What is rugby?

Rugby is a free-flowing game that features a combination of strength, speed and strategy to move a ball into an opponents territory.Rugby is a full-contact sport yet players wear little-or no protective gear. Rugby evolved from foot.

Field

The field of play does not exceed 100 meters in length and 70 meters in width. Each in-goal does not exceed 22 meters in length and 70 meters in width. The side-lines are referred to a touch-lines.

There are numerous other markings in a rugby pitch. Two important ones are the 5 meter line.

Time

Rules

Time

Two 40-minute halves with a five-minute half-time and no time-outs. Any time lost due to tending injured players on the pitch is added to the end of each half.

Team

Fifteen players on each team with 7 substitutions. Once a player is substituted, they may not return to the game unless the substitution was to stop bleeding. All 15 players may run, kick or pass the ball.

The 15 players are divided into two groups:

• 8 forwards (generally larger and stronger) who focus on obtaining and maintaining possession of the ball
• 7 backs (generally smaller and faster) who focus on taking the ball forward and scoring

Game Play & Scoring

Goal

 The goal of rugby is to move the ball forward by running with the ball or kicking. The team which scores the most points wins the game.

Play

A match begins with a kick-off from mid-field which must travel at least 10 metres. Play is continuous and free-flowing. There are no “downs”, no designated offensive and defensive teams, no blocking and no automatic turn-over of posession. The ball usually marks the offside line.The ball may be advanced by running or kicking. Passing with the hands cannot be forward but can be lateral or backward. Players without the ball cannot be tackled or interfered with in any way.When a player is tackled to the ground, the ball must be released and the player must move a way from it play continues without stoppage. An informal scrum forms over a tackled player without stoppage of play.

Scoring

Their are 4 ways in which a team may score points in rugby:

• Try – Five points when the ball is touched to the ground in the opponents end zone.
• Conversion – Two points for a kick through the uprights after a try is scored. The kick is taken on a line parallel to the touch-line which passes through the place where the ball was grounded. Thus, grounding the ball between the posts makes for an easier conversion attempt than if the ball is grounded near the side-line.
• Drop Goal – Three points for ‘drop kicking’ the ball through the opponent’s uprights at anytime during play.
• Penalty Kick – Three points for place-kicking the ball through the opponent’s uprights following an infraction by the opposition. Penalty kicks must be taken from the point of the infraction.
• The video is an example of scoring. Kolej Mara Kuala Nerang vs KPM Beranang. 

Defense & Kicks

Defense
The defending side may halt their opponent’s advance by tackling, stripping the opposing player of the ball, or forcing a turnover of possession. Tackles must be made below the opponent’s shoulders and the tackler’s arms must wrap around the tacklee.

Penalty Kicks and Free Kicks
Penalty and free kicks are awarded to the non-offending team for numerous infractions throughout the game. Penalty kicks are usually used to attempt to score or to gain territorial advantage by kicking the ball into touch. Free kicks cannot be used to score and are usually taken as very small kicks which are then picked up and carried forward.
Penalty and free kicks must be taken from the point of infraction. The offending team must retreat 10 meters from this point.

Restarting Play

The video shows the restarting play of rugby.

Play must be restarted following any score or when

1. the ball leaves the field,
2. the ball is unplayable or
3. when play stops due to infraction/injury.

Score – Following any score, play is restarted with a kick-off to the team who scored.

Scrum – If a minor infraction occurs or the ball becomes unplayable and remains on the field, play is restarted with a scrum. Eight forwards are bound together in a 3-4-1 formation and the opposing scrums lock together. The ball is delivered between the two units who push against each other attempting to heel the ball back with their feet to their respective teamates. Hands may not be used in the scrum. When the ball comes out of a scrum it is usually passed to the backs in an optional run-pass-kick attack.

Lineout – When the ball leaves the field, play is restarted by returning the ball to the field using a lineout. Two rows of opposing forwards line up perpendicular to the sideline and the ball is thrown in between them from the sideline. Designated players from each row jump for the ball to determine posession. When the ball comes out of a lineout, it is usually passed to the backs in an optional run-pass-kick attack. The video shows how the player start the game using lineout way.

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