1. Rugby Explained
- Donal Smith

2. 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

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Rugby in action? England v New Zealand, 01/12/12

12. 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

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