Rugby: Basic Rules & Regulation

Rugby has a set of fundamental rules and regulations, varying slightly between Rugby Union and Rugby League, but the core principles are shared. Here's a basic overview:

1. The Objective:

The primary goal is to score more points than the opposing team through tries, penalties, conversions, and drop goals.

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2. Scoring:

Try (5 points in Rugby Union, 4 points in Rugby League): Touching the ball down in the opponent’s in-goal area.

Conversion (2 points): After a try, a kick at goal is attempted.

Penalty (3 points in Rugby Union, 2 points in Rugby League): A kick awarded for certain infringements by the opposition.

Drop Goal (3 points in Rugby Union, 1 point in Rugby League): A kick through the posts during open play.

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3. Passing:

The ball can be passed backwards or sideways but never forward.

Forward passes result in a scrum awarded to the opposing team.

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4. Tackling:

Players can tackle opponents, but only below the shoulders.

Dangerous tackles, like high tackles, are penalized.

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5. Offside:

Players must be behind the ball when it is passed or kicked to be onside.

Being offside results in a penalty against the player/team.

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6. Scrums and Lineouts:

Scrum: A set-piece restart involving the forwards, contested when there is a minor infringement like a forward pass or knock-on.

Lineout: Occurs when the ball is thrown out of bounds; players lift teammates to catch the throw.

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7. Rucks and Mauls:

A ruck forms when the ball is on the ground and players from both teams compete for possession using their feet.

A maul forms when the ball carrier is held by opponents but remains standing, and teammates bind onto the player to try to move forward.

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8. Duration:

Rugby Union: 80 minutes, split into two 40-minute halves.

Rugby League: 80 minutes, split into two 40-minute halves.

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9. Substitutions:

Rugby Union allows up to 8 substitutions.

Rugby League typically allows 10 interchanges per team.

These basic rules govern the flow of the game, ensuring fairness, safety, and competitive balance.