WOMEN'S RUGBY CLUB 

RUGBY BASICS

 

Objective: Carry the ball over the opponents’ goal line and touch the ball down to the ground to score a try.

 

Scoring: There are four ways to score points in a rugby game.

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• Try (5 points) – When the ball is grounded over an opponents’ goal line in their ‘try zone’ 

• Conversion kick (2 points) – After scoring a try the scoring team gets to kick the ball through the rugby uprights. 

• Penalty kick (3 points) – If the opposition commits a penalty, a team can choose to kick at the goal. 

• Drop Goal (3 points) – During play a team may drop kick the ball through the uprights 

 

Number of Players: Traditionally, 15 players on each side. Other versions have 7 or 10 players on each side.

 

Duration: Traditional rugby with 15 players on each side consists of 40 minute halves and a 10 minute half time.

 

Field: Rugby is played on a field not exceeding 100 meters in length (excluding two try zones) and 70 meters wide.

 

Equipment: Mouthguard and cleats

 

Passing: The rugby ball can only be passed laterally or backwards. There are no forward passes in rugby. If a forward pass is made it is an infringement of the rules and results in a scrum awarded to the other team.

 

Kicking: The rugby ball can be kicked at any time during a game.

 

Tackling: Rugby is a continuous, full contact sport. What this means is that once a tackle is made, play continues. A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is taken to the ground by a member of the opposition. Once tackled, a ball carrier must release the ball. Once a player makes a tackle, they must roll away from the play.

 

Ruck: Once a player is tackled to the ground, a ruck is formed when one or more players from each team come together over the top of the ball and fight to win possession. The ball emerges from one side or the other, and the play continues.

 

Maul: The ball carrier is held up by both a member of the opposing team and a member on their own team to form a maul. The ball can either be handed out from maul or taken to the ground, which then forms a ruck.

 

Scrum: This is used to restart play after a minor infringement occurs (i.e. forward pas, referred to as a  "knock-on"). The scrum consists of eight players known as the "forwards." These eight bind together and come head to head with the forwards of the opposing team. The ball is rolled into the middle of the scrum on the ground and the players work with their feet to hook the ball behind them, making it available to play. The ball is then collected by the scrumhalf and passed out, continuing the play.

 

Lineout: When the ball goes out of bounds, play is restarted with a lineout. Two lines are formed with opposing teams. The ball is thrown into the air through an imaginary tunnel between the team. Each team designates players to lift their teammate into the air to fight for possession.