Rugby is a popular game played by men and women of every race and creed,
from under age five
to well over fifty, in over 100 countries of the world. In a few of
those countries it is the national
sport -- some say religion.
The basic game involves 15 players though seven-a-side tournaments are also popular.
The object of the game is to score as many points as possible by carrying,
passing, kicking and
grounding an oval ball in the scoring zone at the far end of the field
-- called the in-goal area.
Grounding the ball, which must be done with downward pressure, results
in a try (worth 5 points).
After a try a conversion may be attempted by place kick or drop kick.
If the ball passes over the
bar and between the goal posts the conversion is successful and results
in a further 2 points. Points
may also be scored from a drop kick in general play (worth 3 points)
and a penalty kick
(worth 3 points).
The ball may not be passed forward (though it may be kicked forward)
and players may not
receive the ball in an offside position, nor may they wait in such
a position. Players may not be
tackled without the ball. Play only stops when a try is scored, or
the ball goes out of play, or an
infringement occurs. When the ball goes out it is thrown back
in at a line-out where the opposing
"forwards" line up and jump for the ball. Infringements result in a
penalty, or free kick, or scrum.
In a scrum the opposing forwards bind together in a unit and push against
the other forwards, trying
to win the ball with their feet. Substitutions are only allowed in
case of injury and there is no
separate offensive and defensive unit.