Games
How To Play Rugby
The field can be a football or soccer field, rectangular in shape. Rough dimensions are 65 yards wide by 100 yards long. We can play on fields that are as little as 50 yards wide and perhaps only 90 yards long. For the youngest age groups, we can make the field smaller, but we have generally let the kids play on the full size field. Note that in rugby there are two main positions; backs and forwards, the backs need to be fast agile and quick thinkers, forwards need to be be strong, heavy(ish) and fit:).Find which one you fit into. Try to develop your ball in hand skills i.e. passing and catching because the modern game is all about passing, the ball is faster than you so let the ball do the work. Dropping the ball can immediately stop a formerly successful play, so make sure you have the skills not to fumble the ball.
The object of the game is to score as many points as possible by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding an oval ball in the scoring zone at the far end of the field — called the try zone. Grounding the ball, which must be done with downward pressure, results in a try (worth 5 points). After a try a conversion may be attempted by place kick or drop kick. If the ball passes over the bar and between the goal posts the conversion is successful and results in a further 2points. Points may also be scored from a drop kick in general play (worth 3points) and a penalty kick (worth 3 points).
However modern rugby has developed into a fast paced game of skill and determination, where mind and body are exerted to the maximum. Each side has 15 players and all have specific duties to perform. Team formations vary but are broken into two, sometimes three lines. The seven forwards or tight five (in three formation) make up the pack. Traditionally the second group are called the backs, and consist of the remaining 6 players. The loose forwards and Number 9, the scrum half, form the third group, but in tho formation Number 9, alone separates the seven forwards and six backs.
