Rugby is a contact team sport played with an oval ball in which players carry, pass, and kick to score tries and goals. It originated in England in the 19th century and now has two main codes: rugby union (15 players per side) and rugby league (13 players). Read more
How many players are in a rugby union team?
EasyA rugby union team consists of 15 players on the field at one time, divided into eight forwards (the scrum) and seven backs. Teams can have up to eight substitutes (replacements) on the bench for a total squad of 23 players. The forwards are responsible for set-piece play and physicality, while the backs focus on speed and running.
Rugby union's 15-a-side format dates back to the 1870s - before that, early rugby matches could have any number of players per side, with some recorded games featuring 50 or more players on each team.
How long is a rugby union match?
EasyA rugby union match consists of two 40-minute halves, totaling 80 minutes of playing time. The referee adds time at the end of each half for injuries, stoppages, and extended play at the end of a half when the ball is in play. In major competitions, extra time is played if matches are level, with a 20-minute period (two 10-minute halves) used to determine a winner.
The longest rugby union test match in history lasted 100 minutes - a 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final between New Zealand and Ireland went to extended time in the final minutes, with added time creating a match of exceptional length.
Which player is known as the 'Richie McCaw' position?
HardRichie McCaw was the most celebrated Openside Flanker (number 7) in rugby union history, making that position synonymous with his name. McCaw captained the New Zealand All Blacks to two consecutive Rugby World Cup victories (2011 and 2015). He is widely regarded as the greatest rugby player of all time, winning the World Rugby Player of the Year award three times.
Richie McCaw is so respected in New Zealand that he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit - and a survey found that more New Zealanders knew his face than the current Prime Minister's. He remains a national hero.
What is the Haka and which team performs it?
EasyThe Haka is a traditional M?ori war dance performed by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team before international matches. It is used as a challenge to opponents and as a powerful display of team unity and cultural pride. The All Blacks perform the Ka Mate Haka, which dates back to the early 19th century.
Different New Zealand teams use different versions of the Haka - the All Blacks' Ka Mate was composed by chief Te Rauparaha in 1820, while the Kapa o Pango, introduced in 2005, features a throat-slitting gesture that caused controversy in some countries.
How many points is a try worth in rugby union?
EasyA try in rugby union is worth 5 points and is scored when a player grounds the ball over the opponent's try line. After a try is scored, the scoring team has the opportunity to attempt a conversion kick for an additional 2 points. Tries replaced touchdowns as the primary scoring method and their value has been increased several times to encourage attacking play.
A try was originally worth zero points in rugby's early days - it only 'tried' a team's ability to score a goal. The try itself was worth nothing, only the conversion counted. The scoring value was later increased to encourage teams to run the ball.
What is a 'scrum' in rugby?
EasyA scrum in rugby is a method of restarting play in which the eight forwards from each team bind together and contest for the ball. A scrum is awarded after minor infringements such as a forward pass or knock-on. The ball is fed into the tunnel between the two packs, and the hooker attempts to heel the ball back to the scrum-half.
The scrum is unique to rugby among major sports - it requires extraordinary physical strength, technique, and teamwork, and professional teams spend hours each week in specialized 'scrummaging machines' to develop the coordinated pushing force needed.
How many points is a penalty kick worth in rugby union?
EasyA penalty kick is worth 3 points in rugby union, the same as a dropped goal. Penalty kicks are awarded when the opposition commits an infringement and are typically taken from where the infringement occurred. Teams can choose to kick for goal, kick to touch (gaining territory), or take a quick tap penalty.
The 1999 Rugby World Cup final between Australia and France saw Australian fly-half Matt Burke score 25 points entirely from kicks (five penalties and five conversions) without scoring a try - a remarkable example of how decisive kicking can be in rugby.
What is the difference between rugby union and rugby league team sizes?
EasyThe main difference in team size between rugby union and rugby league is that rugby union is played with 15 players per side, while rugby league uses 13 players. This difference emerged from the 1895 split in rugby when northern English clubs broke away to form their own code, partly over player payment rules. The two codes also have different tackle and scrum rules.
The rugby union vs league split of 1895 was so bitter that union players were banned from even watching league matches - a ban that wasn't fully lifted until rugby union became professional in 1995, exactly 100 years after the original split.