Rugby
Rugby is a full contact team sport that originated from Rugby school in Warwickshire, England. For many years Rugby was only played by the rich upper classes, but now it is played and watched by people from all walks of life.
There are two different types of rugby - Rugby League, played mainly in the north of England, and Rugby Union, played in the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, together with France and Italy, play in an annual tournament called the Six Nations.
One of the codes of rugby football, is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball, outdoors on a level field, usually with a grass surface, up to 100 metres (330 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) wide.
Rugby union is played between two teams; each team starts the match with 15 players on the field and may make up to seven replacements (for injury) or substitutions (tactical changes).
Players in a team are divided into eight forwards and seven backs. Forwards are generally bigger and stronger, and take part in the scrum and lineout, while backs are generally smaller but faster, more agile and often the main points scorers for the team.
The scrum is used to restart play. The forwards of each team interlock their arms keeping their heads down and push forwards against the formation of the opposing team. The ball is then thrown into the scrum and the players try to kick it backwards towards their own half of the field so as gain possession of it.
Forward passing (throwing the ball ahead to another player) is not allowed. The ball tends to be moved forward in three ways—by kicking, by a player running with it, or within a scrum.
Games are divided into 40-minute halves, with a break in the middle. The sides exchange ends of the field after the half-time break. Stoppages for injury or to allow the referee to take disciplinary action, do not count as part of the playing time, so that the elapsed time is usually longer than 80 minutes.
The most basic items of equipment for a game of rugby are the ball itself, a rugby shirt (also known as a "jersey"), shorts, socks, and boots, which have soles with studs to allow grip on the turf of the pitch.
Rugby is a full contact team sport that originated from Rugby school in Warwickshire, England. For many years Rugby was only played by the rich upper classes, but now it is played and watched by people from all walks of life.
There are two different types of rugby - Rugby League, played mainly in the north of England, and Rugby Union, played in the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, together with France and Italy, play in an annual tournament called the Six Nations.
One of the codes of rugby football, is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball, outdoors on a level field, usually with a grass surface, up to 100 metres (330 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) wide.
Rugby union is played between two teams; each team starts the match with 15 players on the field and may make up to seven replacements (for injury) or substitutions (tactical changes).
Players in a team are divided into eight forwards and seven backs. Forwards are generally bigger and stronger, and take part in the scrum and lineout, while backs are generally smaller but faster, more agile and often the main points scorers for the team.
The scrum is used to restart play. The forwards of each team interlock their arms keeping their heads down and push forwards against the formation of the opposing team. The ball is then thrown into the scrum and the players try to kick it backwards towards their own half of the field so as gain possession of it.
Forward passing (throwing the ball ahead to another player) is not allowed. The ball tends to be moved forward in three ways—by kicking, by a player running with it, or within a scrum.
Games are divided into 40-minute halves, with a break in the middle. The sides exchange ends of the field after the half-time break. Stoppages for injury or to allow the referee to take disciplinary action, do not count as part of the playing time, so that the elapsed time is usually longer than 80 minutes.
The most basic items of equipment for a game of rugby are the ball itself, a rugby shirt (also known as a "jersey"), shorts, socks, and boots, which have soles with studs to allow grip on the turf of the pitch.