There are two versions of rugby. In one version, called Rugby Union, two 15-member teams compete. In the other version, called Rugby League, the teams have 13 members.
A rugby game usually has two 40-minute halves. There are no time-outs, and play rarely stops. The game starts with a kickoff—one team kicks the ball to the other team. The two teams then move up and down the field as they gain and lose control of the ball.
The players may catch the ball, throw it, or run with it. Teammates may pass the ball to each other either sideways or backwards. They may not pass the ball forward. Players may also kick the ball.
The two ways of scoring points in rugby are called tries and goals. A player scores a try by touching the ball to the ground behind the opponent’s goal line. A player scores a goal by kicking the ball over the crossbar between the opponent’s goalposts. After a try, the scoring team can kick a type of goal called a conversion goal. During play, a player scores a dropped goal by dropping the ball and kicking it after it bounces. A team can score a penalty goal after the other team breaks the rules. Rugby Union and Rugby League award different numbers of points for tries and goals. In both versions, however, a try is worth more points than a goal.
As in American football, the team defending its goal tries to tackle the opponent who is carrying the ball. One type of tackle forces the player to the ground. Another type happens when the player is stopped and held motionless.
The scrum, or scrummage, is a unique feature of rugby. It is a way to put the ball in play. Six or eight players from each team link their arms and bend forward to form a tightly packed group. The ball is dropped between the two teams. The players use their feet to try to get control of the ball.
