sabato 28 maggio 2011

The rules of rugby

Rugby is a primary game: take a ball in the heart of enemy territory, in the opponents' goal.. But it is founded on a principle absurd and wonderfully perverse: the oval ball can only go backwards.

The rules of Rugby







The field




Rugby is played on a field, called pitch, that is longer and wider than a football field. A typical pitch is 100 meters long and 70 meters wide. The goalposts are 'H'-shaped cross bars located on the goal line and are the same size as American football goalposts.




The Team
Rugby is played between two teams of 15 players. Each team has 23 players, 15 of which come into play.Players are divided into 8 forwards, who are generally the largest, strongest players of the team whose main job is to win possession of the ball; and 7 backs who tend to be the smallest, fastest and most agile players.The forwards are: two masts, a hooker, two second lines, 3 third lines(third center and two flankers).The backs are: a scrum, an opening median, 2 centers, 2 wings, 1 extreme.The games are headed by a referee, assisted by two
judges.Each match lasts 80 minutes, divided into two halves of 40 minutes each.







Points




There is no blocking in rugby. Play is continuous like soccer. The person with the ball leads the attack. In rugby there are several ways to move the ball. Any player may carry, pass or kick the ball. The game is not stopped and continues when the ball hits the ground or when a player is tackled. The ball carrier must release the ball when tackled and roll out of the way so that other players on their feet can play the ball.




Running: When running the ball, players may continue to run until they are tackled, step out of bounds or run beyond the goal line (see scoring a try). Players run the ball to advance toward the opponent's goal line.




Passing: The ball may be passed to any other player. However, it may only be passed laterally or backward, never forward. Players pass the ball to an open teammate to keep it in play and further advance it.




Kicking: Any player may kick the ball forward at any time. Once the ball is kicked, players of either team, regardless of whether or not the ball hits the ground, may gain possession. Players typically kick the ball to a teammate in an effort to advance it or to the opposing team to obtain relief from poor field position.




SCORING
There are four ways for a team to score points:




Try: Five points are awarded to a team for touching the ball down in the other team's in-goal area. This is like a touchdown in American football.




Conversion: Following a try, two points are awarded for a successful kick through the goal posts. The attempt is taken on a line, at least 10 meters, straight out from the point where the ball was touched down. This is like an extra point in American football.




Penalty Kick: Following a major law violation, the kicking team, if in range, has the option to "kick for points." Three points are awarded for a successful penalty kick. The kick must be from the point of the foul or anywhere on a line straight behind that point. The ball can be played if the kick fails.




Drop Goal: Three points are awarded for a successful drop kick. A drop kick may be taken from anywhere on the field at any time during play. A drop goal is similar to a field goal in football, however, in rugby the kick is made during the course of normal play. The ball is alive if the kick fails.







The Scrum
The Scrum is the method used to restart the game after the referee has whistled a minor law violation. A bound group of players (usually composed of 8 people for
each team) form a "tunnel" with the opposition. The non-offending team puts the ball into the tunnel by rolling it into the middle and each team pushes forward until one player is able to hook the ball with the feet and push it to the back row players of his/ her team. The Scrum Half then retrieves the ball and puts it into play. It is instead a " spontaneous scrum" (or open) when during the game some players from both teams clump around the ball remained on the ground.





Foul play
The actions and behaviors contrary to the rules and spirit of the game are considered "fouls". Improper conduct is loss of time or throwing the ball voluntarily off with hands, the repetition of infringements of the Regulation by a single player or team, the physical misconduct and dangerous actions,such as hard neck or arm tackles, fists, elbows to the head,or tackle an opponent who does not have his feet on the ground. This type of misconduct may be sanctioned with a temporary expulsion(yellow card) or a permanent one (red tag).




Offsides
A player is offside if he is on a more advanced position than his teammate carrying the ball.

TACKLES, RUCKS AND MAULS




Players in possession of and carrying the ball may be stopped by being tackled by the opposing team. Players are tackled around the waist and legs and, in general, may not be tackled higher. Once a player is tackled, however, the game does not stop. The player must release the ball and roll away from it to allow other players on their feet play the ball.




Ruck




To set up a ruck just two players are standing (one for team), in contact with each other, and the ball on the ground between them. The other players who wish to enter the ruck must"bind" to those already involved in the ruck, at least with one arm. The players who are not involved,
not to be offside, must remain behind the feet of their companions involved in the ruck. The ball on the ground, cannot be touched with bare hands, until the ball emerges out of the ruck. The ruck ends and play continues. A team that can retain possession after the tackle and the ensuing ruck has a huge advantage, because a ruck forms offside lines. These offside lines are the same as in the scrum and everyone must get back onsides in order to rejoin play. This opens up space into which the attacking team can move the ball forward.







Maul
A maul is formed when the player carrying the ball is standing in contact with an opponent and supported (tied) by a teammate. As the ruck, to enter the maul a player must be "linked" to his teammates at least one arm and has to stay behind it not to go offside. The maul goes forward when the pressure of the players of a team pushes back the opposition, and when they occur lateral shif. If the maul collapses, or remain stationary for at least 5 seconds, the action is interrupted. The referee orders a scrum in this case.




Touch
The touch line is the sideline of the pitch. After the ball
is off the pitch, it must be put back into the field by a player (the pitcher) who has his feet outside the field itself. The ball,
launched towards the players who expect ina a line in the pitch,(In line), must travel at least 5 meters before touching the ground or be touched by a player. The alignment is of
at least two players per team, and the team pitcher “ fixes” the maximum number: for each team. The two sides in alignment must be not farer than a yard from each other, and nobody can raise a companion from the waist to reach the ball.







Test match, a blockbuster




The three matches of the Italian National Rugby team organized by RCS Sport against New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa, have collected a total of 127,388 spectators. Tickets sold in over 20 countries. On December 2, 2009 - Not only was the victory against the Samoa to determine the success of the Test Match in 2009. The number of spectators has rewarded beyond all hope the 200 people who have contributed to the event. The three test matches in November was enjoyed by 127,388 spectators. The match Italy-All Blacks in S. Siro, with its 80,018 spectators ,established the all time record attendance for a rugby match in Italy. But also in Udine, 30,210 spectators and 17,110 specatators in Ascoli have demonstrated how rugby has the potential to ensure a greta attendance like football events.

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