Oliver's+page

Rugby Union
Rugby union, is a contact sport which originated in England in the early 1800s. It is one of the two codes of rugby. It is based on running while holding the ball. It is played with an oval shaped ball. The biggest event in rugby union ‘Rugby World Cup’ takes place every four years with the winning team receiving the Webb Ellis Cup.

The basic pieces of equipment for rugby union include the ball itself, jersey, rugby shorts, socks and football boots. Protection equipment is strictly recommended. The most common items are mouthguards, which are worn by almost all rugby players. Another common item of equipment which is quite common for forwards to wear is headgear, which protects player’s heads in scrums, rucks and mauls. Some backs tend to also wear headgear.

The game includes features such as lineouts, where the ball gets thrown down the middle and a group of players from each team contest for the ball. Another major feature of rugby is scrums, where if a player drops the ball forward (knock on) then a scrum is created; both the teams have to push each other while they are gripping on to each other under the shoulder to contest for the ball. Scrums in rugby union allow the other team to receive the ball from the scrum even if their opposition feeds the ball. This rule is different to scrums in rugby league.

Each team starts the match with 15 players on the field. Players in a team are divided into 8 forwards and 7 backs. The main responsibility of the forwards is to gain and retain possession of the ball. Forward players tend to be bigger and stronger and take part in the scrums and lineouts. The backs role is to create point scoring opportunities. They are generally smaller, agile and faster than the forwards. The backs are expected to have better kicking skills than the forwards.

Rugby union is played between two teams. The one that scores the most points wins the game. Points can be scored in several ways: a try, scored by grounding the ball in the in goal area which is worth 5 points and a conversion kick that is worth 2 points. A successful drop goal or penalty each gains 3 points

The field of play on a rugby field is 144 metres long (including both try lines) in gameplay and 70 metres wide. The lines crossing the field are the 22 metre lines (both sides of the field) and the halfway line. Rugby goalposts are H-shaped, and consist of two poles connected to a horizontal cross bar 3 metres above the ground.

Games are divided into two 40 minute halves with a halftime break in the middle. Both teams switch sides of the field each half. When the siren sounds that doesn’t mean the half/game is over. The half/game is officially over when the ball is dead. Forward passing is not allowed in rugby. The ball can only be passed flat or backwards. When the ball is knocked forward by a player, a knock on is committed. Therefore the ball is restarted with a scrum.

In conclusion to this, rugby union is a very interesting game because there are many rules, positions and ways the team chooses to play the game. The team has to work together in order to succeed and become the winners. The players and their team mates have to play the game smartly and have to have a lot of skill; this increases the chance of them to become the winning team.