Rugby

Rugby is more than just an alternative to football. It is a rich and competitive sport in its own right. Its origins are right here in the UK, with some saying the town of Rugby itself is where it was first played.

Whatever its origins, it has gone on to influence and inspire many other sports to appear over the years, including American Football, Australian Rules Football and Canadian Football. It is also played all over the world and the Rugby League and Rugby Union are tournaments that showcase the best in talent and ability. There are varying rules with both Rugby League and Union (number of players and the way in which tackles occur differ), but they are both what we commonly refer to as Rugby'.

The sport is played with a ball in a prolate spheroid shape, making it distinct from the balls used in other sports, which favour more circular shapes. In Rugby Union, there are many aspects of the game including the scrum', whereby groups of players on either team push against each other with the aim of gaining possession of the ball. There is also the lineout' where players from each team stand in parallel lines at a right angle to the touch line, all hoping the catch the ball when it is thrown. Tries' are scored where the ball is placed in a specific area on the opposing team's side of the pitch.