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How to
play rugby
Rugby in simple terms is about 90% football and 10% soccer.
The game actually was changed in the USA back in the very
early 1900's, when some rule changes were added to the English
version of rugby by adding on padding, helmets, blocking,
time-outs, forward passing and play making huddles to slowly
turn rugby into American Gridiron Football.
If you know a lot about football, rugby will be easy for
you.
You can only score 3 different ways in rugby.
5 POINTS are scored when you
score a (touchdown) called a "TRY". This is when
you run into the end zone with the ball in your hands and
'TOUCH THE BALL DOWN" for the 5 points. This is how "Spiking"
the football developed in American Gridiron.
2 POINTS are scored when kicking
the (points after the touchdown). Like American Gridiron,
the ball is on a kicking tee, and put though the goal posts
for 2 extra points. So a "TRY" and conversion kick
is worth a total of 7 points, just like football.
3 POINTS are scored by kicking
a (field goal). You will see more field goals in rugby then
in American Gridiron for one main reason. When there is a
major penalty in rugby, the defense must back up 10 yards
and the offensive team DOES NOT MOVE UP. This is a dead ball
time, and play resumes after the ball is put back into play.
However, when a team is within 45 yards of the goal posts,
a team with a strong kicker will attempt to kick a "PENALTY
KICK" for 3 points. The defending team who committed
the penalty can not rush the kicker or block the kicking attempt.
If the attempt at the 3 points is missed, then the ball rolling
on the ground is a LIVE BALL and play will resume when either
team scrambles to pick up the loose ball.
Once in a while you will see a team kick a DROP GOAL ALSO
WORTH 3 POINTS. When play is live and an offensive player
within his kicking distance drops the ball on the ground and
kicks it just as it hits the grass this is a "Drop Goal".
The defensive team CAN block this kick, and if the ball travels
the kicking distance and goes through the uprights of the
goalposts, 3 points are given to the offensive team for the
"Drop Goal". If it is missed, the ball is live and
either team can run for the ball.
HOW TO PLAY
15 players per team
NO BLOCKING
BALL CAN ONLY BE PASSED BACKWARDS
Can only tackle the player running with the ball
When you are tackled you must intentionally
"FUMBLE" the ball and release it gently on the ground
The ball carrier now on the ground
AND THE DEFENSIVE tackler, must not touch the ball!
They must make and attempt to roll away from the tackle pile
or at least lay motionless and not slow up play that is about
to develop.
When the ball is released from the tackle, EITHER TEAM MAY
PICK UP THE LOOSE BALL!
If a player outruns all others, simply pick up the ball and
start running with it.
Normally, 2 or 3 members from each team will get to the "BREAKDOWN"(loose
ball area) at the same time, AND will form a "RUCK"
by staying on their feet, grabbing each other and pushing
as hard as they can, and hopefully will push back the opposition.
Now a small 3 on 3 pushing match will develop, and a BRAND
NEW SCRIMAGE LINE IS NOW FORMED CALLED "SCRUMAGE LINE".
This is when the entire defense must run back to their own
side of the new "line". With this small 3 on 3 "push
of war" going on in the "ruck", the ball
CANNOT BE TOUCHED BY ANY PLAYERS HANDS UNTIL THE BALL IS WON.
Winning the ball, is by simply pushing your opponents back
just one or two steps off of the "ruck" and having
the ball behind the offensive feet of those at the "ruck",
or if the pile is a stalemate and can not be pushed over to
win the ball, either team may put their FEET ON THE BALL,
and gently roll the ball backwards so that they win the ball
by using their feet instead of pushing their opponents off
of the ball.
Once the ball is behind the feet of those involved it the
ruck, and the rugby quarterback called the "Scrumhalf"
will pick up the ball.
The Scrumhalf will now pass the ball backwards to several
players that are standing behind him, and this will go on
for 80 minutes non-stop. See how simple it is?
As you can se after the first tackle in this fasted paced
game, everyone no matter your size or speed is involve is
all phases of the game. Everyone runs with the ball, everyone
tackles; everyone plays offense and defense with no substitutions.
ON DEAD BALL SITUATIONS ON MINOR PENALTIES, A SCRUM IS FORMED.
This is rugby's signature picture when 8 members from each
team form an 8-man pack, extremely "packed" together,
and will form a very evenly set and organized 8-man SCRUM.
This is similar to a ruck, however it is on a dead ball penalty
and both teams will collide 1 yard apart and the verbal instruction
of the referee, being similar to the true "snap"
of the beginning of a football play. When both scrums collide
at the call, they will try to win the ball placed in the middle
of the scrum from the minor penalty just occurred. Who ever
wins the set scrum down, will take ball and fire a hard pass
to the 7-backs that are positioned behind the scrum and the
race is on again to see who can get to the tackled area first.
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