Rugby is Played Like This

-Tom Cannavo

The FieldThere is no exact rule here but stricter rules apply for international play. The distance between the two try-lines must also be anywhere from 103

yd to 157 yd and must be 74 - 77

Coin TossIt begins much like an

American football game, with a coin toss and a

dropkick (kickoff)

Often a scrum or a ruck occurs if the ball does not

reach the 10 yard line.

RuckOnce a player is tackled he must release the ball. The ensuing melee of players trying to

win the ball with their feet is a ruck.

ScrumA ball is rolled between

two teams of 8 men bound together. The teams then push against each other.

Match TimeThere are two 40 minute

halves. Referees disciplining teams or injuries do not count to the 40 minutes, so play is

longer than 80 minutes

In the knockout stages of rugby tournaments two extra

time periods of 10 minutes periods are granted, if the game is

minute sudden death is played

No game has ever gone beyond this, however.

The ball moves forward in three ways — by kicking, by a player running with it or within a scrum or maul.

ball cannot be passed forward only backwards and laterally.

PuntsPunts are kicks during

gameplay and is the legal alternative to passing

forward

Tries

The point is to try and get into the opposition’s end

zone to score a try