BASIC RULES and TERMS OF RUGBY
There are a lot of rules in Rugby; here are the basic ones you will need to know at a minimum.
1. Players: A rugby team is made up of 15 players. There are 8 forwards, who concentrate on winning possession, and seven backs, whose chief job it is to advance the ball. All players, though, get involved in offense, defense, and both the grunt work and the glory. Players advance an oval ball by running with it or kicking it. Forward passes are illegal.
2. RUCK: When a player is tackled, play continues as both teams try to gain possession. If the ball carrier is taken to the ground, they must place the ball and release it. Ideally they will place the ball back toward their teammates. Some of the teammates link up and drive over the ball, creating a protective wall around the ball. Then the ball is passed out and run again. This is called a RUCK. In order to enter a ruck, an unbound player must enter from behind their teammates, not from the sides.
3. MAUL: If the ball carrier remains on their feet when tackled, a MAUL may be formed instead of a RUCK. The ball-carrier's mates take the ball away from them and create a slow-driving wall formation (the Maul). At least one additional player from each team, in addition to the ball carrier, must be in contact for a MAUL to be formed.
4. Knock-on, Forward Pass, Scrum: If the ball is thrown forward, or if it is dropped forward (called a KNOCK-ON), then the referee will call a minor penalty and award a SCRUM. In a scrum, the eight forwards from each team bind together in a specific formation. It's like a 16-person reverse tug-of-war to win possession of the ball. A player from the team that did not commit the infraction then rolls the ball in the tunnel formed by both teams, and the ball is hooked backwards. The ball is kept under the feet of the forwards until it makes it to the back of the scrum, where it is picked up by an unbound player, usually the Scrum Half or the Eight-man, and ran or passed into play.
5. Out of Bounds (in touch): When the ball goes out of bounds, it is said to have gone "In Touch." To restart, each group of forwards line up 5 meters from the sidelines, single file, perpendicular to the sidelines, at the place where the ball went out. The hooker from the team who didn't send the ball out, throws the ball down the middle of the two lines. Each team attempts to jump for the ball. They can be lifted and held in the air by their teammates. This is called a LINEOUT.
6. Kicking: Any player may kick the ball, hopefully forward, at any time. However, their teammates must be behind the kicker to be onside. If they are in front of the kicker (and offside) they must wait for an onside player to run past them before they can continue playing. An onside player is anyone behind the kicker at the time of the kick or anyone who has been passed by the kicker.
7. Running with the ball. Unlike other sports such as football, all players on a rugby team have the opportunity to run with the ball, tackle, ruck, maul, play defense, kick and return kicks.
8. Offside: If there is a scrum, or ruck, or maul, and you aren't involved in it, you must stay on your team's side of the breakdown, behind the last foot in the ruck, maul, or scrum. Creeping up too close is like lining up in the neutral zone in football, and is a penalty. On lineouts, any player not involved in the lineout action must be ten meters back. The offside line at lineouts is 10 meters for those not in the lineout. Once the ball is passed, ran or squirts out from the formation, play resumes.
9. Scoring: A try (touchdown) is 5 points. Players must actually TOUCH THE BALL DOWN to score. The point after kick, called a conversion, is worth 2 points, and is taken from the side of the field where the try was scored. Therefore, if you score a try in the corner, the kick is from that sideline, if you score under the posts, the kick is from the middle of the field, and much easier. Thus, it is important to center the ball if no defense is left. Play does not end once in the try-zone. If in-goal, a defender should hold up the ball and prevent the offense from touching the ball to the ground. This prevents your opponents from scoring.
Miscellaneous Rules:
A ball carrier must release the ball when tackled. The tackler must release the ball carrier after a tackle. Both players should attempt to get on their feet immediately so that they can pick up the ball. A player whose knees are still in contact with the ground cannot pick up the ball. If supporting players from either team arrive before a player regains their feet, a ruck has formed and the player must get off the ground and re-enter the ruck from behind the formation on their side.
When you see a loose ball on the ground, don't dive on it! You won't be able to advance the ball unless you are on your feet. Pick it up and advance it. Your opponents can't attack you until the ball is picked up.
There is no blocking in Rugby! Never hit or block an opposing player. This is a Misconduct penalty. Don't run behind players looking for a block. Don't avoid tacklers by running behind your teammates. This is an obstruction penalty and you will automatically loose possession of the ball. When in doubt, run straight forward, even if you don't advance very far. There is no shame in being tackled, let your teammates ruck over and maintain possession of the ball. That is what Rugby is 90% of the time.
Never tackle a player above the chest. This is a High Tackle penalty. If you do this repeatedly or flagrantly you could spend 10 minutes off the field of play or be ejected from the match. When this occurs, your team will have to play 1 player short.
Don't argue penalties with the Sir (Referee). The Sir’s word is law! There is one Sir and 30 players on a pitch (field) at a time. Therefore, he/she has the power to do what they want. You can be ejected for swearing, arguing, celebrating or anything else they feel shouldn't be part of the match. Each team's Captain is the only player designated to speak to the Sir, and only at a stoppage of play. If you are having a problem, tell your Captain.
If a penalty is called near your opponent's goal, the offended team can choose to placekick the ball through the posts for three points. This is called going for "POST." The captain must tell the referee that they would like to go for post on a penalty. Play stops and a kick is attempted. If the kick is missed, the ball is "live" and play resumes.
A drop-kick goal may be attempted at any time in open field play for three points. The ball must hit the ground when kicking.
Possession of the ball is the name of the game. Each infraction causes your team to lose possession. The sooner each player learns the rules, the sooner he will be an asset.