What is Rugby?

Rugby is the fastest growing sport in the United States and the third most popular sport in the world. As relative latecomers to the world of Rugby, many Americans are either unexposed to the game in general or totally baffled by the rules and concepts behind the game.

Legend has it the game of rugby originated during a game of soccer back in 1823. English schools began adopting the game and in 1871, the English Rugby Union was established.

There are 15 players per team on the "pitch" (playing field) in Rugby. A faster-paced version of the game is also played (usually during the summer season) called 7's. Players 1-8 are "Forwards" and are often referred to as "The Pack". Within the Pack, Players 1-5 are referred to as the "Tight Five". Players 1-3 are the front row and consequently, they play the farthest forward in the pack. Players 6-8 are the "Loose Forwards" and are usually the biggest guys on the team. Finally, Players 9-15 are "the Backs".



The object of the game is to score more points than the opposing team. Points can be scored by moving the rugby ball into the scoring zone of your opponent's end of the field. In order to score while carrying the ball, the ball must be "grounded" or touched down on the ground within the "Try Zone". This type of score is worth 5 points. Once a player has scored a try, a place kick or drop kick may be attempted for bonus points or a "conversion" worth 2 points. However, a drop kick through the goal posts and over the horizontal bar during regular play is worth 3 points. Penalty kicks are also worth 3 points.

Play is initiated with a place kick and is usually continued by a scrum (pictured left), which is a faceoff (imagine 2 rams butting heads) of players in which each team's forwards pack together with their arms locked around each other's shoulders or hips. The forwards who participate in the scrum attempt to hook the ball with their feet (imagine Hungry Hungry Hippos) and knock it backward to the back known as the scrum half. After the scrum, the scrum half may run until tackled, pass the ball behind himself to another teammate or kick the ball forward (downfield). The team then proceeds to advance the ball toward the opponent's goal line, in an attempt to score. During play, no player on the team with the ball is permitted to be ahead of the ball, and obstructing a player without the ball results in a penalty (ie, only the guy with the ball can be tackled or obstructed).

A game of rugby consists of two forty minute halves with a 5-10min break in between. No substitutions are permitted except in cases of injury. So once you're out of the game, you are out of the rest of the game. This is why fitness is so important. Rugby is played with no hard pads and is a much faster paced game than American Football. The only pads that are allowed are soft helmets (to protect the ears) and soft shoulder pads (made of neoprene). A uniform or "kit" consists of boots (cleats), shorts, long socks, and a jersey.

Top 5 things that make rugby different
• the ball can only be passed backwards
• in general play, you can only tackle/hold/block the person who has the ball.
• you can be in the try (score) zone with the ball and still not score
• The fat players are just as important as the fast, skinny ones.
• Time out? What's that?! We said two 40-minute halves...the clock is ticking.

Fitness

Rugby is a fast-paced sport requiring speed, strength and agility. Many sports training programs are geared to one or another of these facets, but a Rugby Training Program MUST include all 3. Since a rugby match is played in two forty minutes halves, consisting almost entirely of running from one end of a 100 meter field to the other, a heavy emphasis must be placed on running, sprinting, changing direction quickly, and getting up off the ground fast after being tackled by at least 5 guys. Sprints and endurance must be a major part of any conditioning program.

When the ball is not in play (ie. during a turnover, when the ball is in-touch or during a penalty), players get a slight chance to recover and catch their breath, but since these are the only times that the ball is out of play, those rest periods are few and far between. If a player is a member of the Foward Pack, line-outs and scrums require additional stregnth and agility. Raw strength and flexibility are integral for these positions as well as speed and endurance. Thus, the Rugby Fitness Program must be well-rounded and comprehensive. But remember, there's a position for EVERYBODY on the rugby pitch. No matter your size or speed, large guys are just as important as skinny guys. Our players range in age from 18 to their late 40's.

Guides

Here are some guides that will help you understand the game a bit more:

• Rookie Primer
• Player Positional Skills
• Spectator's Guide to Rugby