Rugby union

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King George V presents a cup to the captain of the winning New Zealand Services Rugby Team, London

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Rugby Union Formation

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Schoolkids doing a rugby tackle

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated in the early 19th century at Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the two codes of rugby football, the other being rugby league, with the key differences involving the number of players and specific game rules. Rugby union is played with fifteen players on each team and is known for its rich traditions, extensive history, and global popularity, particularly in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Argentina.

History

The origins of rugby union can be traced back to Rugby School in the early 1800s, where the game was developed among students. According to popular legend, in 1823, a student named William Webb Ellis broke the existing rules of football by picking up the ball and running with it, thus creating a distinctive feature of the rugby game. Although this story is widely considered apocryphal, Webb Ellis is commemorated by the Webb Ellis Cup, awarded to the winners of the Rugby World Cup.

Gameplay

A rugby union match is played over two halves of 40 minutes each, with a short break in the middle. The objective is to score more points than the opposition through tries, conversions, penalty kicks, and drop goals. A try, worth five points, is scored by grounding the ball in the opponent's in-goal area. Conversions (two points) follow tries and are taken as kick attempts at goal. Penalty kicks and drop goals are worth three points each.

The game is known for its physicality and complex laws. It is played on a rectangular field, known as a pitch, with H-shaped goalposts at each end. The ball used in rugby union is oval-shaped and made of leather or a synthetic material.

Players and Positions

Each team consists of fifteen players, divided into two main groups: forwards and backs. The forwards, wearing jerseys numbered 1 to 8, are generally larger and stronger, focusing on possession and physical contests. The backs, wearing jerseys numbered 9 to 15, are usually faster and more agile, focusing on breaking the defensive line and scoring.

Governing Bodies

The international governing body for rugby union is World Rugby, established as the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) in 1886. World Rugby organizes the Rugby World Cup, which has been held every four years since 1987, and the Women's Rugby World Cup, among other international competitions.

Popularity and Cultural Impact

Rugby union has a significant following worldwide, with millions of fans and players. The sport's traditions, such as the Haka performed by the New Zealand team before matches, and the singing of national anthems, play a significant role in its cultural impact. Rugby union has also influenced the development of other sports, such as American football and Canadian football.

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite its popularity, rugby union has faced challenges, including concerns over player welfare, particularly related to concussions and other injuries. The sport has also been criticized for its complexity of rules and the perceived elitism in some of its traditional strongholds.

See Also

• Rugby sevens
• List of rugby union terms
• Comparison of rugby league and rugby union