So what are the origins of the game and how is it played today?
A Brief History
1823: William Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby School, picked up the football during a soccer match and ran with it. It was decided to call this version of football 'rugby football'.1846: The first rules were drawn up at Rugby.
1848: An alternative set of rules was formed at Cambridge.
1851: An oval shaped 'Rugby School football' was introduced.
1863: The Rugby Football Association was established. The Association adopted the Cambridge Rules as the basis for the game.
1871: The first England - Scotland international (20-a-side) took place at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh.
1884: The first Home International Championship was contested between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
1895: A major split developed in the sport resulting in two sports - Rugby Union and Rugby League.
1910: France joined the home nations for the first Five Nations Tournament.
1971: The RFU (Rugby Football Union), launched a knockout cup competition for English club sides. Wales introduced one for the Welsh sides.
1987: The first World Cup was held.
[See Information: Links for a more detailed history]
Playing the Game
Rugby is a physical game that demands strength, fitness and stamina from its players. The Field of Play
The playing area consists of a pitch and two goals.
Pitch
The pitch is rectangular playing area, usually grassed, with a maximum width of 69m and a maximum length of 100m. There are touchlines at each side and goal lines at each end. Behind the goal line, the pitch extends 22m to the dead ball line. The area between the goal line and the dead ball line is the in-goal area. Pitch markings include the halfway line, two 22 metre lines (22m from each goal line) and two 5metre lines (5m from each goal line).
Goals
There are goals at either end of the field, placed centrally on the goal line. Each goal has two uprights, 5.6m. apart that are connected by a horizontal crossbar 3m. above the ground.
Teams and Positions
There are 15 players in each team - 8 forwards and 7 backs.
(Other versions of rugby have fewer players in a team. Sevens is a fast moving game played on a full size pitch with 7-a-side teams. Play lasts 14 minutes - 7 minutes each way. Major finals last 20 minutes - 10 minutes each way. See Information: Links for details of the World 7s. )
Forwards: The forward line includes a hooker, two props, two flanks, two locks and a no. 8. It is their job to get possession of the ball, using various tactics or set pieces. Forwards tend to be the bigger and physically stronger players in a team.
Backs: The backs include a scrum-half, an outside-half, a right and left wing, a right and left centre and a full-back. It is their job to create running moves with the ball. The scrum-half acts as a link between the backs and the forwards.
All the players need to be able to handle and pass the ball well.
Officials
A referee controls the game. He is helped by two touch-judges, one on each touch line, (sideline), who follow the game and assist the referee to make decisions.
Playing the game
The game is played with a rugby ball and the object of the game is to score points. The team with the most points wins. Games last 80 minutes - 40 minutes each half. (Junior rugby matches usually last less than 80 minutes). There is a short break at half time but the teams do not leave the field. Teams change ends (aim for the opposite goal) after half time.
During the game, there are set pieces and moves - scrums, line-outs, running, passing and kicking. [See On the Field] Teams try different moves and tactics in an effort to score.
Scoring
There are four ways of scoring:
A Try - scores 5 points
A Goal after a try - scores 2 points
A Penalty Kick - scores 3 points
A Dropped Goal - scores 3 points
A Try
This is scored when a player touches the ground with the ball in the opposition's in-goal area (between the goal line and the dead ball line). The player must have his hands, arms or upper body in contact with the ball.
The referee can give a penalty try worth five points if the opposition breaks the rules to stop a player from making a try.
A Goal after a try
After a try has been scored, the successful team can kick for goal. Kicks are taken from various angles near to the goal. The exact position depends where in the in-goal area the try was scored. Goals are scored when the ball passes between the two upright posts and over the horizontal bar.
Penalty kick
If a team infringes or breaks the rules, then the referee can award a penalty kick to opposition. A nominated goal kicker takes this and if he is within kicking distance of the goal he usually tries to score.
Dropped goal
During play, players can attempt a kick at goal using a drop kick.
Competitive Rugby Union
Competitive matches are held at school, club, county, national and international level for different age groups.
Schools
At primary schools and some secondary schools, teams play mini rugby (9-a-side). The season for mini rugby lasts from 1st September to the 30th April. Mini rugby is seen as an introduction to the 15-a-side game that is usually introduced at the secondary school stage.
The England Rugby Football Schools Union (ERFSU) runs the only national school sports competition - the Rugby Schools' Cup - at U18 and U15 levels. The ERFSU also run Age Group internationals, overseas tours, Divisional matches and County matches.
Local clubs
Most clubs have more than one team so there are opportunities for you to join as a junior. Some clubs are involved in mini and midi rugby (9-a-side) leagues. As you get older, and your game improves, you can progress to the higher-ranking junior teams - U13s to U16s (15-a-side). There are Colts teams for U17s and U19s, and U21s or Senior XVs for older members.
The RFU has over 2,000 member and affiliated clubs, with more than 10,000 teams playing across all age ranges. There is a comprehensive league structure and cup competitions for all clubs.
National Teams and Competitions
International games have been popular for over a hundred years. Some sides such as the England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa are considered major rugby nations. Other countries that field national sides include Argentina, Canada, Fiji, Italy, Japan, Romania, Tonga, USA and Western Samoa.
Some teams are known by their nicknames. New Zealand are called the All Blacks because of their black shirts, the South Africans on tour are known as the Springboks, and a touring team from the British Isles made up of players from all the Home Nations are known as the British Lions.
Major Tournaments include:
- The World Cup
- The Five Nations
- County Championships
- Knock-Out Club Championships
Governing Bodies
The Rugby Football Union based at Twickenham oversees the game in England. There are comparable organisations in Scotland Wales and Ireland.
[For information about governing bodies and rugby organisations, see Information: Organisations]
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