The Basics of Rugby Field - The field is about the size of a football field. Approximately 100 meters long and 70 meters wide. There are goal posts, similar to football posts, ON each goal line Players - There are 15 players on each team. The game is a total of 80 minutes with two 40 minute halves.  Comparison - Rugby is most thought of as a combination of football and soccer. Players run with the ball in hand, with tackling, and physical contact (like football) but it is a free flowing game with stoppages at penalties, scores, and out of bounds (like soccer. Carrying the ball - The ball is carried in a players hands, and you may only pass backwards or laterally. The ball can be kicked forward at any time during the game. Scoring - There are three ways to score in rugby. A try is when the ball carrier runs into the end zone and touches the ball down and is worth 5 points (similar to a football touchdown). A try is followed up by a conversion kick worth 2 points. A penalty kick is a dead ball kick through the uprights and is worth 3 points. A drop kick is taken during play and is worth 3 points as well. Scrums - A scrum is an 8 player vs. 8 player contest in a tight area. Players from each team are bound to each other and drive the opposite team in an attempt to gain possession. A tunnel is created between the two teams and the scrum half rolls the ball into the tunnel. The team that wins the scrum contest rolls the ball back with their feet to continue play. Scrums occur when there are minor infringements. Usually forward passes or knock-ons (when the ball is dropped forward). Line outs - Line outs occur when the ball goes out of bounds. Players from each team make a line with a tunnel in between them. A player standing out of bounds throws the ball into the tunnel for each team to compete for the ball and to restart play. Penalties - Penalties are more severe infringements where the team awarded the penalty has different options. First, the team can choose to kick the ball forward into touch (out of bounds) to gain ground and start a line out. Secondly, a player can tap the ball with his foot and play continues from that point on. Third, the team can choose to kick a penalty kick.

The Basics of Rugby

Field - The field is about the size of a football field. Approximately 100 meters long and 70 meters wide. There are goal posts, similar to football posts, ON each goal line

Players - There are 15 players on each team. The game is a total of 80 minutes with two 40 minute halves.

Comparison - Rugby is most thought of as a combination of football and soccer. Players run with the ball in hand, with tackling, and physical contact (like football) but it is a free flowing game with stoppages at penalties, scores, and out of bounds (like soccer.

Carrying the ball - The ball is carried in a players hands, and you may only pass backwards or laterally. The ball can be kicked forward at any time during the game.

Scoring - There are three ways to score in rugby. A try is when the ball carrier runs into the end zone and touches the ball down and is worth 5 points (similar to a football touchdown). A try is followed up by a conversion kick worth 2 points. A penalty kick is a dead ball kick through the uprights and is worth 3 points. A drop kick is taken during play and is worth 3 points as well.

Scrums - A scrum is an 8 player vs. 8 player contest in a tight area. Players from each team are bound to each other and drive the opposite team in an attempt to gain possession. A tunnel is created between the two teams and the scrum half rolls the ball into the tunnel. The team that wins the scrum contest rolls the ball back with their feet to continue play. Scrums occur when there are minor infringements. Usually forward passes or knock-ons (when the ball is dropped forward).

Line outs - Line outs occur when the ball goes out of bounds. Players from each team make a line with a tunnel in between them. A player standing out of bounds throws the ball into the tunnel for each team to compete for the ball and to restart play.

Penalties - Penalties are more severe infringements where the team awarded the penalty has different options. First, the team can choose to kick the ball forward into touch (out of bounds) to gain ground and start a line out. Secondly, a player can tap the ball with his foot and play continues from that point on. Third, the team can choose to kick a penalty kick.