You are here: Home > Sports > Rugby > Game
American Flag Rugby

 What is Rugby?

Quick reference guide to rugby 
 
Here are some rugby facts and terms that will make the game easier to follow for those of you who are watching rugby for the first time.
 
Scoring:
 
There are four ways to put points on the board:
 
  1. A TRY – 5 points.   Awarded when a players crosses the opponents try line (goal line) with the ball and touches the ball down (hence the football term “touchdown”). When possible the player will advance the ball towards the center of the goal posts for the touch down to make the conversion attempt easier.
 
  1. A CONVERSION – 2 points.   Following a TRY, a conversion is a successful attempt at kicking the ball through the uprights.   The kick may be taken any distance from the try line but always in a straight line from where the ball was touched down. Play restarts at the half way after a conversion attempt.
 
  1. A DROP GOAL – 3 points.   The original drop kick.   This may be attempted at any time during play from anywhere on the field. If the kick sails through the uprights it is three points, if it misses the ball is still live.
 
  1. A PENALTY KICK – 3 points. A penalty is awarded after a major rules violation. One option for the team awarded the penalty is to “kick for points”. The kick can be (and usually is) a place kick from the point where the penalty was awarded. The ball is alive and in play if it misses the uprights.
 
BASIC RULES.
 
No blocking
No forward passing. (only backward football laterals)
Only the ball carrier can be tackled
The tackled player must release the ball once tackled to the ground and the ball is still live.
Off sides – usually occurs when a player is ahead of the ball after a kick from his own team or ahead of a loose scrum or maul (i.e. people from both sides are engaged tussling for the ball). If a player is not in the ruck or maul he must be behind the last foot on his team in the ruck or maul. If the offside player attempts to participate in the play he will be ruled offside and a penalty against his team is awarded.
 
RUGBY TERMS
 
The pitch – the field of play
Knock On – ball is drop or propelled forwards and hits the ground
Into touch – ball is out of bounds
Try line – goal line
Touchline – Sideline
 
SCRUM – Rugby’s unique formation (forerunner of the football line of scrimmage) is used to restart the game after the referee has whistled for a minor infraction such as a knock on. The ball is put into the scrum by the non-offending team and heeled out the back to restart a play.
 
LINEOUT – used to restart play after the ball has gone out of bounds. The forwards from each team form parallel lines one meter apart. The team awarded the throw in has the advantage throwing the ball in.   The forwards: jumpers jump to gain possession for their team.
 
RUCK – ball winning activity following a tackle and release of the ball.   A RUCK is formed by players form each side in contact over the ball. Hands may not be used to extract the ball. Players from each team drive into the RUCK and try to push the other team players back off the ball so as to regain possession of the ball and start an attacking play. and gain control of the ball
 
MAUL – same as a RUCK except the ball carrier is held up in the tackle and the ball is not on the ground.   Ball can be moved back from hand to hand and the maul ends when the ball comes loose.
 
LENGTH of GAME – 40-minute halves (35 for high schools) with a ten-minute half time break.
 
SUBSTITUTIONS – a relatively new concept in rugby as for most of its history there were no substitutions. Six reserves are allowed to be substituted. Once a player is subbed out he cannot come back into the game. (Exception is when a player has gone off the field to be attended for a “blood” injury).
 
Player position for 15 a-side macthes are by jersey numbers:
 
Forwards                                            Backs
1 - Loosehead (left) prop                    9 - Scrum half
2 - Hooker                                          10 - Fly half
3 - Tighthead (right)  prop                  11 - Left wing
4 - Left Lock                                       12 - Inside Center
5 - Right Lock                                    13 - Outside Center
6 - Left Flanker                                  14 - Right Wing
7 - Right flanker                                 15 - Full back
8 - Eighth man

 

American Style Flag

“American Style Flag Rugby” is a non-contact version of rugby designed and tuned for younger kids, with no experience necessary, fully inclusive, and with a level of structure and discipline that parents expect from recreational sports.

In “American Style Flag Rugby” the defense removes the ball carrier's Velcro flag instead of creating a tackle situation. The game is co-ed in age groups ranging from grade 1st to 6th grade.

Children LOVE playing “American Style Flag Rugby” as it gets every child actively involved and rugby is one of the fastest growing youth sports in North America. This is wildly attractive to kids who may previously have spent long days in an outfield or goal box.

If your child loves playing “aerial football” in P.E. class or athletics they will love “American Style Flag Rugby”.  

In “American Style Flag Rugby” everyone touches the rugby ball and everyone can score points.

“American Style Flag Rugby” develops skills that are inclusive to a wide range of athletic abilities.

“American Style Flag Rugby” is an outstanding source of cardio for all ages, teaches the disciplines of good communication and team work, while also introducing children to the third most played and watched sport worldwide.

Bring your child out and get them started in “American Style Flag Rugby” where an old tradition has a fresh new look and a fresh new feel.  

The 2016 Olympics will once again include rugby after a 94 year hiatus and the USA will be the two time gold metal defender champions.

For more information on “American Style Flag Rugby”, please visit:  http://www.americanflagrugby.com
For more information about Plano Rugby Club, please visit:  http://www.planorugby.com

  

© 2018 by PSA Plano Privacy Statement|Terms Of Use