Game Play

The game of rugby is a quite intricate one, there are many positions, but each position serves a very important purpose. To the right are the 15 positions of rugby:

The first 8 positions are called the backs, and the last 7 are called the forwards. The backs are the players that form a scrum and do most of the tackling, and the forwards run the plays and score a trys.

Rugby has a few technical terms to understand the game:

Lineout: Looks somewhat like a jump-ball in basketball, with both teams lining up opposite each other, but one team then throws the ball down the middle of the tunnel. Lineouts restart play after the ball, or a player carrying it, has gone out of bounds.
Maul: Occurs when a player carrying the ball is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball-carrier’s teammates bind on the ball-carrier. All the players involved are on their feet and moving toward a goal line. Open play has ended.
Ruck: One or more players from each team, who are on their feet and in contact, close around the ball on the ground. Once a ruck has been formed, players can’t use their hands to get the ball, only their feet.
Scrum: A contest for the ball involving eight players who bind together and push against the other team’s assembled eight for possession of the ball. Scrums restart play after certain minor infractions.

In order to play the game, you also need to understand how to score points. There are 4 ways you can score; some are more common than others:

Try: The most valuable play is to score a try, which means touching the ball down in the opponent’s in-goal area or on their goal line. Doing so is worth five points and earns that team the right to attempt a conversion kick.
Conversion kick: This kick is worth an additional two points. The conversion kick is taken from a spot in line with where the ball was originally grounded, so scoring as close to the posts as possible is best.
Penalty kick: Penalties for various infractions can be used to take a kick at goal, which is worth three points.
Dropped goal: A dropped goal, which occurs when the player drops the ball on the ground and then kicks it just as it bounces, is worth three points if it goes through the uprights.