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A Spectator's Guide to the Ruffian's Game
The Minnesota Amateur Rugby Foundation
& Minnesota Rugby-Football Union
present
A SPECTATOR'S GUIDE to the RUFFIAN'S
GAME
For anyone reasonably familiar with American football,
rugby should be an easy game to understand. The purpose of the game of rugby
is to carry a blown-up pigskin over a goal line, or kick it over a goal post
with more consistency than one's opposition.
Unlike American football, the laws of rugby are few and simple. Rugby action
does not stop until someone scores, the ball goes out of bounds, or a rule
is broken. Rugby teams don't huddle to prepare strategy since no platoons
for offense, defense, and special teams exist. A good rugby team--or side,
as it is called--will respond instantly to a number of defensive and offensive
situations, each member of the team moving independently within his role,
but collectively for total effect.
FORWARDS AND BACKS: Each rugby side is composed of eight forwards and seven
backs. Each player on the field, or pitch, may pick up the ball and run with
it, pass it, or kick it at anytime. Everyone is also responsible to play
defense when the other team has the ball. It is generally the assignment
of the forwards to secure possession of the ball and then either advance
it themselves or pass it out to the backs. The ball can be advanced or moved
three ways; It can be carried forward, passed laterally or backward, or kicked.
If the backfield attack breaks down, rugby forwards, unlike football linemen,
may handle the ball and become a dynamic offensive force themselves.
THE DEFENSE: Rugby play goes on when American football play stops because
rugby has no "first downs." Rugby players keep on going until the whistle
blows, but when a ball carrier is tackled (and actually brought to the ground),
he must release the ball. Either a teammate or one of his opponents may then
gain possession and continue the action. Or the tackled player himself may
again play the ball once he has regained his feet.
OFFSIDES: The football scrimmage line is called the offside line, or game
line, in rugby. It is an imaginary line that runs across the field through
the ball while the ball moves. To qualify to take part in the actions, a
rugby player must play from behind the ball, both defensively and offensively.
That's why the forward pass is futile (and illegal) in rugby. A player cannot
chase a ball that has been kicked upfield by a teammate who is behind him.
The player must wait until the person that kicked the ball, or someone behind
the kicker, runs upfield, passing the others and thus putting them onsides
so that they may play. A player may also be put onside if the player catching
the ball either drops it or runs at least five meters with it. What the defender
cannot do, is play the person waiting to catch the ball until the defender
has been put onside either by the actions of his own team or the actions
of the person receiving the ball...
THE SCORE: The game begins with a kickoff from mid-field that must travel
at least ten yards. When one side is successful in crossing the opponent's
goal line, and actually touches the ball to the ground, this endeavor is
called a try and is worth five points. The ball must be placed on the
ground--crossing the goal line is not enough for a score. If a player runs
out of the goal area, or is held up and unable to get the ball to the turf,
there will be no try allowed. Once a try is made, a conversion kick is awarded
representing a chance to add two more points. The kick is attempted from
the ground, anywhere along a line perpendicular to the goal line from the
place where the try was scored (the ball was touched down). Two other kicks
can put points on the scoreboard at any time during the game. A dropkick
can be kicked through the goal posts anytime during play and it brings three
points for a successful effort. If the referee finds a team breaking a rule,
he may award a penalty kick at the point of the infraction to the opposition.
A place kick may be taken from that point and if it goes through the uprights
(goalposts) it is worth three points.
BLUNDER AND YOU'LL SUFFER!: One of the secrets of good rugby is to be aware
of all the rules and to be able to take advantage instantly of any opportunities
that may arise. An unalert player may ruin the effort of his entire team
by either hesitating when he should spring to the advantage, or by violating
a law, thus giving the opposition a free kick. We have already discussed
one of the infractions which may bring about a penalty kick; being offside.
Other major blunders include holding the ball after a tackle, intentionally
lying on the ball, blocking or obstructing an opponent, or dangerous tackling
methods (you must make a grasp at the person you intend to bring down, and
may not tackle him about the shoulders or head). Fans will be able to recognize
the guilty side by the ten-yard retreat they must make from the point of
the infractions.
Minor violations of the laws such as a knock-on (fumble forward) or a forward
pass result in a scrum.
THE SCRUM: When the whistle blows and the referee calls for a scrummage,
the eight forwards on each team bind together in a formidable pack and come
together headfirst against the opposition, aligned in the same manner. The
team that did not commit the infraction is awarded the ball. The scrum-half
from that side sends the ball in between the two struggling masses. They
push and try to use their feet (but not hands) to heel the ball back through
their own scrum. A penalty is assessed for reaching into the pack for the
ball. Once it is out, the scrum-half takes the ball and passes it out to
his backfield. This type of scrummage is known as a set scrum or set play
since each player assumes a distinct position in the formation.
RUCK OR LOOSE: The set scrum is not the only scrummage that can occur on
the field. When a player is tackled or the ball is free in a crowd of forwards,
a loose scrum or loose ruck occurs. No whistles signal this variation and
no set positions are required. Whoever gets to the ball first forms a ruck.
Players get to the spot, bind into a pack and attempt to step over the ball
to secure possession. The same rules apply to loose scrummages as to set
scrums; no hands, the ball must be completely heeled or stepped-over before
the scrum-half can pass the ball out to his from his team can bind onto him,
holding him and retaining the advance. The defense will try to stop the rush
by packing against the bound mass or by taking the ball from the person carrying
it.
LINEOUT: When the ball goes into touch or out of bounds, play is restarted
by a lineout. A player from the team who did not touch the ball last throws
the ball from out of bounds between two parallel lines of forwards standing
perpendicular to the point where the ball left play. The nearest player in
the line must be at least five meters from the touch line. The thrower attempts
to loft the ball to the apex of the leap of his team's best jumper. The jumper
does his best to secure the ball and deliver it cleanly to his scrum-half.
A well timed transfer assures the players in the backfield of getting a good
pass from their scrum-half. A ball that is tipped down or passed sloppily
puts the scrum-half in terrible straits, vulnerable to the break-through
of charging opposition forwards with malice on their minds. The forwards
of a scrambling scrum-half do their best to shield their teammate by binding
tightly to prevent an opposition break-through.
OPTING TO RUN: Those who enjoy American football like nothing better than
a player who tucks the ball under his are and scampers a long distance for
a score. At first glance, rugby appears to be the broken-field runner's
dream--man for man coverage all around. One slight variation in the game
turns a potential dream into a nightmare--no blocking. A runner may beat
his opposite, pick up ten, twenty, even thirty yards, then suddenly get clobbered
by the covering defense. The absence of blocking, and the loss of possession
after a tackle quickly get the most powerful runner looking for more options
than just putting his head down and pounding forward.
CHOOSING TO PASS A competent rugby side will make a great effort to never
allow a teammate to be isolated without someone to pass to. Even when the
openside wing finally receives the ball, he will be looking back inside for
supporting members of his own squad. A well coordinated team will tie the
opposition in knots by continually changing the direction of the attack with
good passing. It might appear that passing is somewhat limited by the elimination
of the forward pass. But the variation in distance, speed and delivery is
endless. Good squads will exploit all possibilities, even using the forward
pack as a rushing group of huge option quarterbacks.
KICKING The final option of a triple-threat attacking rugger is the kick.
It's much easier to boot the ball forward thirty yards than it is to carry
it the same distance. The kicking game is the backbone of a rugby side. Good
kicks set up the good pass or the good run. The punt (for touch): This is
a long kick in American football style. Used by a team defending its own
end, it gets the pressure off by advancing the ball from behind the team's
twenty-two meter line and out of bounds. The Pop-kick: Here is another method
of beating the opposite player. In this case, when the opponent approaches,
the ball carrier uses a short stab of his leg and foot to literally "pop"
the ball over the head of the opponent. If the ball isn't kicked too far,
the kicker should be able to field it coming down or on one of its first
bounces and continue upfield. The Up-and-Under: In this kick the player with
the ball gives it a tremendous taste of his foot, not for distance, but for
height. He aims to drop it several yards downfield from his own forward pack,
where they descend with increasing speed and bloody intentions on the hapless
soul who parks in the spot to try to field the falling "red cross." This
kick is often taken by the scrum-half from the line-out or in a penalty
situation.
THE FINAL GOAL: A BLEND: No rugby team will win many games if they rely too
heavily on a single facet of the game--the run, pass, or kick. Variety is
important. For example, a player that has been passing all day may 'sell
the dummy' -- fake the pass and keep the ball, catching his opposite number
helplessly off balance. Or a team that has been going to the openside of
the field consistently may take the ball blindside to the chagrin of their
opposition. These are all tactics that contribute to winning rugby.
Once you learn the basics of rugby and give the game a chance, you'll be
able to appreciate the finer points. There will be no doubt in your mind,
however, that rugby is a delicate true blend of strength, finesse, speed
and stamina.
Send E-Mail to: Wags40@aol.com