Rugby got its name from a form of the game played in Rugby, England. It was first organized with written rules in 1845, though variations have been played for centuries. In 1895, rugby split into two forms: Rugby Union and Rugby League. The premier rugby organization in the United States is the American National Rugby League, or AMNRL.
Scoring
There are three ways to score points in rugby. You're awarded four points for a "try," which occurs when you touch the ball to the ground inside your opponent's goal. If you score a try, you're allowed a kick at the goal, which is a dead-ball place kick worth two points. The final way to score is a field goal. At any time during live play, a player can dropkick the ball through the opponent's uprights for one point. The ball must touch the ground before it's kicked.
Tackling
A team is allowed six tackles each possession before the ball is turned over. Once a player is tackled with tackles remaining, the defenders have to get up immediately and allow him to play the ball back to one of his teammates. On the sixth tackle the ball is turned over to the opponent at the spot of the tackle. The AMNRL defines a tackle as when the progress of a player is stopped by the defenders. The arm holding the ball must contact the ground while a defender is touching the ball carrier.
Ball Movement
Ball movement in rugby occurs through passes and kicks. Players can pass the ball to teammates as often as they like, as long as the passes move backwards. Forward passing is not allowed. To avoid a sixth tackle, a player can kick the ball away to the other team to gain better field position, or kick the ball forward in hopes that his teammates recover it for a fresh set of six tackles.
Fouls
Tacklers are not allowed to strike the ball carrier in the head or strip the ball from a ball carrier when there is more than one defender engaged. Stripping on a solo tackle is allowed. When kicking away or for a regather, players must be behind the kicker or they are declared offsides. An offside player can't gather the kick or make a tackle until the kicker passes him up again, or an opponent gathers the ball and runs a minimum of 10 meters. Violating these rules results in a fresh set of six tackles for the opponent.
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