The basic skills you use are described on this page, followed by a glossary of rugby terms.

Techniques

When running with the ball, keep it close to your chest. If you are going to be tackled, release the ball first if you can. Good rugby players can 'dummy' an opponent by making him think they are going one way then swerve to go the other way.

Passing and Catching

Passing and Catching the ball are vital skills. As you run towards your opponents' in-goal area, you should try to pass the ball if you are going to be tackled. You should also pass the ball to give someone in a good position the opportunity to score. You can pass to the right or the left or behind. Forward passes aren't allowed.

It isn't easy to catch the oval-shaped ball. You need to keep your eye on the ball all the time as you run onto it.

Kicking

Kicking the ball is probably one of the hardest skills to learn. There are three types of kicks used in a game - the place-kick, the drop-kick and the punt.

Place-kicks are used to kick at goal. Drop-kicks are used during play to move the ball up the field or to kick at goal for a drop goal. The ball must touch the ground before it is kicked. A punt is similar to a drop kick but the ball doesn't touch the ground before it is kicked. Punt kicks are not allowed when aiming for goal.

Tackling

Tackles are made to stop an opponent with the ball from moving towards your in-goal area. There are four types of tackles - head-on, side-on, smother and the tackle from behind. Good timing is important.

Terminology

Blind Side
The opposite side of the field to the backs in a scrum, line-out, ruck or maul

Charge Down
Blocking an opponents kick

Conversion
A successful goal kick following a try; worth 2 points

Dead Ball
The ball is out of play

Dribbling
Kicking the ball along the ground

Drop-Kick
Dropping the ball during play and kicking it when it touches the ground

Dropped Goal
A goal scored from a drop-kick worth 3 points

Drop-Out
Restarting play from the 22m. or half-way line with a drop-kick

Dummy
Pretending to pass the ball and swerving to avoid the tackle

Fair Catch
A player standing still with both feet on the ground, catches the ball from a kick or knock-on inside his own 22m. line and shouts 'Mark' to claim the catch

Flankers
The two fastest forwards also called wing forwards

Fly-Half
The link player between the scrum-half and the backs, also known as the outside-half.

Forward Pass
An illegal pass or throw forward

Free Kick
Awarded to players claiming a fair catch, or to the non-offending team following certain offences during the game

Front Row
The three forwards who make up the front row of the scrum

Full Back
The player who is the last line of defence

Garryowen
A rugby move known as an 'up and under' named after a famous Irish club

Goal
Scored after a successful kick at goal following a try worth 2 points . See also Conversion

Half Backs
The scrum-half and fly-half

Hooker
The forward in the middle of the front line of the scrum; the hooker tries to hook the ball out of a scrum with his foot

Kick Off
The start of each half taken from the half-way line. Kick-offs are also taken after a team has scored a goal.

Knock-On
An infringement of the rules; a player knocks the ball forward with his arm or hand and the ball bounces.

Line-Out
The game restarts with a line-out when the ball goes out of play over the touch-line. The ball is thrown in between two lines of opposing forwards who stand parallel to the touch line

Loose-Head Prop
The prop forward who is nearest to where the ball is 'put in' in a scrum

Mark
The place where a free kick or penalty kick is given (See also Fair Catch)

Maul
A group of players from both teams gather around a player with the ball; if the ball drops to the ground it is called a 'Ruck'.

Offside
Offside is given if a player is in front of the ball when it is kicked, touched or carried by one of his team

Outside Half
See Fly-Half

Overlap
There are more players attacking than defending

Pack
The forwards or the scrum

Penalty Goal
Scored from a penalty kick worth 3 points

Penalty Kick
Awarded when there is an infringement of the rules. The attacking team can kick for goal if close enough

Penalty Try
Awarded by the referee if the opposition infringes the rules to stop a player from making a try; worth 5 points

Place Kick
Kicking a ball placed on the ground

Prop forwards
Two front row forwards, either side of the hooker

Punt
The ball is kicked before it touches the ground

Replacement
Substitute

Round the Corner Kick
The flight of the ball is curved after the kick

Ruck
See 'Maul'

Scrum
Awarded by the referee following an infringement of the rules. The forwards from one team lock arms with the forwards from the opposing team. When their heads are facing down looking into the 'scrum', the scrum-half puts the ball into the scrum and waits for his forwards to try to get it out to him. The opposing forwards try to get to ball to their scrum-half. The forwards are only allowed to use their feet

Scrum-Half
The link player between the forwards and the backs

Second Row
Two forwards who make up the second row

Set-Pieces
Scrums and line-outs

Tackle
Stop an opponent from running with the ball

Tap Kick
A short kick made by a player to himself

Three Quarters
The two centres and the two wingers

Throw Forward
See Forward Pass

Tight-Head Prop
The player on the opposite side of the scrum from the loose-head prop

Touch Down
A player grounds the ball down in his own in-goal area. It does not count as a try

Touch-In-Goal
The ball goes out of play behind the goal line

Touch Lines
The lines down either side of the pitch.

Try
A player grounds the ball in the opposition's in-goal area to score 5 points

Up and Under
A high kick forward giving the attackers a chance to run onto the ball and score a try

Wing Forwards
See Flankers

Wing Three Quarters
The two outside backs