RUGBY PRESENTATIONSport in Scotland and Great Britain

THE POPULARITY• Rugby is one of the most popular

sports in the UK

• It is a rough, violent sport but surprisingly it does not attract a rough, violent crowd

• All matches have a friendly atmosphere, much unlike football in the United Kingdom

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FOOTBALL IS A GENTLEMAN’S SPORT PLAYED BY HOOLIGANS, RUGBY IS A HOOLIGAN’S SPORT PLAYED BY GENTLEMAN

This is a popular phrase about rugby and it highlights the fact that despite it being a violent sport, it does not attract a violent crowd

BASIC RULES

The ball must be passed backwards

The ball may be kicked forward, providing your team mate does not collect it until you are in line with each other or they are behind you

You can tackle your opponent with your arms or shoulder and it must be below the neck

POINTS

The three ways of achieving points are:

Tries(5 points)

Conversions (2 points)

Drop goals (3 points)

Penalty kicks (3 points)

TRIES

Gained by placing the ball on the ground beyond the oppositions goal line

CONVERSIONS

After each try scored, the team is to take a conversion kick in line with where the try was scored in order to gain a possible extra 2 points

The aim is for the player to kick it between the ‘H’ shaped posts

DROP GOALS

During the game a player may attempt a drop goal which is when the let the ball drop to the ground and as it hits the ground they kick it between the ‘H’ shaped posts

It takes a very skilful player to do this as it is difficult when there are opposition players trying to tackle you

PENALTY KICKS

Penalty kicks can be taken when the opposition makes a foul, for example a high tackle

A penalty kick can then be taken from the position where the foul was made

They can also make the decision to just keep the ball

They will again aim to kick the ball between the ‘H’ shaped posts

THE SCRUM

The scrum happens when the ball is passed or knocked forward

8 players from each team bind together and push to win possession of the ball

The team that passed the ball forward has a disadvantage because they do not feed the ball into the scrum

STADIUMS• The biggest stadium for

any sport in Scotland is Murrayfield, which holds 71,000 people and is in Edinburgh, the capital

• Ireland, 51,000

• England 82,000

• Wales 72,000

INTERNATIONAL RUGBY

More popular than club rugby (more interest, bigger crowds)

There are 3 main tournaments, the world cup, the 6 nations and the British Lions Tour

THE WORLD CUP

Similar format to the football world cup

New Zealand, Australia, South Africa have won it the most times (twice each)

THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS

Every two years a team of the best British and Irish Players will tour Australia, New Zealand or South Africa

They will play three matches against one another

THE SIX NATIONS• Held every year

• Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy all compete against one another

THE PRIZES

1st Place Last Place