What is Rugby?

Rugby is an English sport that originated in 1800's. The game game originated at Rugby School in England.

Traditional soccer rules state that a player can only use his feet or head to move the ball. Rumor has it that a Rugby School player used his hands to carry the ball and the game of rugby was invented. While entertaining, this story is not true. Before the 1860's, soccer rules allowed for the use of hands to move the ball.

Football at Rugby School was different than at other schools. In addition to usage of the hands, the goal was different. It was higher and included a cross-bar (similar to American football's goal post). Players scores by kicking the ball over the cross-bar.

This rule eliminated crowding of the goal, allowed scoring to be attempted from different parts of the field, and made the game more exciting.

Is rugby played in the United States?

Yes. rugby is played at many colleges and there are many U. S. rugby leagues.

Rugby or Soccer?

Popularity is always debatable but I believe soccer is the most popular sport in the world. However, I believe Americans will like rugby better because it is more similar to American football.

The length of a rugby game

There are 2 40 minute halves.

Rugby World Cup

The rugby championship is the World Cup. Like soccer, teams from around the world vie for this trophy. The championship (like soccer) is held once every 4 years.

What are some useful rugby sites?

There are many rugby sites. Three interesting ones are Planet-Rugby (www.planet-rugby.com), Scrum (www.scrum.com) and USA Rugby (www.usarugby.org).

Rugby Salaries

Rugby players can make a lot of money. The good salaries are earned by non-U.S. Teams. Some players earn $65,000 per year, others $500,000 per year. Top European players earn $250,000 per week.

A rugby team

A rugby team has 8 forwards and 7 backs. They play both offense and defense.

Professional American Rugby

The American National Rugby League (www.amnrl.com) is a professional league. This league consists of 2 conferences, the Lincoln Conference, and the Franklin Conference. Each conference has 4 teams.

The Connecticut Wildcats, New York Knights, Northern Raiders, and the Glen Mills Bulls (Concordville, PA) form the Lincoln Conference. The New jersey Sharks, Philadelphia Fight, Media Mantarays (Delaware), and the Washington DC Slayers form the Franklin Conference.

Has the United States rugby team ever won a gold medal?

Yes, the Americans won the gold in 1920 and in 1924.

Similarities between rugby and American football?

What are some similarities between rugby and American football?

Both sports have a “touchdown” and score points by kicking the ball through a goal post.

The term touchdown is a rugby term. The player scores by “touching the ball down” in the other teams goal (American football's end zone). This is called a try and they get 5 points and a chance for a 2-point conversion (kicking the ball through the goal post.

American football players score by running into end zone or passing the ball to a player who is in the end zone. This touchdown is worth 6 points and the team has a chance to either score 1 point by kicking the ball over the goal post or score a 2-point conversion by passing the ball to a player in the end zone.

Rugby and the Olympics

Rugby began its Olympic relationship in 1900. France won rugby's first gold medal.

How big is a rugby field?

The playing area of a rugby field cannot be bigger than 100 meters by 70 meters.

What does a rugby ball look like?

What does a rugby ball look like?

The original rugby ball was round. Later, rugby balls were made from an inflated pig's bladder encased in leather. This gave the ball its oval shape. Modern rugby balls don't include a pig's bladder.

Who are some famous rugby players?

Former President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush both played rugby in college.