Rugby Union Rules Explained for Americans: Tries, Scrums and Rucks
No forward passes, no pads and no stopping. Here is everything an American fan needs to follow a rugby union match.
Rugby union is the 15-a-side version of the game played at the Rugby World Cup. With the 2031 World Cup coming to the USA, there has never been a better time to learn it.
The Basics
- Teams: 15 players each: 8 forwards and 7 backs.
- Length: 80 minutes, two 40 minute halves.
- Goal: Carry or kick the ball into the opponent's in-goal area and ground it.
How Scoring Works
| Score | Points |
|---|---|
| Try (grounding the ball in the in-goal area) | 5 |
| Conversion (kick after a try) | 2 |
| Penalty goal | 3 |
| Drop goal (kicked in open play) | 3 |
| Penalty try (awarded when foul play stops a likely try) | 7 |
Passing and Kicking
The most important rule: you cannot pass the ball forward. Passes must go sideways or backward. To gain ground, players run with the ball or kick it ahead. Dropping the ball forward is a knock-on, which gives the other team a scrum.
Tackles and the Ruck
Only the ball carrier can be tackled, and there is no blocking. After a tackle:
- The tackled player must release the ball.
- The tackler must roll away.
- Players from both teams arrive and bind over the ball, forming a ruck.
In a ruck, players cannot use their hands. They push to win the ball with their feet, and the team that secures it keeps playing. Play rarely stops, which is why rugby feels so continuous.
The Maul
If the ball carrier is held up while still on their feet and teammates bind on, it becomes a maul. The pack drives forward together, a powerful weapon near the try line.
Set Pieces: Scrums and Lineouts
- Scrum: Restarts play after minor infringements like a knock-on. Eight forwards from each side bind together and push, and the ball is fed into the tunnel between them.
- Lineout: When the ball goes out of bounds, forwards line up and a player throws the ball in straight. Teammates lift jumpers high to catch it.
Offside
Players must stay behind the ball or behind the back foot of a ruck, maul or scrum until it is over. Being ahead of the play and interfering is offside and gives a penalty.
Cards
- Yellow card: 10 minutes in the sin bin.
- Red card: sent off, with the team playing short.
Coming from the NFL? Our side by side guide to rugby vs. American football will speed things up.
Related reading: Christian Wade's Premiership try record and the Women's Rugby League World Cup.
Background from Wikipedia
Laws of rugby union
The laws of Rugby Union are defined by World Rugby (originally the International Rugby Football Board, and later International Rugby Board) and dictate how the game should be played. They are enforced by a referee, generally with the help of two assistant referees.
When playing a game of Rugby Union the overall objective is to score more points than the opposition through tries and goals. A try worth five points is scored when a team grounds the ball in the opposition's in-goal.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points is a try in rugby?
A try is worth 5 points. The scoring team then attempts a conversion kick worth 2 more points.
Can you pass forward in rugby?
No. In rugby the ball can only be passed sideways or backward. Moving the ball forward has to be done by running or kicking.
How long is a rugby union match?
A rugby union match lasts 80 minutes, split into two 40 minute halves, with a short halftime break.
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