Rugby football

Foot Ball, Kingston-upon-Thames, Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 24th, 1846

Griffins RFC Kotka 1

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Rugby football refers to a group of team sports that originated from a common form of football developed at Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. Rugby football is divided into two main types: rugby union and rugby league. The two variants have evolved into distinct games with differing sets of rules, gameplay, and organizational structures, but they share the fundamental objective of carrying, passing, or kicking a ball to score points by grounding the ball in the in-goal area or through the goalposts.

History

The history of rugby football can be traced back to the early 19th century, with the game's invention traditionally attributed to William Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby School, who in 1823, is said to have picked up the ball and run with it during a football match. Although this story is apocryphal, Rugby School is recognized as the birthplace of the sport. By the late 19th century, the game had spread to other parts of the world, notably through the expansion of the British Empire.

In 1871, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was formed to standardize the rules of the game in England. The split between rugby union and rugby league occurred in 1895, due to disagreements over the issue of payment to players. Rugby league adopted a professional model and made significant changes to the rules, including reducing the number of players from 15 to 13. Rugby union remained amateur until the professional era began in 1995, following the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Gameplay

The basic objective in both rugby union and rugby league is to score more points than the opposition. Points can be scored in several ways: a try, worth five points in union and four points in league, is scored by grounding the ball in the opponent's in-goal area; a conversion, worth two points, is attempted after a try; penalty kicks and drop goals, both worth three points in union and two in league, can also be used to score.

The games are played on a rectangular field, with H-shaped goalposts at each end. Rugby union matches consist of two 40-minute halves, while rugby league matches are slightly shorter, with two 35-minute halves. The rules governing play, such as the number of players, tackling, offside, and the method of contesting possession, differ significantly between the two codes.

Governing Bodies

The International Rugby Board (IRB), now known as World Rugby, is the international governing body for rugby union. The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) governs rugby league. Each code has its own World Cup, held every four years: the Rugby Union World Cup and the Rugby League World Cup.

Cultural Impact

Rugby football has a significant cultural impact in countries where it is popular, particularly in the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. It is associated with values such as teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship. Rugby songs, traditions, and rituals play an important part in the game's culture, especially in amateur clubs and among supporters.

Variants

Besides the traditional 15-a-side rugby union and 13-a-side rugby league, there are several variants of rugby, including sevens rugby (a faster-paced game played with seven players a side, popularized by the Rugby Sevens World Cup and inclusion in the Olympic Games), tag rugby, and touch rugby, which are non-contact versions of the game.

See Also

• History of rugby union
• History of rugby league
• Comparison of rugby league and rugby union

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