Explain Rugby

Can someone explain the game of rugby to me? I’ve seen a couple games on television recently, but I don’t really know what’s going on. Can someone give me a basic rundown of the game (in terms that a dumb American can understand :)), maybe relating it to soccer or american football (games I know)?

It’s kinda like a cross between hockey, but they have Aussie accents rather than Canadian accents. It’s kinda like football, but without all the girlie pads.

Other than that, you’re on your own. I don’t really understand the rules either.

Here ya go:

http://www.uidaho.edu/clubs/womens_rugby/RugbyRoot/

Beer + Large people running into each other. That pretty well sums it up.

I googled up the rules for you.

Basically you advance the ball down the field with the objective of downing the ball over the opponent’s goal (or kicking it though the opponents goal posts). Exchanges of the ball to teammates must always be the result of pitches behind an imaginary lateral line passing through you, except in the case of a kick, in which case the ball may be propelled forward, but onside rules still dictate that all players must be behind the ball up to the point it was last played by a teammate.

Play does not stop for tackles or exchanges of possession. If the opposing team catches you with the ball, prepared to be rucked over.

clayton_e: not especially large… it’s more of a speed and agility contest than brute force. I was never more than 180lbs when playing, though I played the flank and wing positions.

Well, the critical thing to understand in rugby is that it’s a lot like football except for one big difference: you can never pass the ball forward. You can run it forward, but if you need to pass the ball (because, say, someone from the other team is gonna tackle you) you have to pass it to someone who is behind you as opposed to ahead of you. Obviously you don’t throw it straight back–ideally your teammate is off to the side and only a little bit further back from you.

Watching rugby played well is like watching music. A whole line of guys running in a stepped-back formation, passing the ball down as they run, each one throwing a little behind him… sigh

Also, the clock never stops. It might stop if a player is actually dead on the field, but even then I’m pretty sure that it has to be with a cracked skull and brain matter actually visibly leaking out before they will really stop the clock. None of this sitting around waiting for people to get their act together and line up or tip off or drop the puck.

(1) Passing the ball to a team-mate has to be done backwards. The only way to progress the ball forwards and hope to retain possession is to kick it. Touching the ball when you were in front of it (and other situations too obscure for the casual viewer to understand it) are ruled as offside.
(2) If the ball goes over the sideline, it is thrown in by the team that has the advantage (ie didn’t touch it last before it went over the sideline). The two teams make parallel lines of players and the ball is thrown in between the lines. Players jump for it to win possession. Recent laws make lifting your team-mates to get the ball legal, and are bad for the game in my opinion.
(3) A try is equivalent to a touchdown and is worth 5 points. However, the player has to force the ball onto the ground and retain control over it, so a player can cross the tryline, but further events prevent him scoring a try, eg dropping the ball, being tackled and held in a position so he cannot force the ball etc. A conversion for a try is taken from the field of play in line with where the try was scored, so the goalkicker could be kicking from the sidelie. A conversion is worth 2 points.
(4) A player in possession of the ball can be tackled. No other player can be tackled. Once tackled, and on the ground, he has to release the ball. He tries to make sure his side retains possession by moving the ball backwards to team-mates, who can run with the ball themselves. This tackle, pass, run combination is called a phase. The great thrill of rugby is when there is a succession of phases, each gaining some yardage or better position, that build the pressure on the defending team.
(5) For illegal plays, eg forward passes, high tackles, offside, the team awarded the penalty has a free kick. They can kick for the goalposts (penalty goal worth 3 points), they can kick for the sidelines to gain territory (if they kick from inside their own 22 yard line, they retain possession for the throw-in, or they can just try an up-and-under (a high kick forward, where they run after the ball and try to catch it to retain possession).
(6) The blight of the game, the scrum. For other situations where possession is contested (cant remember what), the forwards of the two teams bind together in two groups of 8 to contest the ball. The halfback feeds the ball into the tunnel between the two groups, and the hookers (the midle man in the front row) tries to get possession of the ball with their fet only. Ideally, the ball should go in straight so there is a fair contest, but the halfback always follows the letter of the law (the ball enters the scrum in the middle of the entrance to the tunnel) but not the spirit (the path of the ball is pointed to his hooker, so the team without the feed rarely wins the ball).
(7) A kick from the run of play that goes over the crossbar is called a field-goal, and is worth 3 points.
(8) Northern Hemisphere teams (eg England) believe the spirit of rugby is to wait until there is a downpour, put both teams in dark uniforms, get everyone muddy, grind your way up the field until you are in position, and wait for penalties or try for field goals. They believe the game is a shoot-out between goal kickers. ;^ )
Southern Hemisphere powers (South Africa, Australia, New Zeqaland) believe it is a running game, with the more tries, the better. Penalties are for quick kicks to try to catch the defence napping, make an overlap out wide and put the winger in at the corner for a(nother) try.

Which method is best?? Well, rugby has its own quadrennial World Cup competition, and the S.H. teams mentioned above hae won all of them.

A bunch of tough talented blokes do the hard work, and then some sawed off effeminate runt picks up the ball and scampers down field to touch, till he scores, gets tackled or there is a side out at which point the men go back to work.

As per Dinsdale – the girls pose on the wings and the boys get stuck in around the middle. That’s about it. Oh, if you end up on the ground, cover your head.

What CrankyAsAnOldMan said sigh oh and Jonah Lomu sigh Oh you mean the game oh yeah ummmm Springboks rule!

What do you mean no-body mentioned Rugby players legs?
Hey quit throwing things!

Yeah, except those little guys on the wings tend to get the living sh-t pummelled out of them because the opposition knows that they can make the game.

Oh, and I think guys like Cristen(sp?) Cullen and Jeff Wilson are immensely strong, they can often ward off numerous tackles from players much bigger than themselves.

OK yeah I’m a Kiwi. Poor Aussies aren’t doing too well at present are they?

Eh em. Seems some slow moving ruminants are upset that some others are capable of scoring on and off the field.

For those about to ruck, we salute you.

Ok, there have been some pretty good explainations, but I should point out that there are two different “codes”. The basic idea of the game is the same, but some things are slightly different. The two codes are known as rugby union and rugby league. The most easily recognisable difference is that league teams have 13 players and union teams have 15. The two extra players are in the forwards (also called “the pack”) <see below>

The Basics:
The object of the game is to touch the ball down across your opponents line or to kick the ball (either from the hands <drop goal> or when placed on the ground <penalty or conversion>).

The object is acheived by running with the ball and passing it to others on your team is you are about to be tackled. Progress can also be made by kicking the ball to either gain ground or put an opponent under pressure hoping that they fumble or miss the ball.

The teams consists of forwards and backs. The forwards are usually big (like linemen in American football) and the backs are usually smaller and quicker (note: this is not always the case, see Jonah Lomu as mentioned above, about 18 stone <255lbs> and lightening quick).

The forwards are used to run the ball up the middle of the pitch, directly at the opposition gaining yards the hard way. They also take part in “scrums” <see below> and in rugby union “lineouts” <see below>.

The backs are what are known as the skill players, passing the ball down the line (of players as the spread across the pitch) to find gaps in the defensive line.

Set plays happen when either the ball goes out of play or there is a penalty awarded.
The scrum occurs when a team is awarded a penalty for certain infringements (such as the opposition fumbling the ball). The two packs of forwards bind together to form a wedge shape, with the narrow edge to the back and the thick edge opposite each other. Then the two wedges bind together to form a sort of diamond shape and the ball is fed in between the two front rows (where the middle of the diamond is). Each time then has a designated player (the hooker, I kid you not) who hooks the ball back to his team mates using his feet.
The second set play happens only in rugby union when the ball goes out of play down the sidelines. Then a lineout occurs. The two packs of forwards line up parallel to each other, perpendicular to the sideline. The ball is then thrown down the middle of these two lines and they have to jump or are lifted to catch the ball and play resumes. This may not sound like a good way to win the ball, but if your team is throwing in, only you know where the guy is aiming, the front, middle or back of the line, thus you can time your jump to be at the maximum height when the ball arrives. Simple <g> Scrums and line out give both teams a chance to get the ball, but one team has a slightly better chance.

Tackling
After players are tackled, different things happen depending on what code you are watching. In league, you get 6 tackles to get the length of the field (from wherever you get the ball to the opponents goal line). After a player in tackled, they then get to their feet and play the ball back to one of their team mates who is stood behind them, who then passes it on (usually) and play continues. The tackler(s) must line up opposite the player with the ball and the defending team must retire 10 yards of to their own goal line when that is closer. Uusually when a team reaches their 5th tackle, they will kick the ball so that even though the opposition get the ball, they will get it as far into their own half as possible.
In rugby union, two things can happen after the tackle. A ruck or a maul is formed. When the player with the ball goes to ground, a ruck is formed. He must release the ball, but he will attempt to put it closer to his own teams mates (you may see a player getting takcled with his back to the opposition and laying the ball back as far away from his body, towards his own team mates, on the ground). Both teams then try to shove the other team off the ball, kind of like and impromptu scrum. The rules are that you must join the ruck from behind the rearmost foot of the back player on your side and that you can only free the ball using your feet (this is known as ‘rucking’ and is the only way to get opposition players who are on the wrong side out of the way). If I can just take a little detour here. The whole thing with sides depends on where the ball is. The ball consstitutes the centre line (just like in American football) and if you are infront of the ball, you become offside in ruck and maul situtations. This goes for the backs too, who will be lined up across the field while the forwards are battling for the ball. OK, back to the tackle. The other thing that happens in union is when a player is tackled, or held up, but stays on his feet. Then his team mates can join and attempt to push him and the ball further upfield. The opposition again will form up opposite and try to stop them. Offside become important here because when you are moving backwards, if you become detatched from the maul, you have to run all the way to the back in order to join again, which could be 10 yards further back then where you left. Good teams of forwards can set up a “rolling maul” where the ball is handed back from palyer to player and they move the maul to the left or right as well as going straight forwards. Sometimes two or three players from the attacking side with break off and change direction, shifting the focus of the attack.

Scoring occurs in two ways, running the ball over the line and touching it down or kicking it between the posts. In league, a try is worth 4, a penalty 2, a conversion 2 and a drop goal 1. In union, a try is worth 5, a penalty 3, a conversion 2 and a drop goal 3.
After a try is scored, a conversion is attempted (like and extra point). It is kicked the point where the ball was touched down (ie, if you score 5 yards in from the touch line, the ball is kicked from 5 yards in from the touch line, but it can be as far back from the post as you want (to give a better angle)). When a team is awarded a penalty for certain things, they are allowed to kick the ball. If they are too far away to kick it between the posts, they will kick it out of play down the side lines as far up field as possible and then get the ball back for the reusltant scrum or line out. A drop goal is where a player receives the ball (passed usually from one of his team mates) and kicks it between the posts. This is donw by dropping the ball and kicking it as it hits the ground, on the half volley. (AFAIK, this used to and still might be legal in American football too).

The players consist of forwards and backs, as I have mentioned.
The forwards. This is where the difference in the number of players in the two codes arises. The positions are
Prop forward: Usually short, stocky players who form part of the front row in the scrum. There are two per team
Hooker: As mentioned above, hooks the ball back in the scrum. There is only one per team and they bind between the two props to form the front row. Again, often short and stocky. They also throw the ball into the lineout in union.
Second row forward: League only, there are two who bind to form the second row (surprisingly enough).
Lock forward: Union only, form the second row. Usually tall so they can jump for the ball at lineouts.
Wing forwards: Union only, form part of the back row and bind on either side of the locks. Again, often quite tall and pretty quick.
back row forward: The final person in the srum, bind onto the back of the scrum. Tall and often good at handling the ball, usually pretty skillful.

The backs. Usually the quickest and most skillful players on the team.
Srcum half: One half of the half back pairing. Operates with the forwards, directing them, feeding the ball into the scrum and recovering it when it has been won. Links the backs and the forwards by passing the ball out after the forwards have gained ground.
Fly half or stand off half: Stands behind and to the side of the scrum half, is the play maker on the team usually.
Centre: There are two centres. They line up outside the fly half. They are impact players, quick and strong to try to break through the opposition’s back line
Wing three quaters: Line up on on either side of the field. These are the real pace men in the team. Their job is to get the ball and run around the opposition. Score most of the tries. Partly because they get over laps where players on the oppostion are drawn out of position towards the middle of the field and there is no one outside to mark the winger.
Full back: line up behind everyone else. The last line of defence. Sometimes come up into the line when his team are attacking to give them an extra player.

Below is my attempt at a diagram to demonstrate the positions.


         (PF)(H)(PF)
       (SR)(LF)(LF)(SR)
             (BR)

                  (SH)
   (W)
                           (FH)
                                   (C)
                                         (C)
                                                (W)

                      (FB)

This is a typical setup from a scrum. If you can imagine the same in a mirror image to show the oppostion. The winger (W) who is on the short side is on what is called the “blind side”. There are loads of other rules and regulations, but this is as much as anyone needs to know to appreciate the game. It prolly helps if you have seen it being played to understand what Ihave written.

That is the nitty gritty. As for the game itself, it is awesome to watch (especially cause the England rugby union team have been doing so well recently). To see a prop forward slipping the ball behind his back to his team mate, or a player who is lining someone up for a “hit” (tackle) and they just sidestep out of the way as if the tackler was not even there. To see a winger weaving between tacklers or haring off down the touchline to score under the posts, it is great. Of course, I have written this all as he and him, but women play rugby too. It is not as widely televised though, so it does not get the attention it deserves.

Well damn if this ain’t a long post.

I have too much time on my hands, I think.

Rick

Now, now. Take it easy. We’ve all had a drink… :wink:

Oh, and my money’s on what Rick said.

**
(8) Northern Hemisphere teams (eg England) believe the spirit of rugby is to wait until there is a downpour, put both teams in dark uniforms, get everyone muddy, grind your way up the field until you are in position, and wait for penalties or try for field goals. They believe the game is a shoot-out between goal kickers. ;^ )
Southern Hemisphere powers (South Africa, Australia, New Zeqaland) believe it is a running game, with the more tries, the better. Penalties are for quick kicks to try to catch the defence napping, make an overlap out wide and put the winger in at the corner for a(nother) try.

Which method is best?? Well, rugby has its own quadrennial World Cup competition, and the S.H. teams mentioned above hae won all of them. **
[/QUOTE]

hey we won against Australia about 3 weeks ago (England that is) and last week we pummeled Romania and France likes a try game.

I’m going to a rugby game on Saturday. By some quirk of nature, the South Africa Springboks are playing the USA Eagles at Robertson Stadium at the University of Houston. The opening game is the University of Texas versus Texas A&M. Being a UT graduate who was born in South Africa, this will be extra fun. Add to that the free Castle Lager and my father’s friends bringing biltong and we will have a great time.

Sounds baaie lekker, edwino :smiley:

(I went to South Africa a couple of years ago. There IS not country more beautiful. Wow.)

I hate rugby, but will watch the United Ireland team play :wink:

We had a pretty good season this year, beat everyone except the Scots, and gave the Aussies a run for their money last week.

Well we English have recently handed both Australia and South Africa their respective hats. Talk about bad losers!

Bring on the All Blacks with their silly dance!