This website is intended to give you a basic understanding of the game of rugby union football. If you are a new spectatator and simply want to understand the game a little better, great, but the content of this site is primarily directed at new rugby players at the college or club level. Experienced players will not find much new here and may even have objections to some of the things you see. There is an opportunity at the bottom of each page to send me your comments. For the beginner, I recommend reading about all the positions, not just the position you are playing now. As time goes by you will, without a doubt, play many different positions and it always helps to have an understanding of what your teammates are doing on the field.

A note about language: the language of this site is that commonly used by rugby teams in the United States. In some places alternative names are used. If you are playing in another country you may need an interpretor. Also, this is written about how we play rugby here at Colby College - techniques and rules may vary from place to place. This information was researched at the International Rugby Football Board website.

The Game of Rugby

The Field and Equipment: Rugby is played on a field, commonly known as a pitch. This includes the playing area, the tri-zone, and a reasonable area surrounding the field. A ball of oval shape, consisting of four panels, is used in the game. Players must wear a rugby jersey, shorts, undergarments, socks, a mouthguard, and rugby boots (cleats). In addition, players may wear elasticized supports, non-metal ankle supports covered by a sock, mitts (fingerless gloves), shoulder pads made of soft and thin materials, headgear made of soft and thin materials, bandages to protect an injury, and thin tape to prevent injury. Strongly prohibited are items contaminated by blood, sharp or abrasive items, any item containing buckles, clips, rings, hinges, zippers, screws, bolts or rigid materials, jewelery, gloves, and padded shorts. Players are not permitted to play wearing these items and if a player is found with one of these items during the game, she will be immediately ordered off of the field.

The Rules: A team should be comprised of no more than 15 players on the pitch. Before a match begins, the captains shall toss for the right to kick-off or the choice of ends. A match lasts for a maximum of 80 minutes - two 40 minute halves, unless decided otherwise by the referee and the captains. Half-time should not exceed 10 minutes. Should a player get injured, a period not exceeding 1 minute is allowed for treatment of that injury. If the injury is serious, a longer period may be allowed for the player to be removed and replaced. An injured player who has been permanently replaced may not reenter the game. Play is regulated by a Union approved referee and two touch judges, one provided by each team. Play starts with a kick-off.

The Positions: Positions 1-8 are the forwards. Postions 9-15 are the backs. Props are 1 and 3 (1 is the loosehead, 3 is the tighthead). These two players "prop" up the scrum. The hooker is 2. She is in the center of the scrum and fights to "hook" the ball back through the scrum to the number 8. Locks are 4 and 5. They are generally the tallest members of the team and hold the scrum together. Flankers are 6 and 7 (6 is blind, 7 is open). They are aggressive tacklers who should be the first ones at the ball when it comes out of a scrum. Number 8 is 8. She is positioned at the rear of the scrum and receives the ball through the scrum. The scrumhalf is 9. She is the link between the forwards and the backs. She puts the ball into scrums, takes it out of scrums, and initiates the attack of the backs. The fly half is 10. She receives the ball from the scrumhalf and has the option of passing the ball out, kicking for position, or running with the ball herself. Wings are 11 and 14 (11 is weak-side, 14 is strong-side). They are the fastest players on the team and often score the trys. The centers are 12 and 13 (12 is inside, 13 is outside). They are good tacklers and pwerful runners, able to run around opposing players as well as through them. The full back is 15. She is the last line of defense - a reliable tackler, a good catcher, and a strong kicker.
The basic skills
    Running
    Passing
    Tackling
Forwards
    Scrums
    Line-outs
    Rucks
    Mauls
    Position specific skills
        Props
        Hookers
        Locks
        Flankers
        8
Backs
    Running
    Kicking
    Position specific skills
        Scrum-halfs
        Fly-halfs
        Centers and wings
        Fullbacks
Set plays for everybody
    Kick-offs
    Penalties
    Conversions
    Free kicks
    22 meter drop-outs
Loose play for everybody
    Rucks
    Mauls
How to kick
Tactics
    Making space
    Counter attacks
    Rolling mauls
Strategy
 
Referees and how to deal with them
Training techniques
    Practice drills
    Conditioning
Special aspects of women's rugby
College vs. club rugby
Books on rugby
Rugby links


Please send comments or clarifications to Heather Fishman