Rugby: The Fundamentals of an International Sporting Phenomenon

If there's a sport that's rough, it's rugby. Sometimes it just LOOKS like pounding but of course it is much more than that.

Rugby is a game in which two teams of 15 players try to push the oval ball over the opponent's tryline or kick it between the posts and lasts 2 times 40 minutes. Players may carry or kick the ball. Passing with the hands is only allowed in a backward direction.

In this article I explain how it works, the rules and the differences with other sports such as American Football and Soccer.

Rugby Union: A Brief History

Rugby Union, also known as Rugby Football, is a ball sport which originated at the Rugby School in England. According to legend, during a school football game, a young gentleman picked up the ball with his hands and ran with it towards the opponent's goal. This player, William Webb Ellis, is still seen today as the founder and inventor of the sport of ball.

How do you play Rugby Union?

Rugby Union is one of the most famous field sports in the world. A match is played by two teams of 15 people and lasts 2 times 40 minutes. During the match, the players try to push an oval ball over the opponent's so-called tryline or kick it between the posts to score points. Players may carry or kick the ball. Playing with hands to a teammate (passing) is only allowed in a backward direction.

The Rules of Rugby Union

The International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) was founded in 1886, its name was changed to International Rugby Board (IRB) in 1997. The organization is based in Dublin. The IRB determines the rules of the game (called 'laws' in the rugby world) and organizes world championships (since 1987). The sport has been professional since 1995.

Related Sports

In addition to Rugby Union, there is also the variant Rugby League. The two sports split up in 1895 after a dispute over payments. Rugby League was the professional variant of rugby at the time, with 13 instead of 15 players. Today, both variants are played professionally. In Rugby League, the tackles in particular are completely different, because the fight for the ball stops after a player has been tackled with the ball. This creates a different game pattern.

In the Netherlands or Belgium, Rugby Union is the largest variant, but Rugby League is also played nowadays.

Rugby: A game that seems easier than it is!

It seems so simple: you can take the ball in your hand and the aim is to push the ball to the ground behind the opponent's try line. But once you get a good grasp of the game, you'll find there's more to it than you think!

Rugby requires good cooperation and strong discipline. You may throw the ball to a teammate, but the ball must always be played backwards. So if you really want to win, you have to work together!

The 10 most important rules of the game

• You may run with the ball in your hands.
• The ball may only be thrown backwards.
• The player with the ball may be tackled.
• Minor violations will be penalized with a SCRUM.
• If the ball goes out, a lineout is formed.
• Serious fouls are punished with a penalty (penalty kick).
• Offside: If you stay behind the ball, you are generally not offside.
• You make contact at a MAUL or RUCK.
• You may kick the ball.
• Treat the opponent and the referee with respect.

Documents that can help you

Pro tips for every sport

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If you want to know more about rugby, there are several documents that can help you. These documents contain the rules of the game, tips and tricks, and adapted rules for youth. Below is a list of documents that can help you:

• Beginner's Guide
• World Rugby Laws 2022 (English)
• World Rugby Global Law Trials | New Laws
• Adjusted rules for youth 2022-2023
• Youth Game Rule Cards
• Game rules tagrugby Guppen and Turven
• Game rules North Sea Beach Rugby

The Rugby Union Laws of the Game are set by the IRB and consist of 202 rules. Furthermore, the field has marking lines and size indications, such as the goal line, the back line, the 22-meter line, the 10-meter line and the 5-meter line.

An oval ball is used for the game. This is a different ball than the American football ball. The American football ball is slightly shorter and more pointed, while the rugby ball has a more oval shape.

So if you're a player looking for a challenge, or just a layman wanting to learn more about rugby, make sure you read these documents and understand the rules of the game. Only then can you really play the game and finally hit a try and win the game!

The players of a rugby team

The rugby team consists of fifteen players who are divided into two categories. The players numbered 1 through 8 are referred to as the forwards or the 'Pack', while the players numbered 9 through 15 are referred to as the three-quarter players, also known as the 'backs'.

The Pack

The Pack consists of the first row, two props with a hooker in the middle, and the second row, where the two locks are. These together form the 'front five'. The numbers 6 to 8 of the pack form the 'back row', or third row.

The Backs

The Backs are important for the parts of the game where speed and technique are required, such as in the scrums, the rucks and the mauls. These players are often lighter and more agile than the forwards. The scrum-half and fly-half are the breakers and together are called the half-backs.

The Positions

The positions of the players are usually indicated in English. Below is a list with the positions and the corresponding back numbers:

• Loosehead Prop (1)
• hookers (2)
• Tight Head Prop (3)
• Lock (4 and 5)
• Blindside Flanker (6)
• Openside Flanker (7)
• Number 8 (8)
• Scrum half (9)
• Inside Center (12)
• Outside Center (13)
• Left Wing (11)
• Right Wing (14)

A team may have a maximum of seven reserve players. So if you ever want to start a rugby team, you know what to do!

The global battle for the Webb Ellis Cup

The most important international tournament

The Rugby World Cup is the most prestigious international tournament in the world. Every four years there is a battle for the Webb Ellis Cup, which the current champion South Africa is the proud owner of. The tournament is one of the largest events in the world, but it cannot compete with the Olympic Games or the Football World Cup.

Dutch participation

The Dutch rugby team has been participating in the qualifying tournaments for the world championship since 1989. Although the Dutch selections could compete with European subtoppers such as Romania and Italy in those years, they just missed out on the final rounds of 1991 and 1995.

Professional core

Since 1995 Rugby Union can also be practiced as a professional and the differences between countries with a professional core and paid competition structure and the 'smaller' countries have become unbridgeable.

The Six Nations Tournament

In the Northern Hemisphere there has been an annual competition between the strongest rugby nations in Europe since the 1910s. Once started as a four-country tournament, between England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, France was admitted at the beginning of the twentieth century and from 2000 there was talk of a five-country tournament. In XNUMX, Italy was admitted to the prestigious tournament and the Six Nations Tournament for men is now held every year. The participating teams are England, Wales, France, Italy, Ireland and Scotland.

European Nations Cup

Smaller European rugby countries, including Belgium and the Netherlands, play the European Nations Cup under the flag of the European Rugby Union Rugby Europe.

Rugby Championship

In the Southern Hemisphere, the counterpart of the European Six Nations Tournament is called The Rugby Championship. The participants are Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

The Top 30 Rugby Union Teams In The World

The Greats

The global rugby elite is a select group of 30 teams that have the best players and the most experience. Here is a list of the top 30 teams in the world, as per the latest update of November 19, 2022:

• Ireland
• France
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• England
• Australië
• Georgia
• Uruguay
• Spain
• Portugal
• USA
• Canada
• Hong Kong
• Russia
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Switzerland

The Best Of The Best

These teams are the best of the best when it comes to rugby. They have the most experience, the best players and the most knowledge. If you are a fan of rugby then following these teams is a must. Whether you are a fan of Ireland, France, New Zealand or any of the other teams, you are sure to enjoy the games these teams play.

Rugby etiquette

The code of honor

Although rugby is a sport that can be tough on the pitch, players have a mutual code of honor based on respect. After a game, the teams thank each other by forming a gate of honor for the opponent. This is followed by the 'third half', where the atmosphere is comradely.

Criticism of the referee

During a match it is considered undesirable for players to follow the decisions of the referee criticize. The only person allowed to do this is the team captain. If there is open criticism, the referee can award a penalty by depriving the offending side of the ball and allowing it to go back XNUMX meters on their own turf. If there is repeated criticism, players can be (temporarily) sent off the field.

Respect and camaraderie

Rugby players have a mutual code of honor based on respect. After a game, the teams thank each other by forming a gate of honor for the opponent. This is followed by the 'third half', where the atmosphere is comradely. Criticism of the referee is not tolerated, but respect for the opponent is important.

Differences

Rugby Vs American Football

Rugby and American football seem very similar at first sight, but when you put the two side by side, there are some clear differences. For example, rugby has 15 players per team, while American football has 11 players. Rugby is played without protection, while American football players are packed thicker with a helmet and pads. The course of the game also differs: in rugby, the game continues immediately after each tackle, while in American football, there is a short time to regroup after each attempt. Furthermore, American football has the forward pass, while rugby may only be thrown backwards. In short, two different sports, each with their own rules and character.

Rugby Vs Soccer

Rugby and football are two sports that are very different from each other. In football, physical contact is not allowed, while in rugby, tackling is the encouraged way of guiding an opponent to the ground. In football, a shoulder push is still allowed, but tackling is prohibited and worthy of a sanction. Moreover, there is much more noise in rugby, which makes the game extra dynamic. In football, the game is calmer, which gives the players more time to make tactical choices. In short, rugby and football are two different sports, each with their own rules and dynamics.

Conclusion

A game born out of a competition between the students of the Rugby School where someone decided to pick up the ball has become a revolution. Now it is one of the most KNOWN field sports in the world.

Hopefully you now know more about the sport and can also appreciate it more the next time you watch it.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of referees.eu is a content marketer, father and loves to write about all kinds of sports, and has also played a lot of sports himself for most of his life. Now since 2016, he and his team have been creating helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with their sports activities.