Like football? You’ll love rugby!

March 10, 2:49 PMColorado Rugby ExaminerRick Gustafson

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Courtesy of NZRU

It has been called a ruffian’s game played by gentlemen and the ultimate team sport. You may have dismissed rugby because the rules were unfamiliar or because of limited television coverage, but if you like the physical aspects of football combined with the continuous action of soccer, rugby is the sport for you.

Since football evolved from rugby in the late 1800s, it is no surprise that the two sports have many similarities. A fundamental knowledge football will help you understand the basic laws of rugby. In a few minutes, terms such as ruck, try, and hooker will be as familiar as line of scrimmage, touchdown, and quarterback.

Rugby uses a ball that is slightly larger than a football and is played on a hundred yard (or meter) field. The object of the game is to outscore your opponent during two forty minute halves. Each fifteen-man (or women) team defends his or her own goal line by tackling the opposing player with the ball. Teams score either by kicking the ball through a set of uprights, a three pointer or by advancing the ball over the goal line for a try, five points.

One major difference between scoring a touchdown and a try is that in rugby the ball must be touched to the ground on or across the goal-line, whereas in football crossing the plane of the goal line with control of the ball is sufficient for a score. As in football, the team scoring a try may attempt to convert by kicking the ball through the uprights. This adds two points to the try for a total of seven.

The basic rules of rugby can be learned in a short time, but the many nuances of the sport continue to evolve. Each match provides a new learning opportunity, and if you are wondering what just happened on the pitch, just ask the person sitting next to you. There is a strong sense of camaraderie that connects rugby enthusiasts, so most fans are happy to answer questions and explain the game.