioned between the hooker and the loosehead prop on the side of the scrum that has no opposing prop on one shoulder.
Etymology
The term is a compound formed from 'tight' and 'head,' referencing the player's position in the scrum where their head is 'tightly' bound between the hooker and an opposing player.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the player responsible for absorbing significant pressure during the scrum, noting how technical mistakes by the tighthead can lead to conceded penalties.
Is the Springbok scrum legal? Former SA prop Robbi Kempson explains the 'dark arts'
Read the full article ↗EWN