Among the many sporting activities enjoyed by both men and women today, rugby is one the most loved and is gaining worldwide popularity among sports enthusiasts. A game of rugby is aimed at testing the stamina, skill, and speed of the players. It is a fast moving and high intensity team sport that is considered among the most challenging field games in the athletic world today.
England is where the history if rugby all started. Kicking and throwing of the ball are the only actions involved in the rugby game when it was first played. Back in the 10th century, great mobs and villagers will compete enthusiastically against each other to get the ball across the field. This changed in 1823 when a 16-year old William Webb Ellis - a student in a Rugby School in England - picked up the ball and ran downfield toward the goal instead of simply kicking it. These actions of Ellis prompted Rugby leaders to rethink their laws and rules which lead to the development of rugby as we now know it.
Rugby is a sport which combines the speed of basketball, the contact of football and the strategy of chess. It is a blend of dynamic flow and hard physical contact. Rugby competitions basically have two teams which comprise of 13 players per team for the Rugby League - the professional game - and 15 players per team for the Rugby Union - the widely played amateur version. It is played in a rectangular field of roughly 100m (330ft) long and 55-68m (180-225ft) wide with goal lines 110 yards (101 m) apart and two in-goals 25 yards (23 m) deep. Goal posts of the letter "H" are placed at the end of the each side of the rugby field. The ball used in the game is oval shape which is quite similar to the ball used in American football.
Just like in most ball games, the primary goal of a rugby team is to score more points than the opponents. To earn a point, the team must touch the ball down in the opposition in-goal area and score a try or by kicking the ball through the goal posts. The game is played in two 40-minute halves filled with ball kicking, running, and backward passes. As the game demands sure hand ball movement, steadfast tackling, and a keen eye for ball possession opportunities, rugby players are expected to display speed, strength, and exceptional stamina during game play.
As was aforementioned, rugby is gaining worldwide popularity today. The five major international rugby competitions today that are participated in by most teams and rugby associations worldwide are the Rugby World Cup, Heineken Cup, Six Nations, Super 14, and the Tri Nations, with the Rugby World Cup considered the most prestigious among the five. Just like the Olympics, the Rugby World Cup is being held only every four years. The next Cup is scheduled in 2011 with New Zealand as the host country.
Rugby is one contact sport that can be played by both men and women, regardless of age, size, fitness level or experience.
England is where the history if rugby all started. Kicking and throwing of the ball are the only actions involved in the rugby game when it was first played. Back in the 10th century, great mobs and villagers will compete enthusiastically against each other to get the ball across the field. This changed in 1823 when a 16-year old William Webb Ellis - a student in a Rugby School in England - picked up the ball and ran downfield toward the goal instead of simply kicking it. These actions of Ellis prompted Rugby leaders to rethink their laws and rules which lead to the development of rugby as we now know it.
Rugby is a sport which combines the speed of basketball, the contact of football and the strategy of chess. It is a blend of dynamic flow and hard physical contact. Rugby competitions basically have two teams which comprise of 13 players per team for the Rugby League - the professional game - and 15 players per team for the Rugby Union - the widely played amateur version. It is played in a rectangular field of roughly 100m (330ft) long and 55-68m (180-225ft) wide with goal lines 110 yards (101 m) apart and two in-goals 25 yards (23 m) deep. Goal posts of the letter "H" are placed at the end of the each side of the rugby field. The ball used in the game is oval shape which is quite similar to the ball used in American football.
Just like in most ball games, the primary goal of a rugby team is to score more points than the opponents. To earn a point, the team must touch the ball down in the opposition in-goal area and score a try or by kicking the ball through the goal posts. The game is played in two 40-minute halves filled with ball kicking, running, and backward passes. As the game demands sure hand ball movement, steadfast tackling, and a keen eye for ball possession opportunities, rugby players are expected to display speed, strength, and exceptional stamina during game play.
As was aforementioned, rugby is gaining worldwide popularity today. The five major international rugby competitions today that are participated in by most teams and rugby associations worldwide are the Rugby World Cup, Heineken Cup, Six Nations, Super 14, and the Tri Nations, with the Rugby World Cup considered the most prestigious among the five. Just like the Olympics, the Rugby World Cup is being held only every four years. The next Cup is scheduled in 2011 with New Zealand as the host country.
Rugby is one contact sport that can be played by both men and women, regardless of age, size, fitness level or experience.
About the Author:
Lucas Denton is a rugby coach from London. Lucas has been playing rugby since he was 9-years old and is currently teaching said sports in a University in UK.