Which rugby league position traditionally wears shirt number 7?

In rugby league, shirt number 7 traditionally identifies the halfback.

The halfback is one of the team’s main organisers and is commonly paired with the five-eighth, who traditionally wears number 6. Together, these two halves often direct attacking shape, choose whether to pass or kick, and communicate tactical decisions close to the middle of the field. Terminology can differ by country: “scrum-half” is also used in some rugby contexts, but “halfback” is standard in rugby league descriptions.

Traditional squad numbering runs from 1 to 13. The fullback is number 1, the wingers are 2 and 5, centres are 3 and 4, the five-eighth is 6, and the halfback is 7. The forwards then occupy numbers 8 through 13, with the exact positional labels varying slightly between systems.

Modern professional teams may use flexible numbering or squad numbers, so a player’s shirt number does not always prove the role played in a particular match. The answer refers to the traditional positional numbering system.