Rugby 101

Rugby: What is it?

Rugby is a fast paced, full contact sport that is loved worldwide and is played in more than 100 countries. The laws of rugby are regulated and monitored by the International Rugby Board (IRB) located in Dublin, Ireland and (in America) USA Rugby. Rumor has it that rugby was first created at the Rugby School in England when a player picked up the ball during a soccer game and ran with it. Other sports authorities have declared that rugby (as well as soccer and football) evolved from an ancient amusement of trying to carry a startled young pig to a neighboring village by darting, dashing, and just plain plowing through crowds. Rugby has been called a cross between soccer and football, but that description missed the beauty and art of the game. Regardless of its origin, rugby has developed into a complex and intricate sport requiring strategy, strength, speed, and instinct. (Back to top)

The Game

Rugby is played on a field called a "pitch" with goal posts similar to those in football. The object of the game is to carry or kick the ball into the end zones and touch it down for a "try". The game consists of two forty-minute halves with a five-minute halftime. There are no time-outs, other than for injuries. An injured player has one minute to either shake it off and get back in the game or leave the field.

The game is started with a kick-off - one team kicks the ball from the 50 meter line and the game continues from there. Kicking, receiving, and direction are determined in a pre-game coin-toss between the captains of the two teams. (Back to top)

Rugby vs. Football

There are three major differences between rugby and football....

1. In rugby, the ball cannot be passed forward; rather, the ball moves laterally from player to player. There is no quarterback in rugby that passes the ball downfield to the receiver - every player on the pitch can run with the ball or pass to a teammate who can continue down the field.

2. There is no blocking in rugby. Shielding or protecting the ball carrier will result in a penalty. Only the player carrying the ball can be tackled, and her teammates must not prevent an opponent from tackling her.

3. Play in rugby is continuous. The game does not stop when the ball hits the ground or the player with the ball is tackled. Instead, the player who is tackled must immediately release the ball, making it available to any player on either team. (Back to top)

The Team

Each team consists of fifteen players: 8 forwards, 6 backs, and a halfback (also called the "scrumhalf". The forwards tend to be the larger, stronger players on the team. They do most of the pushing (rucking, mauling, and scrumming) to win possession of the ball. The backs are smaller, faster players. Once possession is gained, the ball in generally passed out to the backs who will run or kick the ball downfield. The scrumhalf is the link between the forwards and the backs; once the forwards have won possession of the ball, it is the scrumhalf's job to pass the ball to the backs. (Back to top)

The Score

There are several ways to score in rugby:

1. TRY (5 points) - similar to a touchdown in football, except that the ball carrier must not only get the ball over the "try line", she must then touch the ball to the ground.

2. CONVERSION (2 points) - after a try, the scoring team can get additional points by place or drop kicking the ball through the uprights. The kick must be taken directly up field from the point in the try zone where the ball was touched down.

3. DROP GOAL (3 point) - At almost any time during the game, and from any point on the field, any player can attempt to drop kick the ball through the uprights.

4. PENALTY GOAL (3 points) - After certain penalties, the team that did not incur the penalty can choose to try for a penalty goal. The kicker either drop or place kicks the ball through the uprights from the point where the penalty occurred. (Back to top)

The Language

Phrases you might hear during a rugby game:

1. SCRUM - formed by the forwards of each team. Consists of three front row players (two props and a hooker), two second row players (called locks), and three back row players (two flankers and an eight man). When the opposing scrums come together, the scrumhalf from the team that did not incur the infraction puts the ball in the tunnel created by the opposing front rows. The hooker from each team tries to hook the ball back through the legs of her scrum using her feet. A scrum is called by the ref to put the ball back into play after minor infractions.

2. RUCK - once a player is tackled and on the ground she must release the ball and make an attempt to move away from it. If the ball is not immediately picked up, players from each team will form a ruck over the ball to try to win possession. The idea is similar to a scrum - the team that pushes or kicks the ball (using only their feet) out the back of their ruck wins possession. Unlike a scrum, a ruck is not a set play; it forms spontaneously and can involve any player from either team (including backs).

3. MAUL - sometimes a player who is stopped by an opponent manages to remain standing upright. In this case, both teams again try to gain possession of the ball. The ball carrier's team will try to protect the ball and get it to their own scrumhalf. The opposing team will try to wrestle the ball away or tie it up in the maul. A maul differs from a ruck in that the ball is up off the ground and players can use their hands to fight for the ball.

4. LINEOUT - when the ball is kicked, carried, or passed out of bounds ("into touch" - in rugby terminology) the ball is put back into play through a lineout. Forwards from each team line up parallel to each other, five meters from the touch line. Usually, one or more member of each team will jump (with the support of a couple of teammates) and a member of the team who has possession of the ball (determined by who, where, and when the ball went into touch) will stand behind the touch line and throw the ball into the middle of the tunnel formed by the two teams. Once possession of the ball is won, the scrumhalf (who stands just back from the line of her teammates) will pass it out to the backs.

5. KNOCK ON - when the ball travels forward off the hands of a player.

6. FORWARD PASS - a pass received by a teammate in front of the ball carrier

7. OFFSIDE - there are laws regarding where a player can be in relation to the play of the ball. In general, players need to be behind the ball. During rucks and mauls, players not involved must remain behind the last foot of the ruck or maul. A player is also offside if she receives the ball (either a pass or kick) from a teammate behind her on the field.

8. SHEARING - interfering with an opponent who is trying to tackle the ball carrier.

9. NOT IN STRAIGHT - during either the scrum or the line-out, the player putting the ball into play must not give her team an advantage by throwing the ball toward her own side.

10. PLAYING THE BALL ON THE GROUND - when a player is tackled or takes the ball to the ground she must release it immediately and cannot play the ball again until she regains her feet. (Back to top)