OBJECT: The
objective is to outscore the opposing team. Players can
carry or kick the ball into the try zone, also known as the
in-goal, and touch the ball down for a try. Even though
teams have strategies, set plays like in football are
limited in existence.
TIME: There are
two 40 minute halves, with a ten minute halftime. The game
might last longer than ninety minutes due to injury time.
BASICS: The game
begins with a kick-off. This is repeated every time a team
has scored. The team that has scored receives the ball. Ball
carriers can run with the ball, pass laterally or backwards
(there are no forward passes), or kick the ball. Any
opponent can tackle the ball carrier, but only beneath the
shoulders. There are no blocks, only the ball carrier can be
tackled. The play is continuous and does not stop because of
a tackle.
SCORING: There are
three ways to score: A try occurs when a player carries the
ball across the opponent's goal line and touches it down in
a controlled manner. This is worth five points, and gives
the scoring team the chance to get two more points with a
conversion kick. The ball is kicked from the ground at any
point on a line perpendicular to where the ball was touched
down. The other way to score is with a penalty kick. If a
team is guilty of a major infraction, the other team can
kick for three points. A third option, a very rare one, is a
drop kick. Any time during the game any player can attempt a
drop kick (the ball has to touch the ground) and if
successful, the team is awarded three points.
PENALTIES: The
most common penalties are off-side, obstruction (like
blocking in football), forward pass, knock-on, or playing
the ball in a scrum. The team that the foul has been
committed against has several options, it can drop kick,
place kick or punt the ball, or it can tap the ball on the
foot and pass it to a teammate. Penalties can be used to
gain points, or to gain space, the decision for which
penalty to take is dictated by the field position.
SCRUMS: This is
one of the most identifiable aspects of rugby, and is a lot
more demanding technically and physically than it might
appear. It is called for in response to certain penalties.
The eight forwards of each team come together in a specific,
prearranged formation and face the other sides forwards.
After the two sides engage the scrum-half of the side that
the scrum was awarded to, puts the ball into the tunnel
between the two teams. The ball is then kicked back by the
hooker while both teams try to push each other in order to
either gain possession of the ball, or to disrupt the other
side. Once the ball is won, the scrum-half picks it up and
passes it to his backs. As soon as he touches it, open play
resumes.
RUCK: Whenever a
player is tackled and goes to the ground with the tackler, a
ruck has formed. He has a moment to place the ball on the
ground, and is not allowed to hold onto it or to play it
while he is on the ground. The ball can be picked up by
anyone if it is open, otherwise it will have to be moved by
using ones foot. Play does not stop.
MAUL: This is
similar to a ruck, but occurs whenever a ball carrier has
been tackled, but not been brought to the ground. In this
situation the ball can be handled by anyone who is literally
able to get his hands onto it. At both rucks and mauls
teammates can join in only from their own side, but not from
the opponents side, or the actual side/flank of the ruck/maul.
LINE-OUT: Whenever
the ball gets out-of-bounds, it is considered to be in
"touch". Play stops and a line-out is awarded to the team
that has not committed the infraction. An exception to this
is after penalty kicks to touch. In this case the team that
kicked receives the line-out. In a line-out the forwards of
the two teams face each other perpendicular to the sideline.
The hooker throws in the ball and the two teams try to catch
it. After one side has gained control they pass it to their
scrum-half, and open play resumes.
OFF-SIDE: No
player can participate unless he has the ball, or is behind
it on his own side. Off-side also occurs whenever a player
crosses the off-side line in a scrum, ruck, maul, or
line-out.
ADVANTAGE: It
allows the game to continue provided that the team that has
not committed the infraction has possession of the ball, and
they have the chance to profit from it. This is indicated by
the referees outstretched arm pointing to the team that the
infraction has been committed against. Similar to Soccer.
All of this
information was made possible through our fellow rugger
Travis "Cube" Vollmer. Thanks Cube!
Rugby Laws
This is a link to the
International Rugby Board Website where they have a .pdf
containing all the rugby laws
http://www.irb.com/Laws/Laws/LawsOfTheGame/
Texas Tech Rugby
Webmaster
updated
04/25/2008
