For the Beginner Rugby player at SUNY Cortland

By: Drew Herrmann

Basic Rules and Terminology

History and Origin of RugbyThe popular view of how rugby originated

comes from EnglandStory is,1823, William Webb Ellis, student at

Rugby School in England picked up the ball and ran with it while playing European football (Soccer)

Running with ball became own sport and new category of football was born, played in the early to mid 1800s

Rugby Football Union (RFU) formed mid 1800s to unify sport with set of recognized rules

Two different forms of Rugby Football were established, Rugby Union (15 players) and Rugby League (13 players)

Growth Worldwide and in North America

• More than 5 million people play rugby in over 117 countries

• Participation in rugby worldwide has increased 19% since 2007 RWC

• 18% growth in North America since 2007

• England has the highest participation rate with 2,549,196 registered players

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100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

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Registered PlayersTotal MaleTotal Female

Moving the ball possession across the pitch The objective in Rugby

is to move the ball on the pitch using three

different skills towards the oppositions goal,

called the Tryline

A Ruck is formed to keep possession of the

ball after a tackle is made

Carrying the ball

Passing the ball (can only pass backwards or lateral)

Kicking the ball

Ruck: a fight for possession of ball

Ruck is formed when someone goes to ground with ball, usually during tackle

Tackled player places ball towards his team to retain possession

Players from each team push opposing players over tackle and ball to win possession

Scoring Ball carried over

Tryline and touched downWorth 5 points

Conversion Kick after a TryWorth 2 points

Penalty kick, or Drop Goal during playWorth 3 points

Set Plays

A Scrum consists of each teams 8 pack players

The ball is “put in” between the packs

Each pack pushes the other to a position over the ball so it can be raked back with a foot

A Lineout is a throw in when the ball goes into touch (out of bounds)

The opposing packs lift a player who tries to receive the ball

SummaryMain Points

Only pass backwardsKick forwards at any timeScore by running, passing, and kicking ball

over Tryline and touch it down15 players on the pitch 80 minutes of play, two 40 minute halvesDrop Goals and extra points

If you want to learn more watch rugby clips on YouTube, or the 2011 Rugby World Cup!

Sources “Origins of Rugby”. Copyright 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2011

from http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/ “Rugby Rules for Beginners” uploaded by monkthatgotfunk

September 25, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiOpAvEdHQo

“Jeremy Staunton kicks a penalty 2 London Wasps/USAP rugby union game in Heineken Cup”. Uploaded by zoonabar on October 28, 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeremy_Staunton_kicks_a_penalty_2_Wasps_Perpignan.jpg

“Twickenham rugby stadium, from the North Stand.” released by Gareth Owen December 24, 2005. Retrieved on September 29, 2011 from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Twickenham_rfu.jpg

“My own work, taken at Jade Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand. Rugby Super 14, Crusaders vs Brumbies, 12th May 2006. Crusaders won 33-3”.Photo by Maree Leveley. Uploaded October 23, 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scrum-1.JPG