Rugby - a Brief Description of the Game
The playing area is up to 100m long by 69m wide. The goal-posts are 5.6m apart and 3m high. The ball is oval, 30cm long , weighing up to 440g.
    Play consists of two 40-minute halves, with a half-time break of 5-minutes, plus extra time added at the referee's discretion to make up time lost while injuries (which may be many!) are dealt with.
    Play is made by carrying, passing or kicking the ball. Points are scored as follows:
* 5-points for scoring a try by touching the ball down behind the opponents' goal line
* ... plus 2-points for converting the try into a goal by kicking the ball over the crossbar and between the posts, in line from where the try was scored;
* 3-points for kicking a goal from a penalty, awarded by the referee for foul play;
* 3-points for a dropped goal - kicking the ball over the crossbar and between the posts;
* 5-points for a penalty try, awarded by the referee for foul play which prevented a certain try; the conversion is taken from in front of the posts.
The Pitch

dead-ball line
 
goal-line
 5-metre line
 
22-metre line
 10-metre line
 
 halfway line
 
 
in-goal area
 
 Play commences with a kick from the centre spot. Players may run with the ball but must pass it or release it when tackled. The ball may be kicked forward but a forward-pass or a knock-on is penalised by a scrum, where the pack of eight forwards interlock and try to push the opposing forwards off the ball as their scrum-half throws it between the two front rows.
    Before a player is tackled he may be supported by his team driving him forward against the opposition (mauling); if the ball had been released in a tackle the team may attempt to drive over the ball on the ground to retrieve it (rucking).
    If a player kicks or carries the ball into touch then play is restarted with a line-out to the other side - the ball is thrown in (usually by the hooker) between the two sets of forwards lined up from the touchline where the ball crossed.
    If a player touches down behind his own goal-line play restarts with a drop-out - kicking into play from the 22-metre line.
    A player is offside if he attempts to take part in play from a position in front of his own player in possession of the ball. Offside, and other infringements such as handling the ball on the ground, dangerous tackles, etc result in a penalty being awarded which may be taken as a kick at goal, a kick for touch with the put-in from the line-out, or a tap penalty running with the ball at the opposition with support from the forwards.		  

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Rugby Team Positions
           
Front-Row  1
Tight Head
Prop		 2
Hooker		 3
Loose Head
Prop		    
Second-Row 6
Blind Side
Flanker		 4
Lock
Forward		 5
Lock
Forward		 7
Open Side
Flanker		   
Back-Row    8
Number
Eight		      
           
Half-Backs     9
Scrum
Half		10
Outside
Half		    
Three-Quarters    11
Left
Wing		  12
Left
Centre		13
Right
Centre		14
  Right  
Wing		 
Full-Back      15
Full
Back		    
           
Full-backLast line of defence, a solid tackler, strong kicker and courageous under the high ball.
WingersFastest players in the team, often finishing off the tries - providing the ball reaches the end of the line.
CentresSolid tacklers; good ball-handlers; fast penetrating runners.
Half-backsLinks between the pack and the backs; Scrum-half feeds the Outside-half, or kicks for position; usually lightweight and fast.
Number eightForward who packs down at the back of the scrum; controls release of the ball from scrum.
Second-rowLoose-head Prop makes channel for ball entering scrum; powerful but mobile Flankers gather the loose ball
Front-rowTeam heavyweights; when the Scrum-half puts the ball into the scrum, the Hooker attempts to hook the ball out of the scrum with his foot, supported either side by the Props.
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