Rugby Open and Set Play

During the game play must not take place infront of the ball and subsequently players are penalised for passing the ball forward in the direction of the opposite goal. There are stringent offside rules to prevent this. If the ball is accidentally fumbled forward, a minor infraction called a "knock on" has occurred. At the referee?s discretion, however, play does not stop should the other team gain an advantage from the miscue.

The ball can be advanced by: running it forward, kicking it forward, or passing it laterally until an open running space can be found and exploited. Field position can be dramatically enhanced with tactically accurate kicking. Balls are usually kicked to a part of the field left undefended, leading to a frantic foot race for possession.

A mystery to may strangers to the game is the scrummage (or scrum). The referee awards scrums after minor infractions arise (such as a forward pass or knock on). At the given mark each forward pack of eight players interlock, binding together, about an arms length apart. As the two front rows engage, a tunnel is created. All 16 forwards push in unison. On a hand signal from his hooker, the scrum half-back for the side awarded the scrum rolls the ball into the tunnel. The ball is then "hooked" back with a well-timed foot strike (as hands cannot touch the ball in a scrum formation), or by sheer force one pack may push the other over and past the ball to gain possession. The ball is picked up when it emerges at the last scrummager?s foot.

A lineout occurs when the ball travels over the sidelines, or "into touch". Play is resumed from the mark where the ball went into touch, by the side not handling it last. That side calls out a coded play and attempts to direct the ball to their assigned jumper. The ball is thrown down the middle of two parallel rows of opposing forwards, standing a yard apart. The advantage to the throwing side comes in knowing which jumper to favour often hoists him to breathtaking heights. The ball may be caught or tapped back, with creative attacks sometimes coming from a quick, unexpected tap.

Scrums and lineouts are all about possession of the ball. The forward pack with dominant skills can overcome one of greater size. A dominant forward pack can win most set pieces (scrum and lineout), and in so doing, neutralise an extraordinary runner or kicker in the opponents back line, by keeping the ball out of his hands. As the ball readies to emerge from the base of a set piece, a platform for transition into an attacking play exists. That play may come from the forwards, or the scrum half may elect to spin the ball out to his backs. A scrum half is the play maker, quick, and always elusive, crafty and tough. His underhand pass out to the back line may be a 15-meter bullet thrown while diving in the direction of his pass, fully stretched out and perhaps in the grasp of a desperate defender. The swift and strong running back line then attacks the defense in an attempt to find open space, as in a 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 break in basketball. A well-executed back line movement can be graceful, powerful and astonishing all at once.

Rugby Scoring

Scoring

The objective of the game is to gain more points than the opposing team within the allotted time of play. A tie is called if the scores are equal at the end of play. The point score is as follows.

Try (5 points)	A rugby try is similar to an American football touchdown, but with two key differences. When the ball carrier crosses the goal or tryline, play continues. The player must be seen to put downward pressure on the ball, in full view of the referee, (often in the midst of warding off tacklers,) in order for a try to be awarded. If the referee has difficulty in making the decision, he may ask the video referee to make the decision. He does this by making an outline of a rectangle with his hands to demonstrate his request.
Conversion (2 points)	The team?s goal kicker must then kick the conversion from the mark of the try along a line perpendicular to the tryline from the 22metre line or further back if desired. From there he can place or drop kick it between the posts. (Rugby goal posts are located on the tryline.)
Penalty (3 points)	When a penalty is awarded, the captain may elect to "take the points" and give his kicker a shot at goal. The ball must then be kicked through the exact mark given by the referee, again as a placed or dropped kick. This could be a hard price to pay for being caught offside, playing the ball while on the ground, or being guilty of dangerous play (high tackling, etc.).
Drop goal (3 points)	Any player, may at any time, from anywhere on the pitch, attempt a drop kick. This same rule still exists in the NFL, with the great Jim Thorpe the last to exploit it. Although difficult and risky (since a miss generally results in a turnover), this form of scoring has broken many a heart. Often used as a last resort in response to a solid defensive stand, an outstanding kicker can break an opponent?s back with a swift and accurate blow. Many games have been won in this dramatic fashion, often at the final whistle.

Rugby Rules

The Rules of the Game

It was once considered to be brutal and rugged game, the purpose of which was to develop character and team play in the young Fauntleroy?s of the privileged classes. However modern rugby has developed into a fast paced game of skill and determination, where mind and body are exerted to the maximum. Each side has 15 players and all have specific duties to perform. Team formations vary but are broken into two, sometimes three lines. The seven forwards or tight five (in three formation) make up the pack. Traditionally the second group are called the backs, and consist of the remaining 6 players. The loose forwards and Number 9, the scrum half, form the third group, but in tho formation Number 9, alone separates the seven forwards and six backs. Invariably the side possessing superior skill, and who plays as a team, will prevail over a much fitter, but less experienced side. A summary of position and style of boot is given below.

Number	Position	Style of boots
1	Prop	Boots worn have high and stiff heel counters to protect the anklebones (malleoli). The boot needs to be able to stabilise the foot on landing, This is particularly important for second row forwards, who are hoisted into the air at the line out (by the props0, and are prone to ankle injuries.
2	Hooker
3	Prop
4	Lock (2nd row)
5	Lock (2nd row)
6	Flanker (Wing Forward)	The loose forwards wear boots with a lower heel counter because of their need to move freely
7	Flanker (Wing Forward)
8	8th Man
9	Scrum Half
10	Fly Half	Backs choose low cut style of boot, similar to soccer shoes. The boot facilitates speed and turning which helps the players carry out backline manoeuvres.
11	Weak Side Wing
12	Inside Centre
13	Outside Centre
14	Strong Side Wing
15	Fullback

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