Learn

History

Legend has it that rugby as we know it started in 1823 at Rugby School in England when William Webb Ellis picked up a soccer ball and ran it into the goal. Out of that day game the great game of rugby and all of it's forms that we play today.

15s Rugby

The most popular form of rugby played is 15s rugby. This is played with 15 players per side. The game is 80 minutes long (60 for U19/HS). The game is played on a pitch 100M long by 70M wide. The ball may only be passed backward or kicked forward and there is no blocking allowed. Play is continuous, even after a tackle, and is only reset after a penalty or other stoppage of play.

Scoring

Try (5 pts) - A try is scored when the offensive team touches the ball to the ground in the try zone.

Conversion (2 pts) - Where the ball is touched down matters in rugby. A conversion is taken in line with where the ball was touched down, which is why you often see players try to center the ball when they score

Drop Goal (3 pts) - At any point a player can attempt a drop goal worth 3 points. This is very rare (especially in HS).

Penalty Kick (3 pts) - A team can choose to take a chance at goal after a penalty.

Positions

A rugby team is split into 2 groups: forwards and backs. A player's number tells you what position they are playing. The forwards are usually bigger, stronger players, while the backs are normally faster and fitter. There's a good natured competition between the two groups.

Forwards

  1. Loosehead Prop

  2. Hooker

  3. Tighthead Prop

  4. Lock (Second Row)

  5. Lock (Second Row)

  6. Flanker

  7. Flanker

  8. No. 8

Backs

9. Scrumhalf
10. Flyhalf
11. Wing
12. Inside Center
13. Outside Center
14. Wing
15. Fullback

Terms

Scrum - Used to restart the game after a minor law violation. Two groups of forwards will bind together to form a tunnel. The non-offending team will roll the ball into the scrum, where the offensive team will try and move the ball to the back row of players and reintroduced to play.

Lineout - Used to restart the game when the ball goes into touch (out of bounds). Both teams will line up and the offensive team throws the ball down the tunnel where players are often lifted into the air to gain possession.

Set Piece - Used to describe scrums and lineouts.

Tackle - A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to ground. To maintain the continuity of the game, the ball carrier must release the ball immediately after the tackle, the tackler must release the ball carrier and both players must roll away from the ball. This allows other players to come in and contest for the ball, thereby starting a new phase of play.

Ruck - A ruck is formed when a player is tackled to the ground. Support players from both teams are able to contest for the ball while the tackled player will try and place the ball back to his side. Players must not handle the ball in the ruck, and must use their feet to move the ball or drive over it so that it emerges at the team’s hindmost foot, at which point it can be picked up.

Maul - A maul is formed when the ball carrier is held up, not tackled, and joined by his own team to drive the ball forward.

Forward Pass - Any pass that is passed forward. Results a scrum to the opposing team.

Knock On - Any pass that is accidentally hit or dropped forward. Results in a scrum to the opposing team.

Offsides - One of the more complicated laws to understand, most of the time the ball creates an offside line. At the breakdown or tackle, the offside line is the last foot (body part) of the ruck/tackle.

Penalty Kick - Awarded after more serious law infringement. Offending team must retreat 10M and the opposing team will either a.) kick the ball down field to touch for field advantage, b.) kick at the goal posts for 3 points, or c.) quickly tap the ball and run with it.

Free Kick - Awarded for minor infringements. This is a quick tap penalty. Can not be used to take a shot at goal.