Check out the Rugby union rules, here is all you need to know about Scoring, positions, scrums and penalties and more
On September 8, the Rugby Union World Cup gets underway in Paris with hosts France taking on the mighty New Zealand.
Rugby union rules, scoring, positions, scrums and penalties and changes in 2023 explained
Events of that size attract a large number of casual and new fans, but what happens during scrums, lineouts, rucks, and mauls? Have a look.
How do you score points in rugby
In rugby union, there are two ways to score: tries and goal-kicking. The best way to get a huge score is through tries, which are worth five points when a team touches the ball down behind the opposing try line.
The scoring team will have the opportunity to add two points via a conversion following a try. This is a floor-based attempt to kick the ball through the goal posts. The spot where the player who scored the try managed to touch down determines where the kick will go.
Drop goals, or kicks through the posts on the half-volley during an open phase of play, are awarded three points, just as penalties. The fly-half will often be the man placed in a drop goal position because to the way teams are set up, though any player is eligible to score a drop goal just like tries.
Given their expected ability due to the kicking duties in open play for players in that position, each team’s fly-half will typically be their team’s goal-kicker. The next most frequent goal-scorers are full-backs, though other players who play in the backs occasionally step up.
What is the difference between forwards and backs in rugby union?
Teams of 15 players in rugby union are divided into eight forwards and seven backs, with numbers 1 through 15 designating each position.
Backs
15. Fullback
14. Right wing
13. Outside centre
12. Inside centre
11. Left wing
10. Fly-half
9. Scrum-half
Forwards
1.Loosehead prop
2. Hooker
3. Tighthead prop
4. Lock
5. Lock
6. Blindside flanker
7. Openside flanker
8. Number eight
The primary responsibility of the forwards is to seize control of the ball and the game. The backs are then in charge of utilising the possession and territory that the forwards win, increasing the likelihood of them scoring.
Do you have to pass backwards in rugby?
In order to imitate a quarterback, the fly-half cannot throw passes downfield. All hand passes in rugby must either be lateral or backward.
Players can kick the ball downfield, but if any of their teammates want to regain possession after one of these kicks, they must be behind the kicker when the ball is struck, otherwise they will be considered offside when playing the ball. Players are fined for being caught offside or for forwarding the ball.
Scrums, rucks and mauls in rugby union
Scrums are used to restart the game following a minor infraction, most frequently when the ball is knocked or passed forward.
A scrum can occasionally resemble a ruck or a maul. Scrums are a set piece, whereas these take place during open play.
When a ball carrier is restrained by one or more opponents and is subsequently helped in an attempt to advance towards the opposing line by teammates, the result is a maul. You need to keep the ball off the ground.
When a player is tackled and forced to release the ball, a ruck can result. A ruck can then be formed around the ball by players from either side. They must not touch the ball and will instead attempt to move it with their feet or push their opponents aside so that it appears on their side, where the scrum-half would usually pick it up and play it.
Penalties in rugby union
In addition to violations that result in scrums, there are a number of others for which penalties are given. This is due to the uncontested possession and potential point-scoring associated with penalties.
Similar regulations apply to mauls. Several penalty violations are related to the interruption in play that occurs right after a tackle, known as the breakdown.
These include not releasing the ball after being tackled, the tackling player not rolling away and blocking the ball if they are on the offensive side of the ruck, entering a ruck or a maul from the side, leaving your feet in a ruck, and purposefully collapsing a scrum or maul. Unless it is determined to be an unintentional offside, offside will result in a penalty. Penalties are also imposed for actions that put an opponent in risk, such as high tackles or aggressive behaviour.
A team will frequently attempt to score on a penalty kick that is within goal-kicking distance in order to earn the three points on the table. However, they might also choose a more aggressive course of action in an effort to succeed. This might be a ‘tap and run’ penalty, a rapid restart of the game to try to catch opponents, or a touch kick closer to the opposition try line.
Lineouts in rugby union
When the ball is kicked past the touchlines that delineate the sides of the field, play is re-started through a lineout. In order to jump and block a throw from the hooker of the team with possession, the forwards from each side line up.
If the hooker’s throw is not down the centre of the two packs, there will be consequences. However, given to their experience with their hooker’s throws, the team having the throw often has the advantage at a lineout.
A team who plays the ball into touch gives the opposing the throw in the lineout. The only exception is when a team kicks for touch after committing a foul, in which case they keep control of the ball for the throw.
The ball must bounce before touching down if a player kicks it from outside their own 22-yard line. Play resumes with an opponent lineout parallel to where the kick was made if they kick it into touch without bouncing it.