Rugby Union

Rugby Union or Rugby Football Union or just Rugby as many sports fans know this game is the original form of rugby from where rugby league branched out in 1895. Rugby Union is one of the sports where strength, stamina and strategies are what make the difference between the two teams. The governing body of rugby football union is the International Rugby Union (IRB) that was founded in 1886. It is the IRB that organizes all the major rugby union tournaments. The IRB had recently organized the rugby union World Cup in France.

The rugby union World Cup was won by the South Africa who thrashed England in the final.

Basic rules and regulations

Rugby union, which is played by a team of 15 members, is a game where a player can run with the oval shape ball, kick the ball, and can pass it on to their team members to score points. Rugby union is similar with rugby league in terms of the match duration and the way the oval shape ball has to be played.

A rugby union match is of 80 minutes and according to the rugby union's rules and regulations, the ball has to be played backwards.

5 points: A team is given five points if they touch the ball into the opposite side's goal area and is called "a try."

2 points: A team bags two points if they manage to kick through the goalposts after a try and is called "a conversion."

3 points: A team gets three points for a penalty kick and is called a "goal kick."

Rugby Union Glossary

Knowing the rugby union terminologies will be of great help for any sports enthusiasts who spend their precious time watching the rugby union match and understanding nothing.

Following are some of the often used rugby union terminologies:

Scumm: It means when eight members of both the teams face each other to grab the ball after a foul to start the match again. In scrum, three members stand in front with hands on each others shoulders followed by two members and then three members. All these players should be in contact with each other.

Ruck: In ruck, both the teams try to catch the ball from the attacked player, who was earlier holding the ball. As soon as the player with the ball is tackled by the opposite side and if he is grounded then he will drop the ball from his hand, while then, other players of both the teams will try to grab the ball. But all these players should be on their feet and in close contact with each other.

Maul: A maul occurs when three or more players of both the teams try to snatch the ball from the player carrying the ball. Again all players should be close contact with each other.

Tackle: It is the way to stop the player running with the ball. But while tackling, the player who is tackling the player with ball should not touch the ball possessor above his shoulder.

Sin-bin: It is the place where all those players who are send out of the match by referee for 10 minutes for fouls sit.

History of Rugby Union

William Webb Ellis is believed to have started rugby football in 1823, though there are many critics who questioned this fact. It all started when he ran as a 16-year-old boy with the ball in his hands while playing football at rugby school in England.

Some years back, the running with the ball in hands was allowed in the rugby school and passing was not allowed then. When the first international rugby union match was played between England and Scotland in 1871, there were twenty players in each side. Same year on 26 January 1871 the rugby football union was formed and they came up with the rules and regulations for the game.

Though, the world governing body of rugby football union-the International Rugby Board (IRB) was formed in 1886.