The aim of the game is to carry the ball over the opponent’s goal line and force it to the ground to score. Simple, right?
Well, not quite. To go forward, you can only pass backwards. You can kick the ball forward but your team mates must be behind the ball at the moment it’s kicked.
Rugby Union Scoring
There are four ways you can score points in a game of rugby:
•Try (5 points): A try is scored when the ball is forced to the ground over the opponent’s goal line. A penalty try can be awarded if a player would have scored but for a foul played by the opposition.
•Conversion (2 points): Once you’ve scored a try, you can add two further points by kicking the ball over the crossbar from a place in line with where the try was scored.
•Drop Goal (3 points): Is scored when a player drops the ball onto the ground and kicks it over the cross bar in open play.
•Penalty (3 points): A team may choose to kick at goal if a penalty is awarded after an infringement by the opposition.
The Line Out in Rugby
If the ball goes off the field at the side, a line out is used to restart play.
The forwards assemble in two lines, one metre apart. The hooker throws the ball down the corridor between the two lines and the player who successfully catches the ball can either keep it and set up a maul or pass it on.
In order to get the high throws in the lineout, the catcher is lifted by their team mates whilst jumping to catch the ball. The opposition cannot touch a catcher whilst he’s in the air, and holding, shoving or levering are all offences punishable by a penalty kick.
The Scrum
The scrum is another means of restarting play. It is used if there has been a minor infringement (e.g. if the ball is passed forward), or if the ball becomes unplayable in a ruck or a maul.
Eight people from each team lock arms and face each other; they engage with the opposition by interlocking heads with those of the other side’s front row. The ball is thrown into the middle of the tunnel between the two front rows and the hookers compete for the ball, attempting to ‘hook’ it back. The winner of the scrum can keep the ball on the ground and attempt to drive the opposition down field. Alternatively, they can pass the ball into the back line to resume open play.
Ruck vs Maul
No. Mauls and rucks are not just playground free-for-alls; and no, they are not the same thing – I promise!
In a maul, the ball is held off the floor and the players must try to stand on their feet.
In a ruck, the ball is on the ground and must not be handled by any of the players. Instead, they use their feet to ‘ruck’ the ball (and ONLY the ball) backwards.
Rugby Union Positions
Props
The prop anchors the scrummage and provides lifting strength and support to the lineout jumpers. They are also crucial in rucks and mauls.
Hooker
The hooker has two important roles on the pitch. In the scrum, they are the player to win possession of the ball and ‘hook’ it back. In the lineout, they are the player to throw the ball.
Number 8
The number 8 is a the back of the scrum and must secure possession of the ball and carry it into open play.
Scrum Half
The scrum half is the link between forwards and backs at the scrum and lineouts; he must decide whether to distribute a quick ball to the backs, or keep it close to the forwards.
Wings
The wings are the accelerator pedal of the team; they provide the injection of speed to outrun the opponent and score a try. They also need to be solid in defence.
Locks
Are the ones who win the ball from lineouts and restarts. The drive the momentum in scrums, rucks and mauls and provide a platform for attack.
Flankers
The Flanker’s job is to win possesion of the ball through turnovers, i.e. for tackling anyone on the opposing team who dares run with the ball.
Centres
The centres are key in both attack and defence. They’ll tackle the opposing team, as well as use their speed and power to breach defences.
Full Back
The last line of defence; the full back myst be confident under a high ball, have a good boot to clear the lines, and a try-saving tackle that could stop a freight train.
HISTORY
In 1823, William Webb Ellis used his hands to pick up a ball in a soccer match and ran with it to the goal. That day, rugby was born. There are two primary forms of rugby union: rugby fifteens and rugby sevens. Touch rugby, beach rugby, rugby tens and rugby twelves are also iterations of the sport often used as a development pathway and feeder into the main forms.
SAFER WITHOUT PADS
Though rugby players don’t wear pads or helmets, the techniques and rules of the sport make impact much safer. Rugby players are taught to use their arms and shoulders when making contact with opponents; earning serious repercussions for any contact above the shoulders and other dangerous styles of play. Players caught disregarding these rules receive a yellow card and are forced to sit on the bench for ten minutes in rugby fifteens and two minutes in rugby sevens. Serious offenses can result in a red card, with the chance of suspending the athlete for weeks.
ABOUT RUGBY 15S
Fifteens is played with 15 players on each side of the ball who compete for 80-minutes (two 40 minute halves) in individual matches through the year. Rugby fifteens was an Olympic sport in the early 1900s where the U.S. men won gold medals in 1920 and 1924. The Rugby World Cup is now the main pinnacle event of the sport — taking place every four years — and also serves as the third-largest single-sporting event in the world.
RULES OF RUGBY 15s
Two teams of 15 players have 80 minutes to advance the ball past their opponents’ side of the field (pitch) and touch it to the ground for a score worth 5 points (try). Participants may only pass the ball backwards or sideways with no blocking allowed; using a variety of phases such as lineouts, mauls, rucks and scrums to retain possession during play. Rugby is unique in that play is continuous even after players are tackled on the field. Kicking is the only method by which both teams may move the ball forward. After each try, worth 5 points, the scoring team is allowed an opportunity to kick the ball through the posts for an additional 2 points (conversion). Certain penalties also earn the non-offending team a kick through the posts, worth 3 points (penalty) if made. At the conclusion of the match, the team with the most points wins.
ABOUT RUGBY SEVENS
Rugby sevens is a current Olympic sport, making its first appearance in the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Sevens is played with 7 players on each side of the ball who compete for 14-minutes (two 7-minute halves) in tournaments with up to three matches per competition day. The first day typically consists of pool rounds after which a team’s performance qualifies them for the Championship track or Challenge track. The Championship track typically awards the top finishes of the tournament including first, second and third place. The Challenge track consists of consolation rounds. Teams for either track must continue to play through the tournament to earn their final placing.
RULES OF RUGBY SEVENS
A fast, high-scoring version of traditional rugby, sevens is played with two teams of 7 players who have 14 minutes to advance the ball into their opponent’s area of the field (pitch) and touch it to the ground for a score worth 5 points (try). As in the 15-a-side version of the sport, participants may only pass the ball backwards or sideways with no blocking allowed; using phases such as lineouts, mauls, rucks and scrums to retain possession during play. Kicking is the only method by which both teams may move the ball forward. Like rugby fifteens, play is also continues in rugby sevens. After each try, worth 5 points, the scoring team is given an opportunity to kick the ball through the posts for an additional 2 points (conversion). Certain penalties also earn the non-offending team a kick through the posts, worth 3 points (penalty goal) if made. However, penalty goals are rarely seen in sevens. At the end of regulation, the team with the most points wins. If both teams are tied in a knockout round, a 5-minute overtime period will be played, where the first team to score wins.
The field of play
