The Second Row

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What does The Second Row mean? - Part II

Matt Landry

"The whole point of rugby is that it is, first and foremost, a state of mind, a spirit." - Jean Pierre Rives, International Rugby Player, France

In Part I of this blog, I explained the impact of discovering and playing rugby on myself when I was in college and how the position I played, and its myriad responsibilities mirrored my day to day duties as a marketing communications pro, here’s how I’ve explained it to folks:

“The Second Row is at the center of the scrum, tightly bound together with seven of my teammates to push things forward or holding our position. Like the work I do with my clients, working seamlessly as an extension of their team, filling whatever role is needed. When you play in the Second Row you also need to be effective as an individual in open play, supporting your teammates, running the ball, tackling the opposition, doing whatever’s needed to score or prevent points. My clients often need me to simultaneously be part of the team, while also working independently, both strategically and tactically. The overall aim is to support my clients at whatever level is required, while also providing a seasoned outside voice of guidance with strong recommendations on what to do next.”

Below I plunge into the details of why the Second Row is a perfect fit for my personal and professional duality, again using ChatGPT to define the specific rugby terms.

UCONN v. Boston College, October 2017

 The Teammate

During a lineout, the Second Row is responsible for lifting one or more players into the air to catch the ball thrown in from out of bounds. They also play a crucial role in securing possession of the ball during scrums, which are contested restarts of play after a minor infraction. Source: ChatGPT

Inside the scrum, the Second Row are bound together, slotted behind the front row, which includes two props and a hooker (which is a whole other blog post). The role of the Second Row is to be the ‘engine’ of the scrum. pushing forward, or holding our position against the opposition. The Second Row is at the center of the bound 8 person unit, central to the success of the overall engagement.

This is exactly how I see my best self in any team or project. I love to connect with people via stories and content that personally and professionally excite them. Per my recent post ‘Expanding The Intention of The Second Row in 2023: Developing Relationships and Staying Curious,’ I have always found joy, inspiration and fun in collaborating on an effort to set, achieve and exceed a common set of goals. It doesn’t matter what kind of situation is before me, when I arrive on the scene I’m always ready to dive in, reset the strategy and execute our plan.

Examples of some recent wins in the scrum:

Boston College Rugby Football Club, 50th Anniversary Alumni Game, Spring 2018

 The Individual

In open play, the Second Row is expected to be involved in tackling, carrying the ball forward, and supporting their teammates in rucks and mauls. Source: ChatGPT

One of the coolest parts of rugby is that every player can and does touch the ball and your position can change on the fly. It takes a unique set of skills to perform the tasks required in the scrum and line-out and then carry the ball forward, especially given that there’s no blocking in rugby. It’s akin to simultaneously performing the tasks of an offensive and defensive lineman and seconds later needing to run like a wide receiver or try to take down a running back.

In the open field – selectively seeking and strategically choosing the right opportunities, while finding unique ways to break through and impactfully contribute – that’s what The Second Row specializes in:

  • Need to create a brand marketing strategy from conception to execution? I’ve got you.

  • Wish someone could transform a complicated, opaque collection of data and research into an easy-to-understand blog post? You’ll have it tomorrow.

  • Want a second, expert set of eyes to look at your presentation for typos and grammar? Give me an hour.

  • Need an honest assessment and recommendation on whether you should continue, reset or end your agency relationship? I’m here to give it to you straight.

I’m a certified triage expert – bringing a quick, selfless focus on what’s needed for success in both the now and the future. No matter what’s needed, The Second Row can diagnose and form a plan for what’s needed strategically and tactically, both in the short and long-term.

Examples running the ball in for a try (aka a touchdown):

Evolving with Intention

As the game has evolved, the Second Row has become more complex and demanding, they are expected to be more mobile and athletic, and contribute more to the team’s attacking and defensive play. Overall, the Second Row position is a physically demanding and highly strategic role that requires a combination of strength, athleticism, and tactical awareness. Source: ChatGPT

I’m a highly attuned listener to key stakeholders and influencers, at all levels, inside and outside the organization. I fully admit that I’m inclined, and often enjoy, questioning the status quo and thankfully, that’s often what I’m hired for. With the launch of The Second Row 2.0, I intend to play out the second half of my career especially hard. To do so, I’m staying current with the latest innovations in my field, keeping fit so that I can stay sharp and recognize how the modern game is evolving and how I can best put my unique set of skills to use. 

Please reach out to chat more at matt@thesecondrow.net or 617.699.7205 about how my work and rugby aligns and I’ll tell about my infamous nickname, there is a clue in this NYT story, Meathead of ‘Ted Lasso’ Wanted to Play Rugby