Irish rugby has a history that extends back to 1854, with the founding of the country's first organized club at Dublin University. Ireland's national rugby team competes in international tournaments, including the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations Championship, which it won in 2009. The Irish Rugby Football Union governs the sport in Ireland, following the rules of the International Rugby Board, the governing body of world rugby. Consistent with IRB rules, an Irish rugby match consists of two 40-minute halves.
Basics of Play
Step 1
Start the match with a kickoff. A coin toss before the match can decide which team will kick off to the other. After receiving the kickoff, the opposing team can advance the ball by running with it, kicking it forward or passing it back or sideways to a teammate. The rules prohibit passing the ball forward. Defenders, meanwhile, try to tackle the ball carrier or intercept passes.
Step 2
Pass or release the ball to a teammate when you are tackled. Play continues if a teammate picks up the ball and runs with it.
Step 3
Stop play in the event of a ruck or a maul. A ruck occurs when one or more players from each team close around the ball when it is on the ground. Players in a ruck use their feet to try to gain possession. When a ball carrier is held by one or more opposing players while a teammate binds onto the ball carrier, a maul takes place. The referee restarts play after a ruck or maul with a rugby formation known as a scrum.
Step 4
Form a scrum, which occurs after a ruck, maul or a rules violation. In a scrum, eight players from each side form in rows, close together so that their heads appear to interlock. A player for one side, known as a scrum half, throws the ball into the scrum, at which time players from each side try to hook the ball with their feet and move it back to a teammate. Players in a scrum may not begin to compete for the ball until the referee calls "engage."
Scoring, Lineouts and Penalties
Step 1
Score a try to put points on the board for your team. Crossing your opponent's goal line, or in-goal, and grounding the ball there scores a try, which is worth 5 points in Irish rugby. A conversion goal follows, in which a player tries to kick the ball between the goal posts. A successful conversion is worth an additional 2 points. You also can score points for your team by drop kicking the ball through the goal posts during regular play. A successful drop goal is worth 3 points.
Step 2
Conduct a lineout when the ball goes out of bounds. During a lineout, the team that did not knock the ball out of bounds throws it back into play. After the ball is thrown, players on both sides compete to gain possession.
Step 3
Assess the appropriate penalty when a player or team commits a foul or rules violation. The IRB's Laws of the Game specify the penalties for various rules violations or offenses. For less serious rules violations, the referee orders a scrum. For more serious violations, including dangerous play, the referee awards the non-offending team a penalty kick. A successful penalty kick through the goal posts scores the team 3 points. Players that engage in dangerous play can be sent off the field either temporarily or for the remainder of the match.
Tips and Warnings
- Ensure that the playing field meets the correct dimensions. Under the IRB's Laws of the Game, a rugby pitch may not exceed 100 meters in length and 70 meters in width. The playing field also should have two H-shaped goal posts, one at each end of the field. A rugby team consists of 15 players, plus any approved replacements and substitutes. The IRB has a variation of the game that pits teams of seven players on each side. Both the 15-player and 7-player versions of rugby are played in Ireland.
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