What Is Rugby? (And How To Play It)

Rugby is a relatively simple sport, though it may not seem so to the uninitiated. While there are many (sometimes confusing) laws that govern the flow of the game, the basic concept of rugby is simple: outmaneuver or overpower the other team to score more points and emerge victorious. 

Of course, there is some nuance that complicates rugby, and we will do our best to demystify those aspects of the game for you below. Whether you’re in New York City and looking to join Queens Rugby Club (QRC) or just want to watch rugby matches with a bit more knowledge, this guide will see your burning questions about rugby explained.

What is rugby?

Rugby is a sport played between two teams of 15 players on a pitch 70 meters wide and 100 meters long from try line to try line. Beyond the try line is an in-goal area much like an endzone in the NFL, where a team can ground the ball to score a try, which is worth five points.

In rugby, each team attempts to advance a rugby ball — which looks like a fatter version of an American football without laces — beyond the try line of the other team to score within a goal area that is generally between 6 meters and 22 meters long. On each try line are a set of upright posts, through which teams can kick the ball for conversion points after a try, penalty goals following an infraction, or drop goals in open play. 

A rugby match is controlled by a single referee, who is supported by two touch judges that monitor the field of play from the touch lines (or sidelines). In addition to the 15 starting players, each team is permitted eight reserves, who can be substituted at any time. Once a player is removed from the field of play, they are not permitted to return (unless the teams agree prior to kickoff to allow rolling substitutions, something that is not seen in the professional game but is common at amateur levels.)

The above version of the game is known as rugby union. There are several other variations of rugby beyond rugby union, including rugby league, rugby sevens, rugby tens, touch rugby, and flag rugby. Each version of the game has its own set of laws and varies from rugby union in distinct ways, though each retains some core elements of the game. 

From here on out, when we refer to rugby in this article we will be describing rugby union, the primary version of the sport we play here at Queens Rugby Club (though we also dabble in rugby sevens during the summer months, the version you might be familiar with if you’ve watched Olympic rugby.)

Rugby history in a nutshell

Rugby was formally developed in 1845 at Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, where William Delafield Arnold, W. W. Shirley, and Frederick Hutchins are credited with codifying the first set of written rules of rugby. However, primitive iterations of the game existed as far back as 1100 AD.

The first modern rugby match is thought to have been played in Scotland in 1857, when Edinburgh University faced off against the Edinburgh Academicals. Interestingly, the game was played until the best of seven goals (a kick following a try) were scored. The game reportedly took four separate Saturdays to complete, with the Academicals coming out the victors.

Since, the sport has evolved considerably and is now played worldwide from the UK to New Zealand and in many countries in between. Every four years, the Rugby World Cup sees the best teams in the world compete for international supremacy. And, since 2016, rugby sevens has featured in the summer Olympics.

How to play rugby

Rugby is played by carrying, passing, or kicking the ball to outmaneuver the defense and score as many points as possible in 80 minutes, separated into two 40 minute halves. The team that scores the greatest number of points by full time wins the game. 

Scoring in rugby can occur in a number of ways, including the following:

• Try: A try is worth five points and is scored by advancing the ball into the opposing team’s in-goal area (sometimes called a “try zone”) and touching it to the ground while maintaining control.
  
• Conversion: A conversion is worth two points and is scored by kicking the ball through the uprights following a try. Importantly, conversions must be kicked in line with the point of the pitch where the try was scored. Therefore, a try scored on the edge of the pitch will result in a more difficult conversion attempt than one scored directly under the uprights.
  
• Penalty goal: If a penalty is committed in range of the uprights, the team awarded the penalty may choose to kick at goal. If the penalty attempt is successful, the team is awarded three points. This makes penalties within a team’s own half of the field especially harmful if the opposing team has a strong kicker.
  
• Drop goal: A drop goal is worth three points and is scored by drop-kicking a ball through the uprights in open play.

Rugby matches begin with a kickoff from the center of the field. The kicking team will often attempt to kick the ball high and short, allowing their side the chance to contest the ball. Whichever team secures possession is then considered “on attack” while the other team sets up to play defense.

This article contains a lot of rugby terms. If you are unsure what any mean, check out our glossary of rugby terms.

One of the defining characteristics of rugby is that the ball cannot be passed forward, only laterally or backwards. The only way to advance the ball forward in rugby is to carry it or kick it. A team on attack will arrange themselves in various ways depending on their game plan. However, given that the ball can only be passed laterally or backward, it is common to see attacking players staggered in a diagonal line. 

On defense, teams typically arrange themselves in a flat line. The defensive line should move up together as one, without any players lagging behind or shooting up too quickly. This formation eliminates gaps the attacking team can exploit. Generally, defenses have a few players deep to cover kicks or act as safety valves in case the attacking team breaks through the defensive line, aptly named a line break. 

When a player is tackled, they must either quickly pass the ball or release it — playing the ball on the ground results in a penalty. To prevent the defense from stealing the ball, the attacking team must send players to “ruck over.” This typically involves at least one player “clearing the channel” of defenders by moving over the tackled player and physically forcing any opponents out of the way, followed by at least one player “sealing the ball” by latching onto the tackled player and setting a strong foundation over the ball. This action forms the ruck, which secures the ball for the attacking team. The scrum-half (see below) will then recycle the ball to begin the next phase of play.

To learn more about the breakdown after a tackle, read our blog covering the basics of the ruck.

The defensive team must line up onside, which is determined by the location of the last tackle and the back foot of the ruck, which forms over the tackled player and serves as a way for the attacking side to secure and recover possession of the ball (or allow the defensive team an opportunity to contest it). Failure to line up onside results in an offsides penalty — one of the most commonly violated rugby rules — which requires the defense to retreat 10 meters, allowing the attacking team to either quickly tap the ball and run, kick to touch for a lineout downfield, elect a scrum at the mark of the penalty, or attempt a kick at the goal for three points.

The attacking team can retain possession for infinite phases (cycles of play between tackles) so long as they do not commit a minor infraction, penalty, or lose a ruck to the defense. In theory, an attacking team could take 100 phases to gradually advance the ball down the pitch until finally scoring a try. 

Rugby positions

The 15 positions on a rugby pitch can be divided into two major categories: forwards and backs. Forwards and backs must work together to complement one another’s strengths in order to win a game, though friendly banter between forwards and backs about who is more integral to the team’s success is common in rugby culture.

Forwards

Generally speaking, forwards are bigger, stronger players responsible for executing set pieces like scrums and lineouts, laying hard hits at close range on defense, and grinding out hard yards to create openings for the backs on the attack. Forwards, sometimes referred to as “the pack”, can be subdivided into two groups: the tight five and loose forwards.

Tight five

The tight five consists of three front-row players and two second-row players, named for their positions in the scrum. The front row players include a loosehead prop (#1), a hooker (#2), and a tighthead prop (#3). The second row includes two locks (#4 and #5).

The front row creates the initial drive in the scrum, binding to the opposition’s front row. The second row acts as support for the front row. But these positions do much more than just scrum. Here’s a closer look at each member of the tight five.

• Props: Props are usually the biggest and strongest players on the field, responsible not only for shouldering the impact of the opposition’s scrum (literally), but also playing stalwart defense against the opposition’s largest ball carriers, counter-rucking when the opportunity arises, securing rucks on offense, and forming pods with other forwards to run short, bruising lines near the ruck or set piece that serve to suck the defense in. They’re also instrumental in adding power to the maul when one forms.

• Hooker: The hooker is generally more stout and stocky than the props and is responsible for “hooking” the ball with their foot during the scrum. The hooker also works to form pods with the other forwards and should be strong on both defense and the attack. Oftentimes, the hooker will also serve to throw the ball in during lineouts. 

• Locks: Locks are typically tall, broad players, which offers additional stability in the scrum. It also makes locks effective jumpers in the lineout. Locks are often somewhat more agile than the front row without sacrificing much in the way of power. This makes them great at quickly bolstering incomplete pods, or even entering the backline out wide when the opportunity presents itself. 

The tight five make up the core of a rugby team’s scrum, a set piece that restarts the game after a minor infraction, such as a knock on. These players are generally among the largest and strongest members of a rugby team, as their ability to generate power and maintain the integrity of the scrum are critical to success in the set piece. 

Want to learn more about the scrum in rugby? Check out our 101 guide to the rugby scrum.

Loose forwards

Loose forwards include two flankers (#6 and #7) and the eight man, or number eight (#8). They are so named because while they are involved in the scrum along with the tight five, they are loosely bound so they may more quickly detach themselves and enter open play.

• Flankers: Flankers, as the name suggests, take their place on either side of the scrum. They are generally fast, aggressive players who are able to quickly advance on the attacking team and disrupt play on defense or swiftly join the attacking line on offense. 

• Number eight: The number eight takes their place at the back of the scrum and is responsible for keeping the ball under control in the scrum and working with the scrum-half to set up the first phase of play following the set piece. The number eight should generally have considerably high rugby IQ, as well as strength and endurance.

Backs 

Backs are typically the faster, more agile players on the pitch, responsible for advancing the ball in open space. They must also be skilled at making open field tackles when the opposition is on the attack. Additionally, backs should have well-honed skills including sharp passing, precise kicking, and high rugby IQ. Backs can be subdivided into inside backs and outside backs.

The backline includes the scrum-half (#9), the fly-half (#10), the inside center (#12), the outside center (#13) and the “back three,” which consists of two wings (#11 and #14) and the fullback (#15). 

• Scrum-half: The scrum-half is responsible for conducting the flow of the attack, trailing the ball and quickly starting the next phase after a breakdown. Typically small, quick, and with exceptional rugby IQ, the scrum-half serves to monitor the defense and marshal the forwards, organizing them for an effective attack.

• Fly-half: The fly-half is responsible for organizing the backline in preparation for the ball to go out wide. The fly-half should have exceptional rugby IQ and kicking abilities, as well as a dynamic mentality that helps them to adapt to changing conditions on the pitch. The fly-half should also have strong spatial awareness, as the rest of the backline will set themselves off of the fly-half’s positioning. It is critical that the scrum-half and fly-half communicate effectively and often.

• Inside center: The inside center is typically a bruiser that excels at hard running and tackling, while remaining agile for sharp movements that can disrupt a defense’s alignment. Sure hands are a must for an inside center, as they are the lynch pin between the inside backs and outside backs.

• Outside center: The outside center is typically also a hard runner and reliable defender, though may be a touch more agile than the inside center. They should have good chemistry with their inside counterparts, which helps to create opportunities to exploit gaps in the defense. The ability to quickly catch and pass the ball is also key in order to move the ball to the back three players when attacking opportunities present themselves out wide. 

• Wings: Wings are typically the fastest players on the team and the ability to catch the ball and quickly accelerate through wide gaps are essential. Strong tackling along the touch line is also a plus for wingers, as they will often face off against speedy players from the opposition as well.
  
• Fullback: Fullbacks are responsible for marshaling the back three and serving as the last line of defense should an opposing player break through the defensive line. On the attack, fullbacks serve as dynamic players able to enter the attacking line at any point where there is a gap, which can make them a deadly inside option or crucial extra man to create 2 on 1 opportunities. A fullback should have a high rugby IQ, as they can see more of the field than other players and can call out overloads or attacking opportunities that may otherwise go unseen.

To learn more about rugby positions and the importance of each one, read our guide to rugby positions.

Understanding rugby 101 makes rugby even more fun

There is a lot to learn about rugby, and one of the best parts of playing or spectating is that you can always pick up something new about the sport. But with the 101 information contained in this guide, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the basics of the game. Next time you find yourself on a pitch or watching a match, think back to what you’ve learned here and you’ll be better able to appreciate the unique and exciting sport of rugby.

Want to join a New York rugby club? QRC is based in western Queens, playing and practicing out of Randall’s Island and Astoria in NYC. To learn more about how to join, contact Queens Rugby today.