Missouri Rugby Football Union
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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 football (i.e. soccer) and is often called the ‘game played in heaven’.

The most unique aspect of rugby is the srcum, pictured below, which is used to restart play following minor infractions during the match.

Field, Time and Teams

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 (which runs parallel to the touch line and is important for line-outs – see below) and the 22 meter line which is parallel to the goal line (this marks a defensive boundary; a player between his own 22 m line and his goal may kick the ball directly off the pitch in defense).

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 (i.e. bloddy nose). All 15 players may run, kick or pass the ball (forward passing is not permitted).

The 15 players are divided into two groups (discussed in more detail on the Player Positions page):

  • 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 Playing and 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 (see below), 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-overs” 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 (this includes a player who has just kicked the ball).

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. A “ruck” or informal scrum (see below) 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 (“grounded”) 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; see above) 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.
Picture
Spectator Guide
File Size: 939 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

rugby_101.pdf
File Size: 230 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

  • Home
  • About the MRFU
    • Promoting Rugby >
      • Rookie Rugby Downloads
    • St. Louis Ruggerfest
    • Harry Langenberg
    • Grant Request
  • Ruggerfest 2020
  • Mid America GU
  • What is Rugby?
  • Contact