Rugby is one of the fastest and most exciting sports in the world. The brute strength combined with athleticism make it a challenging game to play and master. South Africa, New Zealand and Australia are some of the most dominant rugby-playing countries, and many colleges around North America offer the game to their students. Learning the rules may be challenging, but once you have them mastered, you will be able to play a high-energy sport that will provide you with great exercise.
Playing Game
Step 1
Get yourself some athletic shoes, athletic clothes, and a rugby ball and bring them to a grass field with about 20 friends to make it a realistic rugby game. The rugby ball is synthetic leather and oval shaped, similar to an American football. However, the ball is rounder and lacks the pointed ends and laces of an American football.
Step 2
Choose sides and divide up the participants into two teams. A rugby match is typically about 80 minutes in length and divided into two 40-minute halves.
Step 3
Start the game and have the two teams line up on opposite sides of the ball. The object of the game is to use your teammates to advance the ball to the opponents try zone, an area between the dead ball line and the try line. A try is scored by touching the ball down in an opponents try zone and is worth five points. A conversion is worth two points and is made when the ball is kicked between the two field goal posts after a try. Advance the ball toward the try zone by running with it and passing it sideways and backwards to your teammates before you are tackled to the ground by your opponent. The ball can also be kicked upfield to advance it. The ball is not allowed to be passed or knocked forward unless it is kicked.
Step 4
When the ball is passed forward illegally, a scrum will take place. Have the forwards on your team lock shoulders with the forwards from the other team. Then, have one of the players from the team that did not commit the infraction throw the ball into the opening at the feet between the two sides of the scrum. Your teammates need to use their feet to try to draw the ball back and win possession for your team. This is similar to a faceoff in hockey.
Tips and Warnings
- You will notice many similarities between rugby football and American football. If you are already a skilled football player, picking up rugby should not be too difficult. Try to watch a rugby game on television to better understand the strategies and plays that make up a game. Protective padding is optional in rugby.
- Rugby is a very physical sport that requires moderate courage to play. Although in rugby a tackle is often made by wrapping up the opponent and taking him down, the act can still cause injury and participants in this game should make sure it is medically safe for them to be playing.
Things You'll Need
- Athletic shoes
- Rugby ball
- Athletic clothes
- Large grass field
- Field goal posts or soccer goals
- 20 participants
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