New Players Encouraged to Come Out

Rugby 101

Lengh Of Game

An International game of rugby is two 40 minutes halves with a five minute on-field half-time break.

The officials

There is one referee in charge of the game. There are two linesmen (touch judges)who help by indicating when the ball is "in touch" (off the field of play).

Understanding the game of Rugby

Rugby is one of the world's most popular sports. The game takes its name form the well-known English school, Rugby, where it all started in 1823. Rugby is fast and exciting, but for a spectator who is new to the game the rules may be rather confusing at first. Hopefully, the following points will add to your understanding and enjoyment of the game.

How Rugby differs from Americain Football

To a new fan there are several basic differences to keep in mind between Rugby and American football:
       1) Neither side ever has undisputed possession of the ball. Since you're never sure which team will come out of a play with possession, little use can be made of planned plays by comparison to American Football. So it's a game of fast-thinking and constant improvisations.
       2) Forward passing is not allowed. You can gain ground only by running with the ball or kicking.
       3) A tackle does not end a play, so the action is more continuous.
       4) There are no offensive of defensive squads. It is a great test of stamina. Some replacements are allowed for injury, and some substitution at junior level.
       5) The shoulder-to-shoulder shoving in Rugby is a real test of strength, but there is usually not the violent bodily contact of its North American cousin football.
       6) The game has two halves of 40 minutes each, but no "quarters".
       7) The ball is oval, but larger and heavier than an American Football.

Object Of the Game

To out score the opposition by compiling points scored by:
Try: 5 points. Unlike a 6 point touchdown in American Football, but the player must touch the ball to the ground on or over the goal line.

Conversion: 2 points. A place kick or drop kick (the ball touches the ground before the kicker's boot touches it) after a try, take from a point along a line at right angles to the goal line form the spot at which the try was scored. The ball must go over the bar and between the uprights to score.

Penalty Goal: 3 points. A free kick over the bar. The penalty kick for goal can be a place kick or a drop kick.

Drop Kick: 3 points. A drop kick over the bar that can be kicked by any player at any time during the course of play.

Penalty Try: 5 points: Awarded at the referee's discretion, usually when the defending team illegally interferes with play causing the attackers to miss a certain try.

Features of the Game

Kick-offs: These occur at the beginning of the game; to start the second half; and after each score.
Note: After a score the team score on kicks off.

Scrummage(scrum): The forwards from the 2 team bind together after a minor infringement, leaving a tunnel between the two "Packs" of forwards. The ball is put into the scrum between the opposing "Front Rows". Using feet only, the ball is moved backwards through the "Pack" and is then picked up and passed to the backs.

Passing: All Rugby passes must be to the side or backwards. They can never be forward (as in football).
Tackle: Only a player carrying the ball can be tackled. There is no blocking allowed (interference). A tackle must not be high (around or above shoulders) or dangerous (roll blocks etc.). To be tackled a player must be brought to the ground and held there.

Options of tackled players:

a) A player can try to stay on his feet and wait for his players to arrive and help get the ball moving. This is called a "Maul".

b) If brought to the ground a player must release the ball. He can do this by quickly passing the ball, or by placing it on the ground behind him. The hope is that his team will be able to push the other team off the ball. This is called a "Ruck".

Line out: When the ball goes out of bound over the side line (in touch) the game restart with a line-out.Both the sets of forwards line up at right angles to the touch line and the ball is thrown between the 2 lines of players.

Touch down: No, this is not football! A touch down occurs when a player touches down the ball in his own in-goal area.The game then restarts by either:

a) A drop kick from the defending team 22 metre line (if the opposition took the ball into the in-goal area).

b) A 5 metre scrummage awarded to the attacking team (if the defending team took the ball into its own in-goal area).

Laws of the Game

Here are some of the major laws of Rugby to watch for...

Forward Pass or Knock-On:If the ball is accidentally thrown forward, dropped forward, of knocked forward on to the ground, a scrum is awarded to the other team unless they have already gained an advantage from the play.

Tackling: Only the ball carrier may be tackled. No blocking is allowed. After a tackle a player must release the ball.

Off-Side: A player may not touch the ball or block an opponent if he is standing forward of a kicker on his own team. If he does, a penalty is awarded to the opposition.

Infractions: Minor infractions of the laws generally result in a set scrum being awarded to the other side. Major infractions are followed by a penalty kick or a free kick.

How the ball gets into play? Besides the scrum there are various other ways the ball gets into play after a halt in the action:

Kick-Off: Place kick at start of game, half-time, and after a score.

Line-Out: If a player runs or kicks the ball out of play over the sidelines, the opposing team throws it in between two parallel lines of forwards, who jump to gain possession. The ball must be thrown in straight, between the two lines.

Drop-Out A drop kick from the 22 metre line after the ball goes out of play in the end zone.

The Picth (Field)

The field that rugby is played on is called a pitch. The pitch is expected to be 100 metres long by 69 metres wide. The sidelines are called touchlines and there are two in-goal areas, which are expected to be 10 to 22 metres deep with a tryline marking the front and a dead ball line at the back. The goal posts are located on the try line and are 5.6 metres apart with a crossbar set at 3 metres. The height of the posts varies according to the club's wishes.

Other important lines on the pitch include the half way mark at 50 metres. A dashed 10 metre line set each side of the 50 metre line, which is used to judge kickoffs, and a solid 22 metre line marked 22 metres from each tryline. Other lines include two dashed lines set at 5 and 15 metres marked parallel to each touchline. These lines are used mostly to identify the zones for lineouts.

Rugby union is played in different variations depending on the number of players on the field for each team. The typical game is played with fifteen players per side and lasts 80 minutes, with 40 minutes being played in each half. An abridged version is also very popular but is played with seven players per team over two seven minute halves. A less often played version is called tens and is played with ten players per side.

The Scrum

To the beginner, one of the most baffling aspects of Rugby is the scrummage. The 16 forwards, 8 from each team, bind together in a packed shoving mass. The object of the set scrum is to get play started after a stoppage for a minor infraction. The ball is put into the tunnel between the opposing packs of forwards by the scrum half. The player in the middle of the front row, the "hooker", attempts of heel the ball to his backs standing behind the scrum to start a new running play.

The Players

There are 15 players per team - 8 are forwards and 7 are backs. Teams in a fifteens match will consist of two groups of players, the forwards and the backs. Each position has a specific number and responsibilities during the two 40 minutes halves of a match. The players are as follows:

#1 Prop:(loosehead) Responsibilities are to support the hooker during scrums and 2nd rows during lineouts.

#2 Hooker: the frontrow forward wearing No. 2. The player is supported on either side in the scrum by props and is required to gain possession of the ball in the scrum by hooking or blocking the ball with one of his/her feet. The hooker will normally also be the forward throwing the ball into the lineout.

#3 Prop: (tighthead) Responsibilities are to support the hooker during scrums and 2nd rows during lineouts.

#4 & #5 - Lock: either of the two forwards normally wearing No. 4 and No. 5. Typically the largest players on the field, they have primary responsibility for being the power in scrums and securing the ball in lineouts. Due to their size, they are also normally powerful forces in all loose play, rucks, and mauls. Also known as Second Row.

#6 & #7 - Flanker: either of the two forwards wearing No. 6 or No. 7. Also called wing forwards or breakaways they bind to the scrum outside of the locks just behind the outside hip of the props. They can play always on the same side of the scrum or can specialize on either the weakside or strongside. The players with the fewest set responsibilities, their job is to aggressively pursue the ball, gain possession, and take off running. Also known as Breakaway Forward.

#8 Number - 8: the forward who wears the jersey with the No. 8. This player binds into the scrum normally at the very base between the two locks. His/her responsibility is to initiate attacks by the forwards from scrums or to provide a stable ball from the scrum for the scrumhalf.

#9 Scrumhalf: the back wearing No. 9 who normally feeds the ball into a scrum and retrieves the ball at the base of scrums, rucks, and mauls. Can also be called the halfback.

#10 Flyhalf: the back wearing No. 10 who normally receives the ball from the scrumhalf. Also called the Outhalf, Outside half or 1st 5/8th, he/she will call plays for the backline, pass the ball to other backs, or provide most of the tactical kicks.

#11 & #14 - Wing: either of the two backs wearing No. 11 or No. 14. Each will normally stay on the same side of the back line they are on throughout the match and are typically expected to be the fastest sprinters in the side. Wingers also have key duties during defense helping the fullback cover kicks and counterattacking.

#12 & #13 - Centre: either of the backs wearing No. 12 (inside) or No. 13 (outside). Powerful runners who are the heart of the back running attack and defense. The inside centre can also be called the 2nd 5/8th.

#15 Fullback: the back wearing No. 15 who normally plays deep behind the backline. In offense the fullback is a dangerous attacking position hitting holes unexpectedly at pace, in defense the fullback has primary responsibility for covering all tactical kicks down field by the opposition.

Forwards:
the group of players normally numbered 1 through 8 who bind together into scrums, lineup for lineouts, and commit themselves to most rucks and mauls.

Backs:
the group of players normally numbered 9 through 15 who do not participate in scrums and lineouts, except for the scrumhalf.

© 2012 Greenville Griffins Rugby Football Club