Rugby has many supporters worldwide but it is not perfect. New comers to the game often claim it is too difficult to understand and this can become a barrier to them becoming more long term fans of the game.
Learning the basic rules and gameplay of rugby isn’t too hard, however, to develop a deeper understanding of the game is notoriously difficult in comparison to sports such as football/soccer. This is due to the many more technical laws that exist which even some players fail to fully grasp.
If you are a beginner at rugby, you may be somewhat confused about the rules, positions, and how rugby is played and scored. Therefore, this guide will teach you the basics of rugby and show you how to learn everything you need to know about the game.
Is It Difficult To Learn Rugby?
It is difficult to learn rugby union for four main reasons: firstly, the sheer number of rules there are, secondly, different referees interpret the rules differently, thirdly, the rules do change fairly frequently, and finally, each position has unique roles and responsibilites to learn.
The Number of Rules
Rugby union has an extraordinarily long rule book featuring 21 separate chapters with each section having around 50 rules. World rugby do a great job of explaining them in their rule book but the reailty is that it taes years to master all of the variation.
Different Refereeing Interpretations
There is nothing more frustrating for a player than learning one way of playing the rules only for a different referee to penalise you for doing the exactly the same thing. Well, this is exactly what happens in rugby union.
In fact, referees in the southern hemisphere can be so different to those in the northern hemisphere that when there is an international game between teams from these opposite sides of the world the deciding factor can be where the referee comes from as this allows an advantage to the team from that hemisphere who are familiar with their refereing style.
Rules Change Often
Each season World Rugby alter the rules and whilst they might seem quite trivial at the time they can make a significant difference to how the game is played. Most recently, for example, a 50-22 metre rule was introduced.
This means that a player can kick the ball from inside their own half and find touch in the opposition 22 metre area and then regain the ball at the throw in. This completely changed the way the game is played as wingers had to drop deeper to defend these kicks which left more space outwide for opposing wingers to attack in.
Whilst the rule changes are well intentioned the overall effect is often to simply confuse those new to the sport.
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Each Position Has A Unique Role
If you have ever played soccer then you will know that you can pretty much have a go at playing any position with very little to learn about switching roles and have equally positive experience in each position.
In rugby union, however, positions are much more fixed as there is so much technical skill required to master each position. For example, a hooker needs to master the art of throwing in accurately, scrummaging technique to be effective in the scrum and ball carrying ability among other things.
This is completely different to a scrum-half who has a completely different skill set requirement: passing the ball off the floor, cover tackling responsibilites, organisational responsibilities aswell as having an eye for a gap around the side of rucks and mauls.
A Combination Of The Physical And The Mental
It surprises many people new to rugby union that it is actually more than just big blokes (and lasses) trying to smash eachother. Of course, there is a very real and exciting physical side to the game which takes a lot of getting used to if you are not used to physical confrontation.
Alongside that, you have then got to be an intelligent player at the same time and make smart decision whilst under pressure.
For example, a fly-half maybe tackling the opposing back row players charging full speed at him one moment, and the next moment they may have to make a snap decision with players charging towards them as to whether to pass the ball wide, show and go, pass the ball inside, kick long or put in a chip kick.
All of this the fly-half has to consider in an instance and they need to get both the physical and mental aspect of the game correct in order to be successful.
England’s two greatest fly-halves of all time Jonny Wilkinson and Owen Farrell were/are both masters at getting this right, usually, even Owen Farrell gets it wrong sometimes!
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Is Rugby A Difficult Sport?
Rugby is a complex sport, mainly because it is both physically taxing and you must simultaneously keep your head about you. Rugby players are often placed in tense situations and must remain calm and rational while thinking of a way to pass the ball to one of their teammates.
Considering how big a rugby field is and how much effort it takes to move the rugby ball from one side of the field to the other, it is safe to assume that rugby is a physically taxing sport. The players must run and jump throughout the game. Furthermore, they often get tackled to the ground and must lift other players during line-outs or after kicks.
In addition to it being physically taxing, rugby also requires you to be mentally focused. This is true for both players and spectators. If you aren’t paying attention, you’ll miss something important happening. For example, you may miss the ball when passed to you or fail to tackle someone running past you with the ball.
Therefore, you must remain mentally alert throughout the rugby game. As you train and become a better rugby player, this will come naturally, and you shouldn’t have any problems remaining focused.
Rugby players have grueling training regimes, as they must be top fit to keep moving throughout the eighty minutes of the game. They must also practice specific drills and game plans endlessly, so these drills become muscle memory, and they can execute them flawlessly in a game.
Therefore, rugby is both physically and mentally demanding and requires athletes to be in top condition when training and playing. Now, you might wonder if rugby is a dangerous sport.
Also try: What’s the Difference Between Rugby League, Union and Sevens?
Making Rugby Easier: Basic Rules Explained
For a first-time player or watcher, rugby rules may seem very confusing. However, the more you watch the game, the more you will get used to how it is played, and the more you will understand the rules. Once you understand the rules and basic objectives, you will quickly learn rugby.
The first thing you should learn about rugby is how the game is scored. After all, this is what determines the winner. There are various ways in which a player can score points in rugby.
The primary ways are scoring a try (which counts five points) and kicking the ball over the post (which counts 2 points). However, in the case of a penalty kick, kicking the ball over the post will earn your team 3 points.
Now you can follow the game’s scoring and see why the same points aren’t allotted at each stage. Next, you should understand that there are two divisions of players on a rugby field. They are known as forwards and backs. So, each team has 8 forwards and 7 backs.
The roles and responsibilities of the forwards and backs differ significantly. Therefore, you can best learn the roles of each position by watching what they are doing during a game. For example, the forwards are involved in rucks and line-outs. The backs are responsible for moving the defense forward and scoring tries.
For an onlooker, each player’s specific role and responsibility aren’t as important. However, if you intend to play rugby, you must learn the details of the role you are interested in playing. For example, forwards tend to be bigger and stronger, while backs are more agile and faster.
Of course, once you know the roles of the players and how points are allotted, you can start learning the more complex rules of rugby. Many rules in this sport affect the outcome of the game. Start by learning the basic rules.
Basic rules of rugby include where to throw the ball (you aren’t allowed to pass it forward), when you are offside and not allowed to play, and how and when you may tackle another player. Knowing the basic rules of rugby will help you understand the game much better. For example, you will understand why a team gets penalized or what the referee thinks they did wrong.
Once you have learned the basics of rugby, you can start to watch and enjoy the sport. Then, as you get more involved with following the game, you will also learn some of the additional rules and get an even better understanding of how the game works.
For more detaisl go here: Basic Rules of Rugby Fully Explained
Is Rugby A Dangerous Sport?
Rugby comes with some danger, as is to be expected when you watch the game. Players are regularly tackled to the ground, wearing very little protection against injuries. The most common rugby injuries include:
- Concussions
- Dislocated joints and bones
- Broken bones
- Torn ligaments
- Bruises
Furthermore, injuries often occur from overuse, as rugby players train for hours a day and endure grueling physical training regularly. Therefore, rugby players often have some type of injury. If a player is fortunate, he won’t get poorly injured throughout his career. Unfortunately, many rugby players sustain serious injuries that force them to take time off from the sport.
Although rugby is a dangerous sport, the teams usually have their physical therapists to help prevent and treat specific injuries. With the help of their therapists and regular stretching and rehabilitation exercises, rugby players can reduce the risk of getting seriously injured.
Considering how dangerous it is and how complex the rules of rugby are, it is no surprise that there aren’t that many professional rugby players in the world. Furthermore, a rugby player has a relatively short career, and most professional players retire before age 40.
Rugby is difficult to learn and play, as there are many rules to know, and the sport is very demanding. However, if you start with the basics, you will learn the rest with time and will become more interested in the game.
Rugby is also a dangerous sport, and injuries like concussions and torn ligaments are quite common in this sport. As a result, most professional rugby players retire before the age of 40, while they are still young enough to recover from their injuries.
Image Credits
Daniela Scalia coaching with rugby techniques FC Lugano Settore Giovanile Ilikethedoubled, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
