Rugby union 25405 224749498 2008-07-10T07:06:55Z Shudde 1069719 /* See also */ rm already linked {{Other uses|Rugby (disambiguation)}} <!--This article is in Commonwealth English--> {| class="infobox" style="width: 250px; font-size: 95%;" | align="center" colspan="2" | [[Image:Scrum rugby.jpg||245px|A [[Scrum (rugby union)|rugby union scrum]].]] |- |+ style="font-size: larger;" | '''Rugby Union''' |- | align="center" colspan="2" | | |- ! colspan="2" bgcolor="#b0c4de" | '''General Information''' |- style="vertical-align: top;" | '''Originated''' | 1845, [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], [[Warwickshire]], [[England]] |- | '''World Governing Body''' | [[International Rugby Board]] |- ! colspan="2" bgcolor="#b0c4de" | '''Major Competitions''' |- style="vertical-align: top;" | | |- | '''Major Competitions''' | [[Rugby World Cup|The World Cup]]<br/>[[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri Nations]]<br/>[[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]]<br/>[[Super 14]]<br/>[[Heineken Cup]] |- |} <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:playing rugby.jpg|thumb|right| [[Scrum (rugby union)|A line out, club rugby-Mackie FPs]].|{{deletable image-caption|1=Wednesday, [[26 March]] [[2008]]}}]] --> '''Rugby union''' is an outdoor [[contact sport]] played with a [[prolate spheroid]]-shaped ball by two teams of 15 players. It is one of the two main codes of [[rugby football]], the other being [[rugby league]]. There is also a seven-a-side variant named [[rugby sevens]], which is played under modified laws and with only seven players per team. Rugby union is often referred to as simply '''rugby''', or as '''football''', and in regions where rugby league is played, as '''union'''.<ref>More colloquial terms for rugby union include '''rugger ''' or '''egg chasing'''.</ref><ref>Rugger: *[[OED]]:Rugger "Slang or colloquial alteration of RUGBY (in the sense of 'Rugby football'). Freq. attrib. rugger-tackle". *Tony Collins, ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/recordings/individual/leeds-leeds-collins-tony.shtml Football, rugby, rugger?]'', BBC sound recording with written transcript, and a comment in prose by Jonnie Robinson, Curator, English accents and dialects, British Library Sound Archive.)</ref> ==Overview== {{main|Playing rugby union}} A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes, (plus stoppage time), with a short interval (not more than 10 minutes)<ref name=Law5.2">Laws of the Game: Law 5.2</ref> after the first 40 minutes; at under-19 level and below, games are limited to a maximum of 70 minutes, with an interval after 35 minutes.<ref>Under 19 Variations, International Rugby Board</ref> A match is controlled by a [[referee]], who is assisted by two [[touch judge]]s or assistant referees. For professional matches, a television match official (TMO), commonly called the [[video referee]] is often employed, usually to advise the referee on matters pertaining to the scoring of [[try|tries]] and [[Field goal (rugby)|dropped goal]]s. [[Image:The-Try.jpg|right|frame|The Try, 1930s boys' comic illustration of play in a school rugby match.]] The object of the game is to score as many points as possible. The team that scores the greater number of points is the winner. Points are awarded for scoring a try or kicking a goal. A try, which is worth 5 points, is scored when the ball is grounded by a player on the attacking team within the opponent's in-goal area. A goal is scored by kicking the ball over the crossbar of the opponent's goal while remaining between the posts. There are three ways to score a goal: (i) a [[Field goal (rugby)|dropped goal]] (historically scored in open play where the ball must hit the ground immediately before it is kicked, but now it is just kicked in open play); (ii) a [[Penalty (rugby)#Penalties in rugby union|penalty goal]] (awarded after the opposing side infringes against the laws of rugby and may be kicked from a stationary ground position or by drop kick); and (iii) a [[Try#Conversion|conversion]] (awarded after a try is scored) by either a drop kick or a place kick. A penalty or dropped goal is worth 3 points; a conversion is worth 2 points. The pitch must be no more than 100 meters in length, not including the in-goal area. The depth of the in-goal area can vary but must be at least 10 meters (where practicable) and no more than 22 meters. The width of the pitch may also vary but must be no more than 70 meters wide. The goal posts are situated on the centre of the goal line with the upright posts placed 5.6 meters apart and the crossbar is placed 3 meters above the ground in an 'H' shape. The overall height of the goal posts must be over 3.4 meters. A typical passage of rugby takes the following form: the team in possession of the ball moves the ball up the field in an effort to ground the ball over the opponents' goal-line in order to score a try until such time as the ball carrier is [[Playing rugby union#Tackle|tackled]]. They then form a [[Playing rugby union#Ruck|ruck]] in order to win the ball back. This process repeats until one team loses possession, makes a mistake that violates the Laws of the game, moves off the field of play or a try or goal is scored. The team in possession may choose to advance by kicking the ball forward. The ball may be [[Rugby passes#passes|passed]] from one player to another as long as the ball is not thrown forward. Rugby union is one of the few ball games where the ball cannot be passed forward. Any team mate nearer the opposition goal than the ball-carrier is off-side and must not interfere with play, meaning that [[American football]]-style blocking is forbidden. The team not in possession attempts to stop the ball carrier by tackling them, which consists of grabbing hold of them and bringing them to ground. A tackled player must pass or release the ball, allowing the opposition to contest possession of the loose ball. Play does not stop unless there is an infringement of the laws, or the ball / ball-carrier leaves the field of play. If the ball goes into touch (out of the field of play), the game restarts with a [[line-out]]. If the game stops because of an infringement, play restarts with either a [[scrum (rugby union)|scrum]], free kick or penalty kick (depending on the severity of the infringement) awarded to the non-infringing team. Tries are the main form of scoring, and the primary aim of most teams is to score tries. Drop goals and penalty kicks are usually augmenters, a safer option against a steadfast defense or to punish ill-disciplined opposition. On some (usually rare) occasions, a team may be awarded a penalty try, if their opponents commit a foul which is deemed by the referee to have prevented a probable try, for example collapsing a scrum or maul close to the try line. ==History== {{main|History of rugby union}} The history of rugby union follows from various football games played long before the 19th century, but it was not until the middle of that century that laws were formulated and codified. The code of football later known as rugby union can be traced to three events: the first set of written laws in 1845; the Blackheath Club's decision to leave the The Football Association in 1863 and; the formation of the Rugby Football Union in 1871. The code was originally known simply as "rugby football"; it was not until a schism, in 1895, which resulted in the separate code of rugby league, that the name "rugby union" was used for the game itself. Rugby union stuck to its ideals of amateurism and it was not until 1995 that the game turned professional. ==Governing bodies== {{seealso|International Rugby Board|Timeline of foundation of national rugby unions}} The recognised international governing body of rugby union (and associated games, such as sevens) is the International Rugby Board (IRB). The IRB headquarters are located in [[Dublin]], [[Rugby union in Ireland|Ireland]]. Six regional associations are members of the IRB; these are: *Africa: [[Confederation of African Rugby]] (CAR) *Asia: [[Asian Rugby Football Union]] (ARFU) *North America & West Indies: North America and West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA) *Europe: [[FIRA - Association of European Rugby|FIRA - Association Européenne de Rugby]] (FIRA-AER) *Oceania: Federation of Oceania Rugby Union (FORU) *South America: Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby (CONSUR) National unions oversee rugby union within individual countries. These are affiliated both with the IRB and with their respective regional association. ==Worldwide== [[Image:Coupe du monde rugby - tour Eiffel.JPG|right|thumb|A giant rugby ball suspended below the [[Eiffel Tower]] as a promotion for the [[Rugby World Cup]].]] Rugby union has established itself as a popular sport, particularly in [[Rugby union in Australia|Australia]], [[Rugby union in Argentina|Argentina]], [[Rugby union in Canada|Canada]], [[Rugby union in England|England]], [[Rugby union in Fiji|Fiji]], [[Rugby union in France|France]], [[Rugby union in Georgia|Georgia]], [[Rugby union in Ireland|Ireland]], [[Rugby union in Italy|Italy]], [[Rugby union in Japan|Japan]], [[Rugby union in New Zealand|New Zealand]], [[Rugby union in Romania|Romania]], [[Rugby union in Samoa|Samoa]], [[Rugby union in Scotland|Scotland]], [[Rugby union in South Africa|South Africa]], [[Rugby union in Tonga|Tonga]] and [[Rugby union in Wales|Wales]]. It is also the national sport and national obsession of both [[Rugby union in New Zealand|New Zealand]] and [[Rugby union in Wales|Wales]]. Other countries with a long tradition of rugby, although as a minority sport, include [[Rugby union in the United States|the USA]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[India]], [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]], [[Paraguay]], [[Uruguay]], [[Chile]], [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Russia]], [[Moldova]], [[Portugal]], [[Spain]] and numerous African countries. For example, the USA are the reigning Olympic champions, from the Paris Olympics in [[Rugby union at the 1924 Summer Olympics|1924]] (the last year rugby was played as an Olympic sport), when they beat France in the final. Rugby union is gaining popularity in Italy following its acceptance into the [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]]. Japan unsuccessfully bid to host the [[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011 World Cup]] losing to [[New Zealand]]. Rugby union also has a following in North America, with both Canada and the USA regularly qualifying for the World Cup. One of the attractions of rugby union is the great diversity in playing styles that have been adopted by the various countries that play the game. This diversity of styles of play is partially due to the varying interpretations of the laws of the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2007/06/18/black-and-white-and-grey/ |title=Black and white and grey|author=Garth Hamilton|date=June 18, 2007|publisher=theroar.com.au |accessdate=2007-09-18}}</ref> Perhaps the greatest influence on styles of play is the playing environment which can vary according to the local climate. The [[International Rugby Board]] (IRB), founded in 1886, governs the sport worldwide and also publishes the game's [http://www.irb.com/EN/Laws+and+Regulations/ laws] and [[IRB World Rankings|rankings]]. There are currently 95 full members and eight associate member countries. According to IRB figures, rugby union is played in over 100 countries spanning six continents by men and women of all ages. The IRB controls the [[Rugby World Cup]], the [[Women's Rugby World Cup]], [[Rugby World Cup Sevens]], [[IRB Sevens World Series]], [[IRB Junior World Championship|Junior World Championship]], [[IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy|Junior World Trophy]] and the [[Super Cup]]. It holds votes to decide where all of these events shall be held, except in the case of the Sevens World Series. For that competition, the IRB contracts with several national unions to hold individual events. Records of women's rugby go back over 100 years - the first mentions of the game being in New Zealand in 1891 and France ten years later. In the past 30 years, however, the game has expanded massively and (according to the RFU) it is now played in over 80 countries worldwide. ==Major international competitions==<!-- This section is linked from [[BBC Radio Five Live]] --> {{see details|List of rugby union competitions}} [[Image:Ireland vs Georgia, Rugby World Cup 2007 line up.jpg|right|thumb|[[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] playing [[Georgia national rugby union team|Georgia]] in the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]].]] The most important tournament in rugby union is the [[Rugby World Cup]], a men's tournament that takes place every four years between the elite national rugby union teams. [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] are the current world champions, winning the [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 tournament]] held in France. They beat England, who were attempting to become the first country to retain the title, having won it in 2003. The fact that four different countries have won the World Cup confirms the level of competition in the tournament, creating intense interest from supporters, the media and major sponsors. Major international competitions in the northern and southern hemisphere are the [[Six Nations Championship]] and the [[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri Nations Series]], respectively. The [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] is an annual competition involving northern hemisphere teams {{nrut|England}}, {{nrut|France}}, {{nrut|Ireland}}, {{nrut|Italy}}, {{nrut|Scotland}} and {{nrut|Wales}}. Each country plays the other five once, the modern tournament traces its roots to the first ever international game, when England lost by one goal to Scotland at Inverleith Park, adjacent to Raeburn Place, Edinburgh in 1871. In the 1880s, Wales and Ireland joined to create the ''Home International Championships''. France joined the tournament in the 1900s and in 1910 the term ''Five Nations'' first appeared. However, the [[Home Nations]] (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) excluded France in 1931 amid a run of poor results, allegations of professionalism (rugby union was officially amateur until 1995) and concerns over on-field violence. France then rejoined in 1939-1940, though [[World War II]] halted proceedings for a further eight years. France has played in all the tournaments since WWII, the first one of which was played in 1947. In 2000, Italy became the sixth nation in the contest. Argentina have long been rumoured to be interested in joining the 6 Nations but their geographical location and various other factors combine to make it look extremely unlikely, in the near future anyway. Since their strong performances in the 2007 World Cup a number of commentators believe they should join the Tri-Nations with New Zealand, Australia and World Cup champions South Africa. The Tri Nations is an annual international rugby union series held between the southern hemisphere teams of {{nrut|Australia}}, [[All Blacks|New Zealand]] and {{nrut|South Africa}}. The series was initially played on a home and away basis with the three nations playing each other twice. In 2006 a new system was introduced where each nation plays the others three times rather than two. In 2007 the teams played each other only twice, as it was a World Cup year. The IRB had been brokering a deal which could have seen {{nrut|Argentina}} admitted to the competition in 2008,<ref name="Argentina deal">{{cite web|url=http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article1434537.ece |title=Ambitious Argentina poised to secure TriNations place |publisher=''The Sunday Times'' |first=Nick |last=Cain |date=2007-02-25 |accessdate=2007-02-26}}</ref> but it was later confirmed that the Tri Nations would not be expanded until at least 2010.<ref name="Pumas delayed">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyrugby.com/tournaments/tri_nations/story_13807145000.php |title=Pumas will stay crouched until 2010 |publisher=''RugbyRugby.com'' |date=[[2007-08-13]] |accessdate=2007-10-11}}</ref> Amidst all the rugby union competitions are also the autumn and summer Tests, which take place between September to December and June to August. These are played by the major rugby union nations on a home or away basis. [[Rugby union at the Summer Olympics|Rugby union]] was played at the [[Olympic Games]] in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924. As per Olympic rules, the nations of Scotland, Wales and England were not allowed to play separately as they are not sovereign states. [[Rugby Sevens]] has been played at the [[Commonwealth Rugby Sevens Championships|Commonwealth Games]] since 1998. [[Image:Olympics postcard.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A postcard of the rugby event at the [[1924 Summer Olympics|1924]] Olympics.]] ==Women's Rugby== [[Women's international rugby union|Women's International Rugby]] began in 1982. Over six hundred women's internationals have now been played by over forty different nations. As well as the [[Women's Rugby World Cup|women's World Cup event]] (which takes place every four years), there are also other regular tournaments, including a [[Women's Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] run in parallel to the men's competition. ==In the British military== The earliest record of rugby being played in the Army was during the [[Crimean War]] (1854-56). In its early days rugby was very much the preserve of the officers; it was not until the early 1870s that the game became inclusive of all ranks. The [[Royal Navy]] and in particular the [[British Army]] did much to spread rugby worldwide as it did for two other sports of English origin; [[cricket]] and [[football]]. Army regiments stationed throughout the [[British Empire]] had regimental teams who played locally. Whilst serving in India the [[Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)|3rd (East Kent) Regiment (The Buffs)]] and the [[Wiltshire Regiment|62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's)]] both had a hand in the conception of the [[Calcutta Cup]], the oldest trophy in the history of international rugby. The [[Army Navy Match]], which is currently played at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] each year was first played in 1878, but did not become an annual event until 1909. In 1905 the Royal Navy Rugby Union (RNRU) was formed and the [[Army Rugby Union]] the following year (1906), both service unions were affiliated to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on their formation. Women's rugby was introduced into the British Armed Services in the early 1990s. ==Variants== There are two major variants: * [[Touch rugby]], a version of rugby in which 'tackles' are made simply by touching an opponent, is gaining popularity. * [[Rugby Sevens]] (invented in [[Melrose, Scotland]]); there are a number of Sevens tournaments throughout the world, and they frequently allow smaller nations to shine, which do not do so well at 15-a-side. ==See also== {{Portal|Rugby union|Ru ball.svg}} {{Commonscat}} {{wiktionary|rugby union|Rugby union}} {{Wikinewscat|Rugby}} *[[List of rugby union terms]] *[[List of international rugby union teams]] *[[Women's international rugby union|Women's International Rugby]] *[[International Rugby Hall of Fame]] *[[Rugby union at the Summer Olympics]] *[[Rugby Sevens]] *[[Touch rugby]] *[[Comparison of rugby league and rugby union]] ==Bibliography== *{{cite web| url=http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/FULL070110LGLAWSOFTHEGAME2007red_569.pdf |title=Laws of the Game Rugby Union |date=2007 |accessdate=2008-01-02 |publisher=irb.com |format=pdf}} *{{cite web| url=http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/0/060924gfirbregulation12%5f879.pdf |title=Provisions Relating to Players Dress|publisher=irb.com |accessdate=2008-01-02 |date=[[2007-07-22]] |format=pdf}} ==References== {{reflist}} * [http://www.scrum.com/906_1068.php Scrum.com Rugby guide] * [http://www.rugby15.co.uk/rfulaws.html Rugby15.co.uk RFU Laws] ==External links== {{sisterlinks|Rugby union}} '''Official''' * [http://www.irb.com International Rugby Board] '''Resources''' * [http://www.rugbydata.com Rugby Data] Statistics on International Rugby Union games * [http://wesclark.com/rrr/rugby_phrase_guide.html Rugby union phrase guide] {{Team Sport}} [[Category:Rugby union| ]] [[Category:Team sports]] {{Link FA|af}} [[af:Rugby]] [[ca:Rugbi a 15]] [[cy:Rygbi'r Undeb]] [[da:Rugby]] [[de:Rugby]] [[es:Rugby]] [[eo:Rugbeo]] [[fa:راگبی ۱۵ نفره]] [[fr:Rugby à XV]] [[ga:Rugbaí]] [[gv:Rugby]] [[gd:Rugbaidh]] [[ko:럭비 유니온]] [[hr:Rugby union]] [[is:Ruðningur]] [[it:Rugby a 15]] [[nl:Rugby Union]] [[ja:ラグビー・フットボール]] [[no:Rugby union]] [[oc:Rugbi de XV]] [[pl:Rugby union]] [[pt:Râguebi]] [[ru:Регби]] [[sl:Rugby]] [[fi:Rugby]] [[sv:Rugby]] [[zh:聯合式橄欖球]]