Rugby union

Rugby union is a ball sport in which two teams of 15 players play against each other. The ball that it used has an oval shape. The field is a rectangle that is 100 metres long and 70 meters wide. At the ends of the field are two H-shaped goal-posts, which must be scored next to or under them.

The game is played for 80 minutes in two 40-minute halves, but there is an overtime if it goes on long enough.

A try is scored when a player 'scores' and is worth 5 points. To score a try, the player must put down the ball in the 'try area', which is behind the goal-posts.

Once a try has been scored, the team has a chance to score extra points. The goal kicker kicks the ball towards the goal-posts. The ball must pass between the two upright goal-posts and above the cross-piece. If it does so, the team is awarded 2 additional points, which is known as a 'conversion'.

Another method of scoring points is through penalties. When a team breaks the rules, the referee may award a penalty. The goal-kicker kicks towards the goal-posts. The ball must pass between the two upright goal-posts and above the cross-piece. If it does so, the team is awarded 3 points.

At the end of the game, all of the team's points are added up, and the team with the most points is the winner.

During play, the goal-kicker may also attempt a 'drop-goal'. The goal-kicker kicks towards the goal-posts. The ball must pass between the two upright goal-posts and above the cross-piece. If it does so, the team is awarded 3 points.

A scrum is the two teams pushing together. In the scrum are a prop, hooker, flanker, second row, and 8-man.

1 : Loose head prop

2 : Hooker

3 : Tight head prop

4 : Lock / Second row

5 : Lock / Second row

6 : Blind side flanker / blind-side wing-forward

7 : Open side flanker / open-side wing-forward

8 : Number 8

9 : Scrum-half (or half-back)

10 : Fly half/outside-half/outhalf (or first-five-eighth)

11 : Left-wing

12 : Inside centre (or second-five-eighth)

13 : Outside centre

14 : Right-wing

15 : Fullback

The players in the back positions are usually smaller, faster and more skillful at kicking and passing. A prop or a hooker needs to be heavy and strong as they play in the front row if there is a scrum. Flankers and locks are often tall and powerful and are used to win the ball in a lineout.

The rules of rugby union are difficult at first but are then easy to pick up.

The key rule to rugby union is that the person who is carrying the ball at any time may not pass the ball to a teammate who is closer to the opposition goal line. The ball must always be passed sideways or backwards.

Only the player with the ball may be tackled. Tackling is the player with the ball being brought to the ground by an opposition player. The opposition player must use the hands to hold onto the ball carrier and take them to the ground.

When the player with the ball is on the ground, players from the opposition team may stand over him and attempt to grab the ball off them. The opposition players must remain standing ('on their feet'). Meanwhile, the player with the ball will try to pass the ball backwards along the ground to a teammate, who will then move over the player and protect the ball.

During the game, between one and four people watch to ensure that the rules of the game are met. The most important of the four is the referee, who runs alongside players as they play the game. The referee controls the game.

The two touch-judges patrol the out-of-bounds areas. They also decide when a goal kick has been successful.

The TMO, or 'television match official', helps the referee with difficult decisions. Most professional games have a TMO.

Kicking is very important part of the rugby game. Normally, it is the back players who kick. However, the forwards sometimes kick. There are different reasons that they may kick: to score points by making a drop goal, to place the ball further towards the other team's try line or to gain distance by kicking the ball high into the air for a teammate to chase and catch.