International Rugby

Rugby Ball Rules

Rugby is a full-contact team sport that influenced the American style of football. The game has a following in the U.S., but rugby is especially popular in New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Europe and parts of South America. The International...

Equipment Needed for a Game of Rugby

Rugby does not require a lot of equipment to play. All you need is a special ball, a setup for scoring, and safety equipment to prevent injury. Unlike football, rugby players do not wear a lot of body padding or large helmets.

Rugby Clock Protocol

A typical rugby match lasts 80 minutes, consisting of two 40-minute halves. The rules of international rugby designate the referee as the official timekeeper of a match. Like international soccer, each half of a rugby match may include additional...

Rules & Regulations of Rugby

Players all participate in both the offense and the defense during the game of rugby. Rugby teams advance the ball down the field by running, kicking or passing the ball, ultimately hoping to score at the end of the field. Along the way, there...

How to Play Irish Rugby

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...

What Happens When a Referee Stops a Game of Rugby?

The International Rugby Board's Laws of the Game empower the referee to stop play or even stop the match altogether. These rules outline the circumstances under which the referee can stop play or end the game. What happens after the referee stops...

The Best Shoulder Braces for Rugby

Rugby is an often brutal, fast-paced sport. It is similar to American football but without all the protective helmets and pads. The International Rugby Board is a governing body that oversees the acceptable types of gear that can be worn by rugby...

What Equipment Is Required to Play Rugby?

The rough-and-tumble game of rugby, popular around the world but especially in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom, may not require as much equipment as American football, the game it influenced. However, players on both...

Legality of Sport Goggles in Rugby

If you are not familiar with rugby, a match may resemble a game of helter skelter that is somewhat reminiscent of American football but without protective head gear and padding. However, the International Rugby Board has specific laws and...

What Kind of Gear Do You Need for Rugby?

Rugby is an energetic and highly physical sport where physical contact is commonplace. Rugby clothing must be durable to not tear during the tackling, grabbing or pulling to which it is is regularly subjected. Rugby shirts are often made of...

How Does a Rugby Scrum Work?

The rugby scrum is a restart in rugby union play that requires each team to show a high amount of technique and strength to win the ball. According to International Rugby Board laws, a scrum is awarded by the referee for infractions and fouls...

How Long Does a Rugby Match Last?

Rugby is a full-contact sport that influenced the American style of football. The game is popular in Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and other parts of the world. Played in two halves, a typical rugby match is longer in duration than...

Number of Repeated Efforts in a Rugby Game

Rugby has had a varied, complicated and worldwide influence. Not only did professionalism and amateurism collide to create the two different codes used today, but rugby was also the primary influence for American football. The major difference...

What to Eat Before a Rugby Game

Successful performance in a rugby match requires high levels of energy and physical strength. Whether your game is the regular 80-minute match or rugby sevens, eating an appropriate pre-game meal will give you the fuel needed for optimum...

Rugby's History

Rugby doesn't just have one international governing body and one world cup as many other sports do --- it has two. The reasons for this are rooted in what is commonly called "the great split" or "the great schism" in rugby circles. This was an...

Scrum Techniques

A scrum is a way of restarting play in the sport of rugby after the ball has gone out of play or after a penalty. In a scrum, eight forwards from both teams form a unit, and the front four players of both teams engage so that their heads are...

How Has the Game Rugby Changed Over the Years?

The story goes that a schoolboy named William Webb Ellis played a soccer match at Rugby school in England in 1823. During the game Webb Ellis picked up the football and ran -- giving birth to an entirely new sport. Though the story may be...

Rugby Equipment Rules

The International Rugby Board's rulebook, referred to as the Laws of the Game, provides specific guidelines for all equipment, including the ball and individual players' clothing or gear. Learn the rules regarding equipment and clothing to avoid...

About Welsh Rugby

The sport of rugby union holds a special place in Welsh culture and is considered by historians to be as synonymous with Wales as coal mining. The popularity of the sport and the support of loyal fans means that all 74 500 seats at the Millennium...

Smart Shopping: Smart Shopping for Rugby Body Armor

While many rugby players eschew rugby body armor as unnecessary and not authentic to the sport, other teams use all types of rugby body armor for physical protection against injury as well as to look beefier and more threatening in order to...

What Is a Football Cap?

Television commentators covering international football matches such as exhibitions, cup qualifiers and the World Cup itself may refer to the number of "caps" a soccer player has. This does not refer to an extensive collection of chapeaux, sailor...

Rugby Games for Kids

In rugby, a type of football game, two opposing teams attempt to score points by kicking an oval ball into the ground beyond their opponent's goal line or kicking it through their goal posts. Players can tackle their opponents to keep them from...

Scrum Rules

A rugby scrum is a fast way to restart play after a minor infraction or stoppage. Rugby scrum rules are in place to ensure the safety of players in a head-to-head encounter. Each team puts eight players known as forwards into a rugby scrum.

Rugby Games Rules

Rugby Union is a dynamic and physically challenging game. Rugby game rules are designed to ensure a fast flowing and entertaining game, while ensuring the safety of all rugby players. Rugby Union is played in two halves that are 40 minutes in...

What Is the Difference Between Rugby Cleats & Football Cleats?

If you play rugby or American football, you need a quality pair of cleats. These shoes provide necessary traction on different types of playing surfaces and field conditions. When shopping for cleats, it is important to remember that rugby and...

The Size of a Pro Football

The first question to answer when you want to know the size of a professional football is: What is a football? In the U.S., it is a standard NFL oblate-spheroid pigskin. In the U.K., a football is a regulation, pig-bladder rugby ball. And in...

Rugby Tournament Rules

Rugby has not reached the level of popularity in most places in the United States to allow regular leagues. Thus, many club teams host and travel to tournaments within their state or region to test themselves against other competition. Tournaments...

What is a Scrum in Rugby?

A scrum is a method of restarting play in rugby. It requires skill, discipline and physical strength in order for a rugby team to win the ball. A scrum is awarded by the referee after a number of infractions have occurred. The non-offending team...

How to Play Quad Rugby (Video)

Quad rugby is a fast-paced and hard-hitting sport that has received recognition in both movies and TV. Learn how to play quad rugby in this sports video.