Want to know how to talk about the rugby this weekend even if you haven't got a clue?

1. The Bluffer’s Guide
to the Rugby World Cup

2. World Cup Layout – 18th Sept – 31st Oct
• There are 4 pools consisting of 5 teams; Ireland are in
pool D.
• Each team faces one another in the pool and the top 2
teams of each pool progresses to the quarter final stage.
• Stages: pool, quarter final, semi final and finals for 1st,
2nd, 3rd, 4th place.
• Ireland has France, Italy, Canada and Romania in their
pool. Ireland’s first game is on the 19th of September at
2:30pm vs Canada.

3. Rugby: the basics
• A game lasts 80 mins, 40 each half.
• The team with the most points at
the end wins.
• To score points a team must ground
the ball over the opposition’s try
line or kick it between their posts.
• When passing, the ball must go
backwards.

4. Rugby Team
 Positions 1-8 are known as the forwards. 9-15 are
the backs.

5. Irish team to play Canada
(Saturday 19th 2.30pm)
 1: Jack McGrath 9: Connor Murray
 2: Rory Best 10: Jonny Sexton
 3: Mike Ross 11: Keith Earls
 4: Iain Henderson 12: Luke Fitzgerald
 5: Paul O Connell Cpt/God 13: Jared Payne
 6: Peter O’Mahony 14: Dave Kearney
 7: Sean O'Brien 15: Rob Kearney
 8: Jamie Heaslip
Coach: Joe Schmidt

6. The Bluffer’s guide to the talking
points of the weekend!
 Cian Healy is back from injury & is on
the bench.
 Is he fit enough?
 Is it worth risking playing him against
Canada if not fully fit?
 Robby Henshaw is out injured for
Saturday.
 NOT seriously injured we hope.
Precautionary?
 Will Luke Fitzgerald (his replacement)
be as strong in defence?
 Fitzgerald is playing out of position.

7. World Cup Facts
 The Rugby world cup trophy is called the Webb Ellis Cup.
 Bryan Habana and Jonah Lomu hold the record for most
tries scored in a world cup tournament with eight tries.
 Current holders are New Zealand and bookies faves this
time around too.
 This year’s tournament is being held in England and
Wales; the final will be played at Twickenham stadium in
London.
 This is Ireland’s year!

8. Rugby terminology
• Lineout: (two organised conga lines)
Method of restarting the game if the ball
goes over the side-line.
• Maul (group bear hug/pushing match).
 Ruck: (where nasty things happen)
Contest for the ball after a tackle.

9. The offside rule!
• In rugby you can not pass forward; passing is done by
diagonally throwing the ball behind you.
• When a player kicks the ball forward the players
behind are the only ones who are allowed to run
forward and catch.
• At a ruck, players must enter from the back of it and
not at the side or at an angle.

10. Common Rugby
penalties/Infringements
• Fumble/Knock on.
• Hands in ruck.
• Going off your feet at the ruck.
• High tackle.
• Late tackle.
• Offside.
• Tackle in the air.

11. Rugby Scores
• Try – going over the oppositions try line and grounding
the ball, 5 points.
• Conversion – after a team has scored a try they are
then given the opportunity to kick at goal for 2 points.
• Penalty – when a team is awarded a penalty they can
kick at goal for 3 points.
• Drop Goal – when a player kicks for goal during play,
the ball must hit the ground before they kick it, 3
points.

12. Any Questions or comments?
C'mon Ireland!