Information for a newcomer to rugby?

Question

I just watched highlights of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between France and Argentina, and I think I quite like rugby. However, I don't really know how it's played, what is a scrum etc. I just know that you can score points by kicking the ball in between the posts and getting it past the line to score a try.

Can anyone give me a beginner's guide to rugby, like some good players, what is Rugby Union and Rugby League, the positions etc.

Thanks a lot! I'll give the best answer to the person who bothers to type the info down and not just send me a link =)

Answer 1

The basic differences between Rugby Union and Rugby league are that Rugby Union has 15 players whereas Rugby League has 13 players. In Rugby League the team has 6 tackles to score a try before the opposition gets the ball.

I have copied and pasted the information on Rugby Union!!

Rugby has 15 players and is played with an oval ball.

Rugby players run carrying the ball and can only pass sideways or backwards

For scoring purposes the ball in rugby has to go over the bar and between the posts (except with a try).

Scoring.

A "try" is made by a player "touching down" - that is to say putting the ball on the ground behind the goal line.

For this the team scores five points and gets a chance to "convert" the try by kicking it over the bar and through the goal posts for a further two points.

In addition players can have a go at a "drop kick" goal at any time. This means they drop the ball and kick it on the rebound. If it goes over the bar and between the posts that's another three points

Finally there are penalty kicks, awarded by the referee for infringements of the rules by the opposing team. A resulting penalty goal scores three points.

Clarifying terms

Tackle - the way a player tries to get the ball from another. The phrase "rugby flying tackle" has now gone into general usage for any one launching themselves at another with the aim of pulling them to the ground

Maul  - an informal scrum with ball in hand after a tackle

Ruck - the same thing - but the ball is loose on the ground because if the man with the ball is brought down he has to let go of it

Scrum - normally the forwards of each team pack together with their arms across one another's shoulders and their heads down. Thus locked together, the forwards wheel and push against the opposing forwards, while attempting to hook the ball backward with their feet to one of the backs, called the scrum half.

Line-out - awarded when the ball goes out of play. Both teams line up at right angles to the edge of the pitch and the ball is thrown between the two teams - it's an advantage if your team has very tall players for this!

The players are divided into forwards and backs:

Seven backs:

Full back

Four three-quarter backs

left wing

rightwing

inside centre

outside, centre

Two half-backs

scrum half

fly half

Eight forwards:

Front row

loosehead prop

hooker

tight head prop

Second row

locks x 2

Back row

blindside flanker

No 8

openside flanker