Rugby Game

Rugby was developed in 1820 at Rugby School in England. The game started when a Rugby School student William Webb Ellis while playing soccer picked ball and ran with it instead of kicking the ball. English Rugby Union was established in 1871 to standardize the game. In 1895 after a dispute between Rugby Football Union and Clubs in northern England which led to development of rugby league ( a professional sport with 13 players in each team) and Amateur Rugby ( 15 players in each team). Since 1987, Rugby World Cup matches are organized.

As per Rugby rules points can only be scored when ball has grounded over the opponent's line (known as touchdowns).The player who made a touchdown kicks the ball from that point to kicker, who is then charged by opposing team. If kicker is able to catch ball before opponent reaches ball then kick is allowed and kicker is authorized to place ball for kick.

• A team can substitute two front-row players and five players from other positions in a match.
• Player who is replaced is not allowed to play.
• Forward players are there to take possession of ball.
• The back players are not involved in line outs and scrums.
• There is one referee assisted by two touch judges on both sides of the pitch. Role of touch judges is to stay behind posts at the time of kick at goal and then indicate touch and decisions using a flag.
• A player can score a try when he touches ball behind opposition's try-line.
• Five points are awarded for a conversion ( conversion is kick between goal posts and over crossbar from a point in line with the point from where the ball has been grounded).
• Three points are given for a penalty, when it is kicked from point where referee rules an infringement.
• Three points are earned for a drop goal ( kick during play when a player drops ball to ground and kicks rebounds between posts and over crossbar).
• Penalty try is awarded when referee decides attacking side could have scored had it not been for any violation by defender.
• Referee can eject a player from game because of offenses.
• Penalty kicks are given for grave violations,extreme foul play.
• A free kick is given for offenses and beneficiaries can't kick.
• The scrum half of the non-offending side places the ball in scrum from left side of scrum.
• Hooker ( man in middle of front row) attempt to backheel ball.
• Game restarts when ball goes out of bounds.
• Forwards can't line up closer than 5 m line from touch line
• A player gets offside if he comes in front of a teammate who is having the ball or who played it last and is interfering the game.
• Offside is penalized with a penalty kick when offense takes place.
• If offside player's position was unavoidable and he moves back without disturbing an opponent he is not penalized.
• A player gets tackled if he is brought down to ground by an opponent
• Tackling above neck is prohibited.
• A player should be behind or parallel to teammates who are passing the ball to him.
• Players can't knock ball forward with hands or arms.
• Goals similar to ruck ( it is scrum in which ball lying loose on ground with the help of feet is raked back) known as Maul in which ball is wrestled back with arms and is not on ground.
• A Mark occurs when a player is behind his own try line with his feet stationary on ground catches the ball from a kick and throws forward by his opponents and yells “Mark”..
• Kick must be taken by the player who makes mark and if he is not able to take kick within a minute, a scrum is formed and his team has to put ball in.
• The referee will not stop play for any violation, if after offense non-offending team gets advantage.
• Advantage is in form of gain of ball.
• Advantage is not applied when ball or player touches referee, or ball emerges from scrum without played, or player is offside accidentially.

Current Status

The Rugby World Cup Match 2007 will be held in France from 7th September to 10th September

The final Match was between Australia and England at Sydney and the winner was England. Australia was at second position with tht third position going to New Zealand who defeated France in the play-off for 3rd and 4th position.