A GUIDE To Rugby

RUGBY - BASIC OVERVIEW

Two teams consisting of 15 players each will compete for 60 minutes (30 minute halves) with a 5 minute half time.  Eight (8) substitutions are allowed, but players are not permitted to return to the game when taken out. *Our league will allow a variation of subs until playoffs. Temporary substitutions are allowed only for injury evaluation.  The team is divided into 8 forwards and 7 backs.  Every player is able to pass, run or kick at any time.  The ball can be advanced by running or kicking, but can only be passed backward or laterally.  Blocking is not allowed.  All players are responsible to play offense and defense throughout the game.  If the ball is dropped during play (“knock-on”), a scrum will be used to restart the game.  If the ball goes out of bounds, a line-out will be used to restart the game. There is one (1) referee on the field and two (2) Line Judges (one on each sideline).

 OPEN PLAY & SET PLAY

Open Play refers to the general phases of the game where running, passing, tackling, kicking are occurring as each team works to score.  Set Play refers to scrums and line-outs.

TACKLES, RUCKS & MAULS

All tackles must be made below the opponent's shoulders.  The tackler must make an effort to wrap his arms around the other player to make the tackle.  Once a player is tackled, they must immediately release the ball and make an attempt to roll away from it.  The tackler is required to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

A ruck requires the ball to be on the ground. at least one player from each team must be on their feet, in physical contact, over the ball.. open play has ended and players in the ruck can only use their feet to play the ball.. they cannot handle the ball in a ruck.  Generally rucks result from successful tackles, the ball carrier is on the ground and players from either team engage each other in an attempt to use physical force to win the ball.

 A maul is when the ball carrier is on his feet and at least one opposing player and one of his team mates are holding onto him. A maul must keep moving, or play will be stopped and the team without possession will be awarded the scrum.  Players joining the maul must come from their own side and bind onto the other players.  Generally mauls start out as failed tackles; i.e. the tackler does not succeed in bringing the ball carrier to ground.

RESTARTS

The Scrum

Eight forwards from each team bind together and push against the other team’s eight.  The Scrum Half from the non-offending team will put the ball between the forwards as they compete to rake the ball backward with their feet.  The ball will be picked up by the scrum half or another player and the game will resume.

The Line Out

If a team puts the ball out of bounds on either side of the field, the forwards from both teams will line up parallel from the sideline.  The ball will be thrown in by a player from the non-offending team as players jump for the ball.  Players are allowed to lift other players to catch the ball.

SCORING

Try - 5 points:  Rugby equivalent of a touchdown.  Ball must be placed on the ground over the opponents goal line for the score to count.

Conversion Kick - 2 points:  A successful kick through the posts following a try.  The kick is taken in line with the spot where the try was scored.  This significantly increases the challenge of converting the try.

 Dropkick (drop goal) - 3 points:  Scored when a player drops the ball on the ground and simultaneously kicks the ball through the posts during open play.

Penalty Kick - 3 points:  When a penalty is called, a team can choose to kick for 3 points.  This can be a place kick from a tee, or a dropkick.

POSITIONS - BASIC OVERVIEW

1 & 3 Loosehead and Tighthead Prop

Along with the hooker, the loose-head and tight-head props make up what is known as the front row, which refers to their rugby positions in the scrum. To be successful, both props must be extremely strong in the neck, shoulders, upper body and legs, and they should enjoy head-to-head competition.

 2 Hooker

Lining up in the scrum between the two props, the hooker is one of the forwards’ key decision-makers. The hooker will coordinate the timing at the scrum, and is also responsible for winning possession in the scrummage by hooking the ball back through the scrum.

4 & 5 Lock/Second Row

The second-row forwards (also known as locks) are the engine of the scrum and typically catch in the lineout.  They tend to be tall, powerful players with excellent scrummaging technique and timing.

6 & 7 Flanker

Flankers are often considered to be the players with excellent fitness and tackling abilities.  Flankers are aggressive, athletic, and involved in all facets of the game.

8 Number Eight

Support play, tackling and ball-carrying are the No.8’s areas of expertise, with duties similar to the two flankers. The No.8 and flankers are called the back row.  Binding on at the back of the scrum, the No.8 is also the only player from the forwards who is allowed to pick the ball up from the base of the scrum.

9 Scrum-Half

Acting as the link between the forwards and the backs, the scrum-half is the key rugby position when it comes to building attacks. Playing just behind the forwards, the scrum-half will control exactly when the ball is fed out to the backs from the rear of a scrum, ruck or maul.

10 Fly-Half

Almost every attack will go through the fly-half, who also has the responsibility of deciding when to pass the ball out to the centers and when to kick for position.  A fly-half controls the team’s back line, deciding what plays to put into action and sets the backline for defense.

11 & 14 Wing

Playing out wide on the side of the pitch (field), the winger is a team’s finisher in the attack. A winger is also often the last line of defense when they don’t have the ball and are working closely with the fullback.  Typically the fastest players on the field.

 12 & 13 Inside Center & Outside Center

The inside center – who stands closest to the fly-half when the backs line-up – and the outside center tend to be strong, dynamic runners with a good eye for exposing gaps in the opposition defense. Centers must be excellent passers for plays to be effective.

15 Full-back

The fullback lines up behind the entire back line and is the last line of defense against the opposing team.  The fullback will receive deep kicks from the opposition, so they must be comfortable catching high balls and launching attacks from the resulting position.