Rugby Sports History How to Play Rules Positions
What is Rugby? Are Rugby and American Football the same thing? Let’s find out more about the actual Rugby Sports History How to Play Rules Positions and more.
Rugby is a close-contact team sport played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field. The field has H-shaped goalposts at both ends. They try to carry or kick that oval-shaped ball across their opponent’s goal line to score points.
It is popular in many countries like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and France.
William Webb Ellis is known as the Father of Rugby Sport and it is also the National game of England.
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History of Rugby
Rugby is a sport that originated in England in the early 19th century. The game was first played at Rugby School in Warwickshire.
The first set of rules for rugby was drawn up in 1845 at Rugby School, which formed the basis for the modern game. In the early days, rugby was a sport played primarily by students at schools and universities, but it soon spread to other parts of England and to other countries.
The first rugby club, the Guy’s Hospital Football Club, was founded in London in 1843, and the first interclub match was played between Guy’s Hospital and St. Thomas’s Hospital in 1863. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded in 1871 as England’s governing body for rugby.
The first international rugby match was played between Scotland and England in 1871, and the first international rugby tournament, the Home Nations Championship, was played between England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland in 1883.
Rugby continued to grow in popularity throughout the 20th century, and in 1987 the first Rugby World Cup was held, which was won by New Zealand.
Today, rugby is played by millions of people all over the world and is one of the most popular sports in many countries like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Argentina.
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History of Rugby in India
Rugby was introduced to India during the British colonial period in the late 19th century. It was initially played in the hill stations of Darjeeling, Shimla, and Mussoorie, where British soldiers and civilians would play the sport.
In 1872, the first rugby club in India, the Calcutta Football Club, was founded by British expatriates. The club organized the first rugby match in India in the same year, between two teams of British soldiers stationed in Kolkata.
Over time, rugby spread to other parts of India, particularly to the southern city of Chennai, where it was played by Indian students who had been educated in British schools.
In 1924, the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) was founded, which became the governing body for rugby in India. Chennai Rugby Football Club won the first All India Rugby Football Championship organized by the IRFU in 1926.
During the 1930s and 1940s, rugby was a popular sport in India, with matches being played between Indian teams and visiting foreign teams. Following India’s independence from British rule in 1947, rugby declined in popularity as cricket and hockey gained popularity.
How to play Rugby
The game is played with two teams, each consisting of fifteen players, eight players in the tight scrum, and seven players scattered all over the field called backs. Player positions on the field are determined by the numbers on their jerseys.
Each team can carry, pass or kick the ball to the end zone to score as many points as possible. The team scoring the greater number of points is the winner of the match.
The game begins with a kickoff which is taken from the center of the field. The team with the ball makes every effort to score a try once the ball is in play. A try is scored when a player touches the ball to the ground in the opponent’s in-goal. The team is then awarded five points.
As soon as a try is scored, the team has the opportunity to score a goal by kicking the ball over the opponent’s crossbar and in between the goalposts.
The ball must be kicked from a line perpendicular to where the ball was touched down. A penalty kick for three points can be attempted by the offended team if the opposing team commits a penalty at any time, either at the goal or a drop kick from anywhere on the field.
During the game, players move forward toward their goal, however, the ball can not be passed forward. The player must pass the ball back to his teammates while moving forward. When tackled, a player must pass or release the ball and move away.
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How the Scoring Works in Rugby
The aim of rugby is to score more points than the opposition. This is done in four different ways:
Try: The most valuable play is to score a try, which means touching the ball down in the opponent’s in-goal area or on their goal line.
Conversion Kick: This kick is worth an additional two points. The conversion kick is taken from a spot in line with where the ball was originally grounded, so scoring as close to the posts as possible is the best option.
Penalty Kick: Penalties for various infractions can be used to take a kick at a goal, which is worth three points.
Dropped Goal: A dropped goal, which occurs when the player drops the ball on the ground and then kicks it just as it bounces, is worth three points if it goes through the uprights.
Match Duration
Total Time: 80min
Two-Halves: 40min each
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Positions in Rugby
There are 15 players on each rugby team, and they are typically divided into 8 forwards and 7 backs. Here are the positions in rugby and their general responsibilities:
Forwards:
Loosehead Prop: This player is usually positioned on the left side of the scrum and their role is to support the hooker in the scrum, as well as provide stability in the scrum.
Hooker: The hooker is positioned in the middle of the front row of the scrum and is responsible for hooking the ball back to their own team during the scrum.
Tighthead Prop: This player is positioned on the right side of the scrum and their role is to provide strength and stability in the scrum.
Locks (Second Row): There are two locks on a rugby team and their primary role is to provide support and lift during lineouts. They also play a key role in the scrum and in open play.
Flankers: There are two flankers on a rugby team, one on each side of the scrum. Their role is to provide support in the scrum, but they are also key players in open play, making tackles, securing possession, and carrying the ball forward.
Number 8: The number 8 is positioned at the back of the scrum and is responsible for controlling the ball at the base of the scrum. They are also involved in open play, carrying the ball forward and making tackles.
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Backs:
Scrum-Half: The scrum-half is the link between the forwards and the backs. They feed the ball into the scrum and also pass the ball out to the backs. They also often act as the first line of defense in open play.
Fly-Half: The fly-half is responsible for directing the team’s attacking play. They often make tactical kicks, pass the ball to the backs, and can also run with the ball.
Centers: There are two centers on a rugby team – inside center and outside center. They are key attacking players, responsible for making breaks in the opposition’s defensive line and setting up tries. They also play an important defensive role.
Wingers: There are two wingers on a rugby team, positioned on the left and right flanks. They are often the fastest players on the team and their role is to finish off attacking moves by scoring tries.
Fullback: The fullback is positioned at the back of the backline and is responsible for catching high balls, making last-ditch tackles, and counter-attacking. They are often the last line of defense and play a key role in the team’s defensive strategy.
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Rules of Rugby
Rugby has a set of rules that govern how the game is played. Here are the basic rules of rugby:
Objective: The objective of the game is to score more points than the opposing team by carrying or kicking the ball across the opponent’s goal line and touching it down.
The Ball: The ball used in rugby is oval-shaped and made of leather or synthetic material. It can be carried, kicked, or passed by players to move it up the field.
Scoring: There are two ways to score points in rugby – by scoring a try or by kicking a penalty or conversion. A try is worth 5 points and a penalty kick or conversion kick is worth 3 points.
Offside: Players must be onside to participate in the play. This means they must be behind the ball carrier or ball when it is played.
Knock-ons: If a player drops the ball forward or knocks it forward with their hand or arm, it is considered a knock-on, and the opposing team is awarded a scrum.
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Rucks and Mauls: When a player is tackled, a ruck is formed when players from both teams bind together and try to push each other off the ball. A maul is when a player carries the ball and is held up by multiple defenders and other players.
Lineouts: The ball is thrown in by a player from the team that did not touch the ball last, after reaching the sideline.
Scrum: A scrum is called when there is a minor violation or if the ball is held up in a tackle. In a scrum, players from each team bind together and push against each other to try to gain possession of the ball.
Penalties: A player can be penalized for various violations, such as tackling above the shoulders, obstruction, or offside play. Penalties can result in the other team receiving a penalty kick, a scrum, or a free kick.
Tackles: Tackling an opposing player is allowed, but it must be below the shoulders and without using the arms. The tackler must also release the tackled player immediately and roll away from the tackle area.
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Advantage: If a team commits a violation but the opposing team is able to play on and gain an advantage, the referee may allow play to continue rather than stopping play for a penalty.
Yellow and Red Cards: If a player commits a serious violation, they may be shown a yellow card and sent off the field for 10 minutes. A red card is shown for even more serious offenses and results in the player being sent off for the rest of the game.
Substitutions: Each team is allowed to make up to 8 substitutions during a game. Substitutions can only be made when the ball is dead, such as during a stoppage in play or after a try has been scored.
Advantage Line: The advantage line is an imaginary line drawn across the field at the location where the tackled player went to the ground. The defending team must retreat behind this line in order to be onside.
Mark: If a player catches a ball that has been kicked by the opposing team and calls “mark,” they are awarded a free kick at the location of the catch. The opposing team must also retreat 10 meters from the location of the mark.
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Top 10 Greatest Players in Rugby
10) Sergio Parisse
9) Brian O’Driscoll
8) David Campese
7) Waisale Serevi
6) Willy John McBride
5) Johnny Wilkinson
4) Gareth Edwards
3) Dan Carter
2) Richie McCaw
1) Jonah Lomu
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—DHANYAVAAD—