Office pride is at stake. It’s all for charity but, naturally, I’d very much like to win. We’ve got one, possibly two ‘stars’ ie strong team members, and then seven ‘average’ (co-worker loyalty prevents me from using more descriptive terminology here 
Basically, what I’m trying to find out is the best placings for each member?
By tugging harder than the other side.
(Sorry) also you might want to peruse some of the linkshere
Traction - at two places. Between your hands and the rope, and between your feet and the ground. Placement has absolutely nothing to do with it, provided everyone on the team is contributing to the pull.
Wear gloves with wetted leather palms - like sailing or kayaking gloves, and wear crampons on your boots. Stand in a stable position, with your feet sufficiently far apart, and lean away from the opposing team. Try to use your legs more than your arms.
Also, you may want the guy with the greatest arm strength at the front, as you can generate a pulse in the rope which may shake loose your opponents hand(s).
looks like it’s pretty much gonna boil down to brute strength (gulp)
…and you gotta due this with the opposing teams on either side of a mud puddle. Hilarious.
Or you could put up a good fight, and if you start to lose shout “1…2…3!” and have everyone on your side let go of the rope and watch the other team fall backwards. Mwahah.
Note to self: If other team begins counting, let go at “2”.
Put your two strongest and/or heaviest guys at the end of the rope. It’ll anchor the team and keep the weak links from falling on the backs of your strength. If the front guys should fall or be eliminated the two guys in back will be placed farthest from the center line. Plus being together maybe they can get a rhythm going.
And whatever you do: use a rope made from natural fibres. There was an incident once at a scout camp when they used a nylon rope for a tug of war. There were some 50-60 boys on each side and the rope just streched and got longer and longer until it snapped causing a couple of fractures, not to mention any niumber of severe burns on the palms when in contracted again.
Just in case you are tempted by this, DON’T – the potential for injury (not just on the opposing team falling backwards – indeed it is the potential to rip one of your own team mate’s arms off that should worry you most).