Rugby Rules Explained with San Diego Legion Rugby
What Are the Rules of Rugby?
The basic rules of rugby for beginners will help you understand how the game is played:
Objective: The goal is to score more points than the opponent. Points can be scored through tries, conversions, penalty kicks, and drop goals.
Tries: A try, worth five points, is scored by touching the ball down in the opponent's in-goal area.
Conversions: After scoring a try, the team earns the right to attempt a conversion kick for an additional two points.
Penalty Kicks and Drop Goals: Teams can score points through penalty kicks ( 3 points) and drop goals (3 points) during open play.
Passing: The ball can only be passed laterally or backward; forward passes are not allowed.
Tackling: Players can tackle an opponent to stop their progress, but high tackles, above the shoulders, are illegal.
Rucks and Mauls: When a player is tackled and the ball is on the ground, a ruck is formed. Players must bind together and attempt to push the opposing team off the ball. In a maul, the ball carrier is held up by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball carrier's teammates bind on the ball carrier. Both sides try to push the maul towards the goal line.
Offside: Players must stay behind the ball to participate in play. Being in front of the ball when it is played makes a player offside, and they cannot participate in the game until they return to an onside position.
Scrum: A scrum is used to restart play after certain minor infractions. It involves eight players from each team who bind together and push against the other team to try to gain possession of the ball, which is thrown into the middle of the scrum.
Lineout: A lineout restarts play after the ball has gone out of bounds. Players from each team line up a meter apart, and a player from one team throws the ball down the corridor formed by the players standing in lines.
How Many People Are on a Rugby Team?
A rugby team has 15 players when playing the traditional format of the game, known as rugby union. The team is divided into two main groups: the forwards, 1-8 players, and the backs, 9-15 players. Each has a specific role.
What Are the Positions in Rugby?
Rugby positions are divided into two groups: forwards and backs. Forwards are focused on strength and possession, and the backs on speed and strategy.
Forwards:
Prop (1 and 3): Two props anchor the scrum and are involved in close contact situations, requiring strength and endurance.
Hooker (2): Positioned between the props in the scrum, the hooker uses their feet to 'hook' the ball back to their team.
Second Row (4 and 5): Also known as locks, these players are tall and powerful, crucial for winning lineouts and adding weight to scrums.
Flanker (6 and 7): These players are fast and aggressive, playing on the sides of the scrum and often first to the breakdown.
Number 8 (8): Positioned at the back of the scrum, this player picks up the ball from the base and links the forwards and backs during play.
Backs:
Scrum-Half (9): Acts as the link between the forwards and backs, distributing the ball from the base of the scrum, rucks, and mauls.
Fly-Half (10): Directs the team's attack by making tactical decisions, kicking, and passing.
Centres (12 and 13): Strong runners with robust defensive skills, involved in both attacking and defending.
Wings (11 and 14): Positioned on the outer edges of the line-up, known for their speed and finishing skills.
Fullback (15): The last line of defense, often involved in counterattacks and responsible for fielding opposition kicks.
What Are Commonly Used Rugby Terms?
Rugby terms are important for understanding gameplay:
Try: Scoring move by grounding the ball in the opponent's in-goal, worth five points.
Conversion: A two-point kick following a try.
Penalty Kick: Three-point kick awarded for opposition infringements.
Drop Goal: Three points scored by kicking the ball through the uprights after it touches the ground.
Scrum: Restart involving players competing for the ball in a tight formation.
Lineout: Restart with players lining up to catch the ball thrown from the sideline.
Ruck: Contest for the ball with players on their feet around the ball on the ground.
Maul: Like a ruck, but with the ball off the ground and players bound together.
Offside: Positional fault when a player is in front of the ball carrier.
Tackle: Act of bringing down the ball carrier to the ground.
How Does Scoring Work in Rugby?
In rugby, scoring occurs through tries, where a player touches the ball down in the opponent's in-goal area for five points. After a try, a team may attempt a conversion kick for an additional two points. Teams can also earn three points from penalty kicks, awarded for opponent infringements, or drop goals scored during open play by kicking the ball through the goalposts after it rebounds off the ground. These scoring methods form the strategic backbone of rugby, influencing how teams approach offense and defense.
What Is the Offside Rule in Rugby?
In rugby, the offside rule maintains fair play and ensures the flow of the game. A player is offside if they’re in front of a teammate carrying the ball or in front of a teammate who last played the ball. This means the player is closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball and the teammate who last played it. Being offside prohibits the player from participating in the game until they return to an onside position, which involves retreating behind the ball or having the ball or a player carrying the ball past them.
Rucks, mauls, scrums, and lineouts, have offside lines:
Rucks and Mauls: Players must stay behind the hindmost foot of the last teammate bound to the ruck or maul.
Scrums: For players not in the scrum, they must remain behind the hindmost foot of the last player in the scrum.
Lineouts: Players not involved in the lineout must stay 10 meters back from the lineout until it has ended.
Violating these offside rules results in a penalty against the offending player's team, which provides the opposing team with a territorial advantage or a scoring opportunity. Understanding and adhering to the offside rule is essential for strategic play in rugby.
How Big Is a Rugby Field?
A rugby field, also known as a rugby pitch, follows regulated dimensions. The field must be rectangular, with a maximum length of 100 meters (109.36 yards) and a width of no more than 70 meters (76.55 yards). These measurements don’t include in-goal areas, which are between 10 meters (10.93 yards) and 22 meters (24.06 yards) deep at each end of the field. The total length of the pitch, including in-goal areas, ranges from 120 meters (131.23 yards) to 144 meters (157.48 yards). The field is marked with lines indicating the halfway point, the 22-meter lines, and the try lines, which separate in-goal areas from the rest of the playing field. These dimensions and markings ensure proper conduct of the game, ensuring uniformity across matches and venues.
How Long Is a Rugby Game?
A standard rugby match is divided into two halves, of 40 minutes each, making total playing time 80 minutes. Between the two halves, is a halftime break, usually 10 to 15 minutes.
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For additional information about rugby, visit: https://sdlegion.com/rugby-101
