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Rugby 101

Rugby 101

Rugby is traditionally said to have begun at Rugby School in England in 1823. Today it’s played all around the world, by people of every age, size and background.

The basics

  • The teams: 15 players a side in the full game. Sevens has 7 a side, and Small Blacks teams are smaller too.
  • The field: up to 100m long and 70m wide, plus an in-goal area at each end. Each team defends one half, divided by the halfway line.
  • The ball: oval, and it can be carried, passed and kicked.
  • The aim: carry the ball forward and ground it over the opposition’s try line to score a try.
  • Game length: up to 80 minutes in the adult game. Junior games are shorter.

Scoring

  • Try (5 points): grounding the ball over the opposition’s try line.
  • Conversion (2 points): after a try, a kick at goal from in line with where the try was scored. It counts if the ball goes over the crossbar and between the posts.
  • Penalty goal (3 points): a kick at goal after the other team infringes.
  • Drop goal (3 points): kicking the ball over the crossbar in open play, after dropping it so it touches the ground first.

The golden rule

You can’t pass the ball forward. A forward pass, or knocking the ball forward, gives the other team a scrum.

Want to know more? Check out the World Rugby laws, and for junior rugby, the Small Blacks rules.