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Rugby 101
Length of Game
An International game of rugby is two 40 minutes halves
with a five minute on-field half-time break.
The Players
There are 15 players per team - 8 are forwards and 7 are backs.
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 American 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 PITCH AND PLAYERS
The Pitch
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
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.
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