Rugby
union, or just simply rugby, is a contact sport
with the aim to bring the ball over to the opponents’ goal line and then pummel
it to the ground. The ball needs to be passed backwards in order to go forward
in the playing field. Teamwork and discipline are key players in winning this
game. Intelligent use of space and ability to restrict the opponents’ access to
the ball would lead to a good game of rugby union. In playing this game, two
teams composed of fifteen players each must battle it out. Rugby union involves
two periods of forty minutes each. Both teams change ends in a ten-minute break
between the periods
During
the 1820s, rugby was played similarly to soccer and there was still no limit to
the number of players on each team that time. There were no clear and
established rules then. This is the reason why players were still permitted to
catch the ball as well as kick it out of the players’ hands. William Webb
Ellis, a little boy back in 1823, was the one who first ran holding the ball
while playing rugby. In 1830, running with the ball was already allowed in the
game. It was in 1845 that some boys, including William, wrote down a specific
set of rules. The
original rugby ball was made from pig’s bladder. It was round unlike the shape
of the ones in use nowadays – oval. Rugby balls must be
between 28 cm – 30 cm in length and weigh approximately between 383 – 440 grams.
Dissimilar to football, rugby union accentuates
positional discipline. Players of rugby are numbered based on their position
and are assigned with different sets of responsibilities inside the field. In a
fifteen-player team, there are eight forwards (Players 1-8) and seven backs
(Players 9-15). The forwards’ main goals comprise of achieving possession of
the ball and being able to retain it. Because of the daunting task assigned to
them, the forwards need to be in physically intimidating. They also need to be
able to contribute to the team in terms of speed and agility. The forwards
consist of the following: the loosehead prop (#1), hooker (#2), tighthead prop
(#3), the locks (#4, #5), the blindside flanker (#6), the openside flanker
(#7), and the Number 8.
The
loosehead prop is responsible in supporting the hooker during the scrum. The
scrum occurs when restarting play after being stopped usually because of minor
violations. Player #1 must be powerful enough to say with the duration of the
scrum but must also be fluid in movement. On the other hand, the hooker needs
to utilize his/her feet to “hook” the ball in the event of a scrum. The
tighthead prop functions similarly to the loosehead prop but unlike #1, the
‘tighthead’ is situated between the loosehead prop and the hooker of the
opponent. Players 4 and 5 should be able to sustain momentum and balance for
his team. The locks are important in carrying the ball all throughout the rugby
game. The blindside flanker (# 6)
is treated as an all around player without an assigned set of duties. He is
responsible to account for potential attacks that may occur on the blindside of
the scrum. Meanwhile, the open side
flanker infiltrates the opponent’s defense and Player #8 serves as a link to the forwards and the backs.
After the forwards retain possession of
the ball, the backs now need to respond and generate points. The scrum-half (# 9) is generally the
first line of defense because it joins the backs to the forwards. Player #10,
referred to as the fly-half, may
be considered to be the most significant player being the one to devise tactics
with his distribution of the ball. He is also the goal-kicker in the field. Wingers (#11, #14) are the players
usually executing winning goals. The reception of balls from the fly-half is
the job of both the inside center (#
12) and outside center (# 13). The last one, the fullback, “sweeps” the
field and is usually the one who tackles opponents.
After
going through the basics and the positions in this game, it is also imperative
to discuss the Laws and how scoring is achieved. Four ways are used to score
points – the try, the conversion goal, the penalty goal, and the drop goal.
When a player carrying the ball is able to touch the ball in the in-goal area
of the opponent, a try is awarded. The ball must not be thrown and should touch
the ground together with some upper body part. The try is worth five points. The team that was able to pocket the try can
add additional points by seeking a conversion goal. Two more points will be
rewarded if the kick is made from at least ten meters from the try line. The
kick must also be directly from where the ball was in the in-goal area. In the
event that a team committed a penalty which is near to the in-goal area, the
other team may attempt to make a penalty goal from the penalty zone. This goal
is worth three points. The last way is to put together a drop goal by
dropkicking or enabling the ball to make contact with the ground before being
kicked. Two points will be added to the score of the team to make this goal.
The
totality of the playing field is referred to as the “ground”. The ground
consists of the field of play, the playing area, the in-goal zone and “the 22”.
The field of play is the area encompassed by but not including both the goal
lines and the touch lines. On the other hand, the playing area consists of the
field of play with the in-goal zones. This area excludes the touchlines,
touch-in-goal lines and dead ball. Meanwhile, the in-goal area corresponds to
the region in between the goal line and the dead ball line, which is also
flanked by the touch-in-goal lines. This area also includes the goal line. In
between the goal line and the 22-meter line, “the 22” area is situated. This
contains the 22-meter line but not the goal line. It is obligatory that the
ground be always safe for players because of the nature of the sport. The type
of surface could be made of grass, sand, clay, even artificial grass. The
length of the field of play typically does not go beyond 100 meters while each
of the in-goal zones should be below 22 meters in length. The width of the entire playing area must not be more than 70
meters in width.
Strategic plays and
effective tactics pose great impact in playing contact sports like rugby.
Attacks made during open plays are directly affected by how efficient the
manner of passing and kicking the ball across the field of play. Any period in
the match where the ball is passed and kicked to and fro teammates indicates
open play. Rules
covering passing the ball require that the pass must not cross the goal line of
the opponent. The path of travel of the
ball passed should be directly across the playing area, or back along the
course of the passer’s goal line. Players may opt to pass or throw the ball
especially when it comes to securing a better position to strike and take a
goal. Another option to consider is kicking the
ball in order for the player to launch an attack. In order to ensue kicking the
ball forwards by an attacker, his teammates in front as the ball is kicked
should be out of play until the kind of attack changes.
Offensive and defensive strategies go
hand-in-hand in rugby union. As passing of the ball occurs, tackling the ball
carrier may take place. A ruck, a scenario when
the team carrying the ball attempts to retain possession while the opposing
team tries to steal it, forms. Three players or more from each team will
make a strong wall which the other team must push over. The ball is awarded
to the team which maintained the ball behind their wall of players. Sometimes,
when the ball carrier collides with another of the opposing team, a maul
occurs. Again, each team will have players
strive to force away the player still holding the ball toward an end of the
playing field.
Play of the ball is
impeded either because of a team committing violations or the ball goes
outside the bounds of the playing field.
A dead ball results and the play is continued through set pieces. Aside
from the scrum, another set piece, the lineout, occurs because the ball goes
out of bounds. In a spot perpendicular to the lineout zone and five meters from
the touch line, forwards from each of the two opposing teams will
assemble. The team which is not
responsible for the set piece will toss the ball in the gap between the lines
of players. The players will then attempt to get their hands on the ball to
gain territory. The aforementioned scrum is also a set piece and occurs
whenever the game stops due to a minor infringement of the Laws of the game.
Match officials mainly in charge of the control and overseeing
the game include the referee as well as two touch judges. Before the match start, the referee talks
to the fronts from both teams and then facilitates the coin toss to settle who
kicks off. The referee’s job does not stop there for the moderates the game
based on the Law and his judgments. Meanwhile, the two touch judges aid the
referee in decisions regarding cases when the ball goes into touch. They also
give rulings whether goals are made victoriously or not. Equipment’s and safety apparel are required when playing
these types of sports. For the case of rugby, pair of boots with cleats, mouth
guards, head gear and other protective clothing should be worn during the
entirety of the game.
Match officials mainly in charge of the control and overseeing
the game include the referee as well as two touch judges. Before the match start, the referee talks
to the fronts from both teams and then facilitates the coin toss to settle who
kicks off. The referee’s job does not stop there for the moderates the game
based on the Law and his judgments. Meanwhile, the two touch judges aid the
referee in decisions regarding cases when the ball goes into touch. They also
give rulings whether goals are made victoriously or not. Equipment’s and safety apparel are required when playing
these types of sports. For the case of rugby, pair of boots with cleats, mouth
guards, head gear and other protective clothing should be worn during the
entirety of the game.
Highly anticipated international rugby
union tournaments include the celebrated Rugby World Cup, Six Nations Championship and the Rugby Championship.
References:
[1]
A Beginners's Guide to Rugby Union. (n.d.-a). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from
http://www.irbpassport.com/?page=beginners&p=3.
[2]
Rugby School. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from
http://www.rugbyschool.net/a-history-of-rugby-football
[3]
Positions – Talk Rugby Union. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from
http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/rugby_union_positions.html
[4]
Rugby Rules & Regulations | iSport.com. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2014,
from http://rugby.isport.com/rugby-guides/rugby-rules-regulations
[5]
IRB Laws - The IRB's Law Education Web Site. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7,
2014, from http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=1&language=EN
[6]
A Beginners's Guide to Rugby Union. (n.d.-b). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from
http://www.irbpassport.com/?page=beginners&p=6
[7]
A Beginners's Guide to Rugby Union. (n.d.-c). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from
http://www.irbpassport.com/?page=beginners&p=5
[8]
A Beginners's Guide to Rugby Union. (n.d.-d). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from
http://www.irbpassport.com/?page=beginners&p=15
