RUGBY BASICS

Rugby involves continuous play of 2 forty minute halves and is only stopped when a side scores, there is a serious injury, when the ball goes out of play, and when there is a rules violation.

There are 15 players on each side (8 FORWARDS and 7 BACKS). When
tackled, the player must let go of the ball (or suffer the boots). The forwards’ job is to push the other team away from the ball (a ruck or maul is formed when both teams are pushing for the ball) so that the scrum half can get the ball out to the backs.

SCRUM. The forwards of each team lock up, a scrum half places the ball in the center of the two forward packs, and the forwards push each other over the ball. By kicking the ball backwards with their feet, the forwards can get the ball into the waiting hands of the scrum half.

Line outs are formed when the ball goes out of bounds. The forward packs line up and the team who gets the ball sends a member to throw the ball in. The two teams then jump to recover the ball and thus continue play.

Mode of Play - The match is started by a kick off (must be 10 meters into the opponent's half). A place kick (the ball is placed on the floor using a tee) starts the game (first and second half). With subsequent kick offs, after a score - a drop kick (a kick from the hands during open play where the ball touches the ground just before the point of contact) is used to restart the game. After kick off, a player may then catch or pick up the ball and run with it. He may than pass or throw it to another player, kick or otherwise propel the ball, tackle, push ,or shoulder an opponent holding the ball, fall on the ball, take part in scrummage, ruck, maul ,or lineout, ground the ball in goal. The ball must not be passed
forward from the hand to a team mate.

Scoring - There are 2 methods of scoring - A try which is achieved by grounding the ball in the opponent's goal area. A goal is scored by kicking the ball through the opponent's cross bar and between the posts either by a place kick or by a drop kick or by a conversion (a placed kick always awarded after a try, in line with where the try was scored). A penalty try can be awarded where a side would have probably scored but for foul play by the opposing team.

Each side consists of 15 players and usually 6 replacements. These are the player’s position:

Forwards:

Loose Head Prop (No 1)

Hooker (No 2)

Tight Head Prop (No 3)

Second Row (No 4&5)

Flankers or Wing Forwards (No 6&7)

No 8 or Lock (No 8)

Backs:

Scrum Half (No 9)

Fly Half (No 10)

Center (No 12 & 13)

Wing (No 11 & 14)

Full Back (No 15)