Rugby is a continuous game whereby two teams carry, pass, kick and ground the ball in order to score as many points as possible, with the team scoring the greater number of points being the winner.

In Senior rugby (and under 19s), 15 people play at a time per side, each of which have specific duties as a player. Players are usually talked about in respect to two categories. Members of the first group are called the forwards, or the pack, and consist of the first eight players. Members of the second group are called the backs, and consist of the remaining players, numbered 9 to fifteen.

If a player is tackled to the ground they must release the ball, which usually results in a ruck. If a player is held while standing, a maul will usually be formed. The purpose of the ruck or maul is so that the game can continue without any stoppage in play.

The line-out and scrum are two key distinguishing factors to the game of Rugby Union. A scrum occurs when there is an accidental infringement and a line-out occurs when the ball goes out of bounds. Both of these are methods of restarting the game.

A try is scored when a player places the ball in the opposition's in-goal area. It is counted as 5 points and can be converted to an additional 2 points with a successful place kick or drop kick. Points may also be awarded from a drop kick in general play and a penalty kick. Both are worth 3 points.

1. The Laws

The Laws of the Game are formulated by the International Rugby Board and are reviewed and updated on a four year cycle following each Rugby World Cup. For matches played between teams made up of players 19 years of age and younger there are modifications to the Laws which are designed to provide greater safety for the players. There are also modified games for players up to under 12 years of age.

2. The Aim of the Game

The aim of the game is to score more points than the opposition. Any player who is behind another player of his team may receive the ball, run with it and score a try at the other end of the field. Players may also kick the ball to gain territory or field position.

3. The Officials

There is one Referee to control the match and two touch judges to assist with decisions on the touch lines. The touch judges also stand behind the goal posts to judge whether penalty goals and conversions are successful. For international and other selected high level matches there is also a Television Match Official (TMO) who assists with the scoring of tries and sideline officials to manage the movement of players on and off the field.

4. The Players

There are 15 players in each team with 7 replacements that can be used for injuries and substitutions for any reason. Once a player is replaced because he is injured he cannot return to the field. A substituted player can only return to the game for safety reasons. A blood rule applies which allows a player to be temporarily replaced.

5. Playing positions

Players are numbered 1 to 15, with numbers 16 – 22 being used for the replacements. Players numbered 1 – 8 are called the “forwards” and those with numbers 9 -15 are the “backs”. The forwards, who are generally bigger, are the players who form the scrum and the lineout while the backs are more “fleet of foot” and are used to run the ball. The diagram shows the typical configuration of players on the field at a scrum situation.

The game is divided into two halves of forty minutes each with time off for injuries. Half time is a maximum of 10 minutes. For each half and after a score, the game starts with a drop kick from the centre of the field. For matches U19, the time of each half is reduced so that the activity is commensurate with the player’s age and skill development.

6. The Field

The field is a rectangle 70 metres wide and 100 metres long. At each end of the field is an area called the in-goal. This is where tries are scored. The side lines are called the “touch lines”.

8. Scoring

Points can be scored in a number of ways: 

• Try – When a player grounds the ball in his opponent’s in-goal area (5 points) 
• Conversion Goal – A conversion goal is attempted only after a try has been scored (2 points)
• Penalty Goal – A goal scored from a Penalty Kick (3 points)
• Dropped Goal – A goal scored from a drop kick in general play (3 points)

9. Pass and Knock-on

The ball is transferred from one player to another by a pass. A pass may be made backwards to players of the same team. A forward pass is not permitted. If a player drops the ball forward (called a knock-on) play is stopped.

10. Advantage

When a team infringes a Law of the game and the other team gains or has possession, the Referee may play on to allow the other team to try to gain an advantage. Where an advantage is not gained the Referee will play a scrum or award a Penalty or Free Kick.

11. Free and Penalty Kicks.

When a team infringes a Law (except a forward pass or knock-on), and the other team is unable to gain an advantage, the Referee will award a Free Kick or Penalty Kick. Free Kicks are awarded for “technical” infringements and the Referee will signal these with a “bent arm”. Penalty Kicks are for more serious infringements such as off-side, foul or dangerous play and the Referee signals these with his arm pointing upwards at 45 degrees.

For Free and Penalty Kicks the infringing team must go back 10 metres from where the kick is awarded.

12 . Scrum

When play is stopped for a minor infringement (a forward pass or knock-on), it is restarted by a scrum made up of the 8 forwards from each team. At a scrum, the ball is rolled into the tunnel between the opposing “packs” by the scrum half (No. 9) and hooked back by a player from either side. At a scrum, all players not in the scrum must be behind the back of their side of the scrum, otherwise they are off-side.

13. Tackle

When a player is running with the ball he may be “tackled’ by an opposing player. When a player is tackled (brought to the ground and held), he must release the ball so that both teams can contest possession. Players must be on their feet when contesting possession.

14. Rucks & Mauls

Rucks and mauls are used to compete for the ball and to keep the game flowing. A ruck is formed when one player from each team comes into contact over the ball when it is on the ground. A maul is formed between opposing teams in a similar way to a ruck, except that the ball remains in the hand, as opposed to being on the ground. At a ruck or maul, all players not in the ruck or maul must be behind the back of their side of the ruck or maul,

otherwise they are off-side.

15. Lineout

When the ball is kicked, bounces or is carried into touch (the side boundaries) it may be brought back into play by a quick throw or at a formed lineout. In a lineout, the ball is thrown down the centre of the two lines of forwards to the players selected for their jumping skills.