Since you are looking for the rugby rules, let me tell you that Rugby was born by breaking the rules of a game. Ironic, isn’t it? The sport has been one of the most thrilling of all sports out there. It is just as physical as a sport can get.
The Rugby world cup is the main attraction of the game. But also the Tri-Nations games that include Africa, New Zealand, and Australia is also interesting. Six Nations and the Heineken Cup are some other tournaments that leave the fans waiting throughout the years.
But, if you want to know about this game or even learn to play it, then knowing the rules of Rugby is essential. So, without any delay, let me help you learn the basic rules of Rugby.
What Goes In Rugby?
I understand that you already have a basic idea of what Rugby is. However, it would help to know the objective of the game. The goal is very simple and similar to that of soccer. Each team has 80 minutes appointed to them. They have to score more points than their opponents during the allotted time.
‣ How To Play Rugby?
The team that has the ball has to move the ball in the “phases of play.” The players cannot pass the ball forward. But they have to run with the ball or kick it forward and chase it down. The defending team has to stop the attacking team by tackling the situation and getting hold of the ball.
Players And Field
Players and the equipment needed for playing may not be counted as rugby rules. But they are still integral parts of the game. The teams in the game are split into two groups called the forward and the back.
‣ Rugby Players
Each team of Rugby has 15 players. 8 forwards in a team include Hooker, Second Row, Prop, Flanker, and Number Eight. In the group of the back, there are Fly Half, Scrum Half, Outside Centre, Inside Centre, Wingers, and Full Back. The backs are 7 members in total.
‣ Rugby Pitch
There are three sections of the pitch. The playing area must not extend the limit beyond 100 meters. There are also two goal areas that should limit to 10 to 20 meters. The goal posts in Rugby are in the shape of the letter H. They can be roughly 5 meters to 6 meters apart.
‣ Rugby Equipments
The equipment for rugby game include –
- Gum Shields
- Head Guards
- Shoulder Pads
- Shin Pads
Both teams have to wear the same colored jersey, socks, and shorts. The equipment and the team divisions are the essential parts of rugby rules.
Rugby Scoring Rules
There are different ways of earning points in Rugby. Here are the rules for scoring in Rugby –
- When a player places the ball in the dead ball area of their opponents, they get a try as a reward.
- After a trial, the team wins a free kick. It is called a conversion, and it helps the team earn 2 points in bonus. When a kick passes through the upper post and the top bar, it is called a successful kick.
- If the opposite team causes any infringement, the other team gets a penalty kick. The penalty kick helps a team earn 3 points.
- A team can kick a drop ball if the ball drops out of hand and bounces first. The team kicking a drop Balkan earn 3 points through it.
Rugby Rules Explained
What are the rules of Rugby? Here is a complete list of rugby rules for dummies you were looking for –
- The players must pitch the ball back to their teammates. They can pitch the ball as many times as they can.
- No blocking is there to assist the runner.
- All the players ran with the ball and tackled the players more than 20 times in the game.
- The game has no pausing time. It will end only after 80 minutes.
- While starting the game, the teams can have 15 players and keep 7 substitutes. The pitch of the game can be only 100 meters long and only 70 meters wide. The dead ball area needs to be 10 meters, and the goal shaped like H needs to be 16 meters.
- There are several markings in the field. Half way line, 5-meter line, 10-meter line, 22-meter line, and dead ball line. There is also a center spot in the game, helping to restart the game after a try, a drop, or a penalty.
- There must be a referee and 2 touch judges. The referee keeps track of the time. The touch judges help the referee and notify when the players are in touch.
- The game can stop under some conditions when – the ball goes out of play, a player is fouled, or when a team scores a drop goal.
- The defending team has to tackle their opponent team players. They have to grab hold and pull their opponent to the floor. Tackles made above shoulder height are considered foul by the referee. It is among the common rugby rules players need to follow.
- One of the most important rugby rules is for the attacking players to stay active and behind the ball. They have to keep running and avoid all the risks of being marked as offside.
- The plates that are not interfering with the game can stay in front of the ball. But, they have to get behind the ball before interfering with the game again.
Final Words
The rugby game started in a very funny way. While playing soccer, in 1823, William Webb Ellis used his hands and picked up a soccer ball during a match. He ran with it to the goal. That is how Rugby was born. Although it started in a surprising way, the Rugby has some strict rules and a very systematic way of playing. It is one of the most enjoyed games in the world.
Here I have talked about all the rugby rules in detail. I hope that you will find this article helpful. In case there are other queries, you can ask questions in the comment section.
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