flankers
Players on edges
Flankers are players or units positioned on the sides, whether in rugby (where they're loose forwards who play on the edges of the scrum), American football, or military formations.
In marketing, a flanker is a secondary product designed to protect a brand's market position: The company launched a budget flanker to compete with generic alternatives.
To be flanked is to have someone at your sides.
Side-positioned team member
- blindsideSurprise with unexpected force
- breakawaySudden separation from group
- number sixOrdinal after fifth
- number sevenSingle-digit prime considered lucky
back row · tackler · jackal · turnover · ruck · breakdown · fetcher · poacher
Mounted advance guards
- scoutsInformation gatherers ahead
- guardsProtectors or watchmen
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- patrolRegular surveillance route
sentries · pickets · vanguard · protection · perimeter · escort · detachment · advance party
Lateral edges or teams
- wingsLimbs for flight
- edgesOuter limits or boundaries
- peripheryBoundary or outer region
- lateralOf the side
outboard · adjacent · bordering · bracketing · surrounding · accompanying · parallel · supporting
winger
Side-positioned team member
- blindsideSurprise with unexpected force
- breakawaySudden separation from group
- number sixOrdinal after fifth
number seven · back row · tackler · jackal · turnover · ruck · breakdown · fetcher · poacher · lineout
outriders
Mounted advance guards
- scoutsInformation gatherers ahead
- guardsProtectors or watchmen
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
patrol · sentries · pickets · vanguard · protection · perimeter · escort · detachment · advance party · rear guard
sides
Lateral edges or teams
lateral · outboard · adjacent · bordering · bracketing · surrounding · accompanying · parallel · supporting · auxiliary
- assault troopsshock troops, assault teams, storm troopers, stormtroopers, strike teams
- Elite Unitsspecial forces, commandos, Navy SEALs, Delta Force, Green Berets
- medieval warriorsknights, soldiers, warriors, fighters, archers
- military scoutsscouts, ranger, vanguard, pathfinder, reconnaissance
- military unitsarmy, battalion, squad, brigade, company
- Union ArmyUnion Army, federal troops, bluecoats, Army of the Potomac, regulars
flankerscenter
Middle of anything
vanguard · rear guard · front line · spearhead · headquarters