Rugby equipment, Shirts, and Clothing
At Catsrugby.com we tell you about the game of rugby, rules, and equipment for playing the game. This is a site intended for information only. We will not attempt to sell you any products nor do we carry products to sell.
Rugby is referred to as the ‘father’ of American football because American football did not start until 70 years after rugby began to be played. Rugby is a fast-paced game with very few stoppages and few possession changes. All players must be able to run, kick, pass, and catch the ball. There is not an offense and a defense. Every player plays both. Each team member must know how to tackle and defend as well as run, kick, and throw the ball in an offensive manner. Blocking of opponents is not allowed in rugby and there are only five substitutions a game. A rugby game has two halves, 40 minutes each.
A rugby field is 110 yards long and 75 yards wide. There are two end zones which contain the goalposts. The goals are H-shaped cross bars as in American football and are the same size. The ball is made of leather and doesn’t have laces. As in football, the rugby ball is oval in shape, but rounder and less pointed to minimize erratic bounces as seen in football.
There are 15 players on each team. There are eight ‘forwards’ on a team who are the larger stronger players. These forwards are like linemen and linebackers in American football. There are seven ‘backs’ who tend to be smaller, faster, and more agile. The backs are equivalent to the running backs in American football. Their job is to move the ball quickly down the field.
The game begins with one team kicking the ball from mid-field to the opposing team. Provided that the ball goes at least ten yards either team may gain possession of it. Rugby does not have ‘downs’ as football does. Possession is continuous like soccer. The person with the ball spearheads the attack. Any player may carry, pass, or kick the ball. Play is continued even when the ball touches the ground. When tackled, the player must release the ball and get out of the way so that other players can play the ball.
Players move the ball forward by three methods:
• Running – When running the ball, players can continue until they are tackled, step out of bounds, or go over the goal line (scoring a try).
• Passing – The ball may be passed laterally or backward to another player, but never forward.
• Kicking – Any player may kick the ball forward at any time he or she chooses. Once kicked, players of either tem may gain possession. Typically, a player will kick the ball to another teammate to advance the ball towards the opposing team’s goal line.To score a goal, a player must intentionally place the ball over the opponent’s goal line. This is called a ‘try’ and five points are awarded. Following a try, a conversion is attempted by kicking the ball successfully through the goalposts. This is like the extra point in football and one point is given. If there is a major violation of the rules, the kicking team has the option to kick for points. This is called the penalty kick. Three points are awarded for a successful kick. A drop goal is when a player drop kicks the ball through the goal posts. The player must drop the ball on the ground and kick it when it bounces. Three points are awarded for a drop goal.
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