wikipédia :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union
en français :
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_à_XV
Another site is rugbyrugby.com
Always impressive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC_aB7vzmEw
Note 1 :
Rugby Union (game with 15 players) uses the official IRB set of rules. These are the rules for all major international events.
"Sevens" is a variant with 7 players a side, also endorsed by IRB.
Rugby League is an unofficial (ie. non-IRB) variant with 13 players.
Note 2 (VERY IMPORTANT !) :
You can't compare international rugby with international soccer. Soccer, as a team sport, is a great equalizer. Even a mediocre team can beat a good one.
Rugby is the complete opposite : big teams outrageously dominate smaller ones. It's important to know this if you support a 2nd tier team (like USA or Canada). Don't ask if USA can beat a 1st tier team. They can't. It won't happen. All they can offer is a gallant stand -- "good defeats" are important in rugby. Even among 1st tier teams, the gap between Italy and Australia, for example, is gigantic.
http://www.irb.com/en/World+Rankings...kings+full.htm
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Ok, basic rules of rugby :
- the main idea is to bring the ball in the opposite endzone.
- you can't pass forward with hand. You can pass forward with feet, but since the ball is oval, it has almost no accuracy.
- Offsides is called when a player is ahead of the ball AND commits an interference. Ideally speaking, the team should look like an arrow head, with the ball carrier at the point. However, since the ball moves a lot, players are very often offsides, but replace all alone. So, to get a call, you need offside + interference.
- Ball must always be "alive". It means a player can't block or hide the ball under his body.
- a try (= touchdown) is worth 5 points. The player really has to touch the ball down. The subsequent conversion is 2. A drop goal (= field goal) is 3 points.
- a minor penalty leads to a scrum. A scrum is when the two teams big guys push together to get the ball.
- a major penalty is, roughly speaking, a free ball. On choice, the team can attempt a field goal, kick out of bounds, ask for a scrum, or play the ball immediatly.
- A yellow card leads to play 10 minutes short-handed. A red card is for all the game.
- Tackling has its own set of rules, but most of them are self obvious. Imagine some sort of collective wrestling.
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Now, the line-out.
Numbers 1 to 8 are the forwards (aka the pack). They are the big guys.
Numbers 9 to 15 are the backs. They are the fast players.
1-2-3 : the first row. The strongest players. 1-3 are the props (=big muscles). Number 2 is the hooker.
4-5 : the second row, aka the locks. They specialize in taking high balls and are, most of the time, the tallest players in the team.
6-7-8 : the third row. In defence, they play like linebackers, in offence, like runners.
9 : the scrum half. He is the passer of the team.
10 : the fly half. He is the punter/kicker. In most teams, it's the key player.
11-14 : the wingmen.
12-13 : the centres.
15 : the fullback.
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If you want the french names, or have any question, just ask. And don't be afraid if you don't understand everything. Rugby is a
really complicated sport but, all in all, it's all about the most wonderful pleasure in life : bumping into brits
.
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edit, to Guignol : date a rugbywomen ? a prop or a fly-half ?
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