Rugby (sport)

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Rugby union refers to a team sport popular in the UK, France, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and throughout the south Pacific region. American Football is derived from it and shares a few similarities. Rugby League and Australian Rules Football are also related sports.

Manner of play

Players may push or tackle an opposition player who is carrying the ball. Once a player carrying the ball is tackled, that player must release the ball and all players who are on their feet may attempt to collect the ball. Two teams of fifteen players carry, pass (only backwards or laterally) and kick the ball down the field with the goal of touching the ball down over the opposition's try-line, (the equivalent of the end zone in America football). The game is played with an oval shaped ball, similar to an American Football but rounder and slightly larger. The pitch is 100metres by 50m with an in-goal of between 10 and 20m.

When minor infringements, such as dropping the ball and propelling it forward (a knock on) or a forward pass occur, the game is restarted with a scrum. A scrum consists of the 8 forwards from each team binding onto one another and pushing whilst another, the halfback puts the ball in the middle and both teams attempt to kick the ball back to their side. When the ball goes out of play or into touch, the game is restarted with a lineout. A lineout consists of a number of players from each team forming two straight lines a metre apart and a player throwing the ball down the middle. When more serious infringements such as foul play and offsides occur, a penalty is awarded which allows the non-offending team to have a free kick of the ball or to have a shot at goal.

Scoring

When the ball is touched down by a ball carrier in his opponents in-goal ia try is scored. Scoring a try awards 5 points and enables the team to take a conversion. A conversion is taken by kicking the ball from a stationary position on the ground (usually with the help of a kicking tee or a small mound of dirt) over the crossbars of the H-shaped posts which awards the team an additional 2 points. A successful penalty kick is worth 3 points. A drop-goal (also worth 3 points) can be taken at any time during the game by dropping the ball on the ground and kicking it over the crossbar.

History

The game is said to have originated in the 1830's at Rugby School in England. Rugby quickly spread to all of the United Kingdom and France and by the 1880's to the colonies of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The game was popular in California around the turn of the century. The game split in 1895 over professionalism. The Rugby Union demanded (with varying degrees of effectiveness) complete amateurism for the game; the newly-formed Rugby League allowed players to be paid. Rugby Union remained amateur until 1995. Rugby featured at the olympics until 1924, with the United States winning the last Olympic medal. In 1987 the first world cup was held with New Zealands' All Blacks winning at home. Since then the world cup has been won by Australia (twice) South Africa (twice) and England (once). A notable feature of the world game since the World Cup Era began, has been the dominance of the All Blacks between world cups but their inability to win the main prize.


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See also