Rugby Explained - Donal Smith

Rugby vs Football vs American Football The Game Contents Origin Ethos Rugby vs Football vs American Football The Game Rules, Positions & Scoring Restarts Contact Areas Upcoming Tournaments

Origin Legend has it that in 1823 during a game of schoolboy football in the town of Rugby, England a young man named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it towards the opposition’s goal line. Two centuries later, Rugby Football has evolved into one of the world’s most popular sports. It’s a game of all shapes and sizes, each position requires different skills and physical attributes. Rugby still maintains a unique ethos, not only is the game played to the laws, but also within the spirit of the laws.

Ethos “Football is a gentleman's game played by thugs and Rugby is a thug’s game played by gentlemen” Somebody Wise Me Me

What’s the difference?! Rugby (Union) Rugby 7s (Union) Rugby (League) Football (Soccer) American Football Origins 1857 (from Football) 1998 (from Rugby Union) 1895 Ancient Greece?? 1869 (from both Rugby & Football) Players 15 a side (~4.5m) 7 a side 13 a side (~1m) 11 a side (~250m) (~3.5m) Game Length 80 mins (2 * 40) 14 mins (2 * 7) 90 mins (2 * 45) (4 * 20) Ball Safety Equipment Optional (Gumshield, shoulder pads, headguard) Non-contact Full body armour Typical Salaries ~ $18k pm ~ $7.5k pm ~ $15k pm ~ $1.5m pm ~ $160k pm World Champions New Zealand All Blacks Wales New Zealand Kiwis Spain Baltimore Ravens Club Champions Harlequins Leeds Rhinos Manchester City Eng 4th USA 16th Eng 3rd USA 32nd Eng 3rd USA 11th

The Game – It’s simple, but complex…. Rules Full contact Run with the ball in hand Pass backwards, kick forwards Stops when: ball dropped forward (scrum) ball leaves field of play(lineout) penalty (choose kick or scrum/ lineout) Scoring Points can be scored in 2 ways: Try: scored by grounding the ball in the in-goal area. Worth 5 points and a subsequent conversion kick scores 2 points; Penalty kick / Drop Goal: score 3 points. Positions

Restarts Scrum Me Restart after minor infringements Two sets of forwards pack down to support their hooker who attempts to “hook” the ball that’s fed down the middle by the scrum half 900Kg vs 900Kg (2000lb)

Restarts (cont) Lineout Restart after ball goes into “touch” Two sets of forwards line up alongside each other whilst their hooker throws the ball down the middle Me Me

Contact Areas Tackles Only player with the ball can be tackled A player is tackled when their knee touches the ground: tackled player releases the ball immediately tackler releases player immediately and rolls away Must not be above the shoulder Tackler must attempt to wrap arms Player can attempt to fend / handoff tackler

Contact Areas (cont) Rucks Mauls Often occur after a tackle, when the ball is on the floor and one or more player from each team joins Players must stay on their feet and try to drive opposition off Can’t use their hands to drag ball back Mauls Often occurs after a tackle, but the ball is off the floor and one or more player from each team joins Players must stay on their feet and try to drive opposition backwards Can use their hands

Rugby in action? England v New Zealand, 01/12/12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rsgxLscraY

Upcoming Tournaments Six Nations 2013 Rugby World Cup 2015 Annual European Competition Wales current holders Grand Slam decider this weekend Rugby World Cup 2015 Held every four years Pre qualifying underway 16 teams contest finals British & Irish Lions Tour 2013 Rotates every four years Three “test” series against: Australia (May/June 2013) New Zealand South Africa Rio Olympics 2016 (7s) First time for rugby 24 teams contest finals All have equivalent female competitions except Lions

Playing CV 1995 – 1997 1997 - 2001 2002-2003 2003-present Slough Rhinos RFC Centre 1997 - 2001 Warwick University RFC Centre / Hooker 2002-2003 Old Dunstonian’s RFC 2003-present Old Pauline’s RFC Hooker / Prop