3. Around the world
19th century
+ 5 million people play
(117 countries).
Rugby Union (15 players)
and Rugby League (13
players).
American and Canadian
football are both direct
offshoots of rugby.
According to legend, the game of rugby football was "invented" by the young Englishman William Webb Ellis in 1823 when he picked up a ball during a soccer match at the Rugby School in Rugby, England and ran with it toward the opposing goal as his surprised opponents tried to tackle him. Rugby Football Union (RFU) formed mid 1800s to unify sport with set of recognized rules.
Rugby spread throughout the British Empire, reaching North America, New Zealand, and Australia after the 19th century. These nations remain rugby power houses today. More than 5 million people play rugby in over 117 countries. Two different forms of Rugby Football were established, Rugby Union (15 players) and Rugby League (13 players). American and Canadian football are both direct offshoots of rugby.
The game is played with hands, feet and an oval ball, between two teams of 15 players each, plus 7 substitutes. The game consists on catching or picking up the ball and running with it, passing, throwing or knocking the ball to another player for scoring points, as well as kicking the ball. To take the ball from the other team, it's also possible to push or shoulder an opponent holding the ball. The passes to another team member can only backwards or lateral. The duration of game is 2 halves of 40 min with a half-time of 10 min.
The players score in four different ways: carrying the ball over Tryline and touched down (worth 5 points), Conversion Kick after a Try (worth 2 points), Penalty kick (worth 3 points), or Drop Goal during play (worth 3 points).
Tackle is a defensive action. It consists of intercepting the player in possession of the ball and holding on to him or making him fall over (with one's arms) so that he releases the ball. Ruck is formed when someone goes to ground with ball, to keep possession of the ball after a tackle is made. A scrum is a method of restarting play in rugby, pushing between both teams to obtain the ball.
The positions in the field.
The Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is performed before every match of All Blacks. It is believed that it is used to intimidate their opponents.
According to legend, the game of rugby football was "invented" by the young Englishman William Webb Ellis in 1823 when he picked up a ball during a soccer match at the Rugby School in Rugby, England and ran with it toward the opposing goal as his surprised opponents tried to tackle him. Rugby soon spread throughout the British Empire, reaching North America, New Zealand, and Australia by the 1870's. These nations remain rugby power houses today. American and Canadian football are both direct offshoots of rugby.