An Introduction to Rugby
http://www.wassonline.com/online-gambling-news/articles/139/1/An-Introduction-to-Rugby/Page1.html
Phillip Brown
Hi, my name is Phil and I’m from
I’m currently studying politics and social studies at college. I am a huge poker fan and I play in organised (friend no betting ;) ) tournaments with other students as well as playing online. I have always loved card games and poker is one of the most fun ones out there, it has been repeatedly described as the “all American past time” and I think this is defiantly true from the people I know.
I am hoping to eventually get far enough into politics to try and help peoples understanding of the game and hopefully disband some of the over the top gambling/sin related stigma that a percentage of American political groups associate with the game.
By Phillip Brown
Published on 06/17/2008
This article acts as a basic introduction to the sport of rugby. Just like every sport rugby has many variations and if you wish to look into further you will find that each one has its own unique quirks. This particular article attempts to give an overview of the sport and rules in general.
Rugby is a game of physical intensity whose inner workings often elude the average American spectator. The goal of the game is quite predictable: end with more points than the opposing team. This is done by several different means of scoring: try’s, drop goals, and penalties. A rugby game is played in two forty-minute halves. There is a break of ten minutes in between halves, after which the teams switch sides of the field.
Unlike many American sports, a game with no points scored or a game that is tied at the end is called a draw. Players hold onto the ball and run it downfield, pass it backwards or laterally to teammates, or kick it in any direction on the pitch.
Before an explanation of play is given, there are several terms with which an informed spectator must be familiar. First off, the paying field is known as the pitch. The term touch means out of bounds. After the ball has gone into touch, a lineout is used to resume play and the forwards of each team line up at the touchline. A scrum is the means of resuming play after a minor penalty has occurred. During a scrum, each team’s forwards bind together and the player known as the hooker “hooks” the ball onto the feet of a forward behind him, who then picks up or passes the ball to move it into play. A drop out is used to restart play after the defense has grounded the ball in their own goal area. In rugby, there are no forward passes. No member of the attacking team may be in front of the ball. If this occurs, it is called off side, versus on side which is being correctly positioned behind the ball.
A ruck requires a more extensive definition. Upon being tackled to the ground, that player must release the ball. A ruck is then formed over the ball, in which at least two opposing players are in direct physical contact. Neither of the two are allowed to touch the ball. Instead, they try to drive one another back and themselves over the ball so that their teammates who are on their feet and are not a part of the ruck may gain possession of the ball. Other players may join in the ruck, but may only do so from behind the line of the ball. Additionally, players are required to have at least one arm around a teammate who is also in the ruck. This is called being bound into the ruck.
A maul is a battle of physical power. If a player is stuck on the field and unable to advance the ball, his teammates (forwards, specifically) may jump in behind him and attempt to push him forward down the pitch. The opposition players will push back to prevent them from gaining ground. A maul can be broken up by officials and a scrum may be awarded to the opposing team. To prevent this, players engage in a rolling maul, which simply means they pass the ball backwards to a teammate who “rolls” away to start a new maul.
Every game begins with a kickoff. Before the match begins, a coin is tossed, and the winning team chooses which team will kick off the match, and which side of the field they want to attack first. The kickoff occurs on the halfway line of the pitch. The ball is required to travel at least ten meters from the halfway line. If the kicker fails to kick the ball at least ten meters, the opposition may opt for a scrum, or a throw in to restart play.
A drop kick from the halfway line will re-start the game after a penalty or drop goal has been scored. The team that did not score will take the kick.
Scoring occurs in several ways. The largest point-getting method is to score a try, which in rugby union is worth five points.
A try is scored when a player puts the ball on the ground inside the opponent’s goal area. The goal area is between the try line and the dead-ball line. One special stipulation is that the player scoring the try must place the ball on the ground with downward pressure. This is the only means of scoring that does not involve kicking.
Another means of scoring is a conversion kick. This awards the recipient two bonus points after a try has been scored. A successful conversion kick goes between the opponent’s goalposts, found at the back of the pitch.
A drop goal awards a team three points, and is achieved by kicking the ball through the opponent’s goalposts. At some point between being dropped and kicked, the ball must hit the ground.
A penalty kick is the last means of scoring. A penalty is awarded by a referee in reaction to an infraction committed by the other team. A team that is awarded a penalty near their opponent’s goalposts may use their penalty to kick for goal, which means through the goalposts, and awards them three points. They may also choose to kick for touch in an attempt to gain territory. In this case, the team awarded the penalty kick gets to throw at the line out.
Unlike many American sports, a game with no points scored or a game that is tied at the end is called a draw. Players hold onto the ball and run it downfield, pass it backwards or laterally to teammates, or kick it in any direction on the pitch.
Before an explanation of play is given, there are several terms with which an informed spectator must be familiar. First off, the paying field is known as the pitch. The term touch means out of bounds. After the ball has gone into touch, a lineout is used to resume play and the forwards of each team line up at the touchline. A scrum is the means of resuming play after a minor penalty has occurred. During a scrum, each team’s forwards bind together and the player known as the hooker “hooks” the ball onto the feet of a forward behind him, who then picks up or passes the ball to move it into play. A drop out is used to restart play after the defense has grounded the ball in their own goal area. In rugby, there are no forward passes. No member of the attacking team may be in front of the ball. If this occurs, it is called off side, versus on side which is being correctly positioned behind the ball.
A ruck requires a more extensive definition. Upon being tackled to the ground, that player must release the ball. A ruck is then formed over the ball, in which at least two opposing players are in direct physical contact. Neither of the two are allowed to touch the ball. Instead, they try to drive one another back and themselves over the ball so that their teammates who are on their feet and are not a part of the ruck may gain possession of the ball. Other players may join in the ruck, but may only do so from behind the line of the ball. Additionally, players are required to have at least one arm around a teammate who is also in the ruck. This is called being bound into the ruck.
A maul is a battle of physical power. If a player is stuck on the field and unable to advance the ball, his teammates (forwards, specifically) may jump in behind him and attempt to push him forward down the pitch. The opposition players will push back to prevent them from gaining ground. A maul can be broken up by officials and a scrum may be awarded to the opposing team. To prevent this, players engage in a rolling maul, which simply means they pass the ball backwards to a teammate who “rolls” away to start a new maul.
Every game begins with a kickoff. Before the match begins, a coin is tossed, and the winning team chooses which team will kick off the match, and which side of the field they want to attack first. The kickoff occurs on the halfway line of the pitch. The ball is required to travel at least ten meters from the halfway line. If the kicker fails to kick the ball at least ten meters, the opposition may opt for a scrum, or a throw in to restart play.
A drop kick from the halfway line will re-start the game after a penalty or drop goal has been scored. The team that did not score will take the kick.
Scoring occurs in several ways. The largest point-getting method is to score a try, which in rugby union is worth five points.
A try is scored when a player puts the ball on the ground inside the opponent’s goal area. The goal area is between the try line and the dead-ball line. One special stipulation is that the player scoring the try must place the ball on the ground with downward pressure. This is the only means of scoring that does not involve kicking.
Another means of scoring is a conversion kick. This awards the recipient two bonus points after a try has been scored. A successful conversion kick goes between the opponent’s goalposts, found at the back of the pitch.
A drop goal awards a team three points, and is achieved by kicking the ball through the opponent’s goalposts. At some point between being dropped and kicked, the ball must hit the ground.
A penalty kick is the last means of scoring. A penalty is awarded by a referee in reaction to an infraction committed by the other team. A team that is awarded a penalty near their opponent’s goalposts may use their penalty to kick for goal, which means through the goalposts, and awards them three points. They may also choose to kick for touch in an attempt to gain territory. In this case, the team awarded the penalty kick gets to throw at the line out.