Rugby union, rugby league and rugby sevens are the most popular forms of rugby on the planet but the differences between the three can be a little confusing for the casual observer, so let’s clear up the main difference straight away.
Rugby union is a 15 aside game and Rugby sevens is the same game, rugby union, but played 7 a side. Rugby League, however, has a completely different set of rules but does share the same shaped ball and similar sporting origins.
There are quite a few more differences to dig into here including regional and geographical differences, the flow of the game, the absence and inclusion of typical aspects of rugby, such as scrums and the types of competitions in each of the different sports and more so we’l sup-up the difference below
Popularity
15 a-side rugby union is the most popular sport by player numbers with over 6 million regular rugby union players worldwide.
The number of rugby league players is likely around 1 million and the number of Rugby Sevens players is difficult to estimate as many 15 a-side player will also play seven a-side at some point during a season whether just for fun, fitness, or in training games.
Regionality
Rugby Sevens is really popular in all the major rugby playing nations but is particularly popular in Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa. These two countries traditionally produce the best teams that dominate the Sevens format of the game.
That said, as the game is less technical and essentially easier to play and learn less traditional rugby countries such as Kenya and Spain can enjoy some international success in the sport. For example, Kenya beat New Zealand in rugby sevens and this would never ever happen in the 15 a-side game.
Rugby league is massively popular in Australia with the countries National Rugby League (NRL) domestic competition being the main focus for rugby league fans in Australia and the inter provincial ‘State of Origin’ series played annually between New South Wales and Queensland being the other focus of attention.
The north of England is another major stronghold for rugby league with teams such as Wigan Warriors, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos and more leading the way.
Rugby union, the 15 a-side version is a popular and significant sport in Wales, England, Ireland, France, Scotland, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, Italy, Australia.
These nation’s teams compete in various international competitions, such as the SIx Nations, Rugby Championship and the Rugby Word Cup as well as participating in rugby tours to other countries on a regular basis.
You might also want to read: What type of sport is rugby?
Rule Differences Rugby 7s And 15s
There are surprisingly few rule differences between Rugby Union 15s and 7s, as essentially it is the same game just played with less players. The few differences include:
- Rolling mauls aren’t allowed in rugby 7s
- Conversion place kicks are replaced with drop-kicks
- Matches last 80 mins in 15s and 14 minutes in 7s
- Rugby 15s players are not allowed to play on consecutive days whereas in 7s players can.
Rule Differences: Rugby Union and Rugby League
Well there are so many differences between the sports to explain so I will focus on the major areas of what makes them different.
Rucks, mauls and lineouts are not allowed in rugby league instead if the ball goes out of play there is a simple tap the ball to get the game started again.
Scums do exist in rugby league but there is no real pushing or competition for the ball it is just a way of restarting the game and there have been trials to lose the scrums altogether from league.
Furthermore, after a tackle in union there may be a ruck, or maul but in league there will be a ‘play the ball’ situation where the players simply get up after the tackle and roll the ball between their legs to a player who passes the ball away.
Basically, in rugby league all the major competition for the ball is removed from the game and teams get 6 tackles or chances to try and score a try. If they have not scored a try after 6 plays/tackles they will hand over the ball to the opposition team.
In rugby union there is a constant fight and competition for the ball at every phase and stage of play. This can stifle the flow of the game which is what rugby league is trying to avoid. Rugby league aims to keep the game flowing for spectators entertainment at all times.
A Brief History of Rugby Union, League and Sevens
Rugby union started in 1842 when a young lad named William Webb Ellis was playing football and first picked up the ball and ran with it. The school was called Rugby school and so this game was then called Rugby Football.
Rugby Football developed quickly as an enjoyable amateur sport with a strict ethos of fair play, respect and teamwork. The Rugby Football Union was formed to regulate the rules of play in 1871 and to promote the traditional values of the game and champion amateurism within the sport.
However, in 1895 a movement began for a professional strand of the sport and so clubs in the north of England broke away from the Rugby Football Union and developed their own rules and following.
It is this sport that became known as rugby league and has developed into the game we know today.
Traditionally, there has been bitter rivalry between the two sports with rugby league poaching the best players in rugby union to play professionally but this has dampened in recent years with rugby union also turning professional in 1995 and players free to move backwards and forwards between the two codes at will.
Many rugby fans will watch all varieties of the code but still enjoy bashing the other sports for fun and a bit of banter whenever the chance occurs.
Rugby sevens originated in Scotland in the 1880s as a way of raising money for charity. It has spread widely across the rugby playing world and most rugby players will play sevens at some point during their careers although the game is far more suited to the fitter more mobile players.
Nowadays, Rugby Sevens has its own world series, it is an Olympic and Commonwealth games sport and has its own World Cup as well. Some players specialise at being Rugby Sevens professionals and are fully dedicated to this alternative format of the game.
Rugby league does have an abbreviated format which is nine a side. It is yet another popular format of the game and equally entertaining but less well known.
Whichever form of the game you prefer, there is nothing better than pulling on your boots and playing a game of rugby whatever format that may be! So, why not get down to your local club whether it is league or union and simply get involved!
To delve even deeper into the differences try: The 9 Different Types of Rugby Explained
Image Credits
Rugby tournament “Oktoberfest 7s”, Munich, 2017-09-29/30 at the Olympic stadium of Munich Henning Schlottmann (User:H-stt), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
