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Rugby players shameless at first scrum (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

forwards

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'rugby players shameless' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'at first scrum' is the wordplay.
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'first' becomes 'forward' ('forward' can be similar in meaning to 'first').
'scrum' becomes 's' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'forward' put next to 's' is 'FORWARDS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for forwards that I've seen before include "strikers" , "attackers" , "Ahead in time; in the normal order" , "Attacking players" , "In the normal sequence" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).
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