Summary of the Sport:
Rule: |
Description: |
Number of Players |
11 players per team on the field at any point of time. |
Object of the Game |
The object of the game is to carry the ball and place the ball down on the opponents touch line (called a Touchdown) or kick it between the goal posts. |
Time Limit |
Four 15-minute quarters, with a half-time intermission after the second quarter. There is added time to make up for time elapsed. |
The Ball |
A prolate spheroid which is about 11 inches (28 cm) long and about 22 inches (56 cm) in circumference at the center and weighs around 0.875lbs. Smaller sizes may be used for youth & recreational play. |
Number of Referees |
3 to 6 referees plus booth review. |
Protective Gear |
Players are only allowed modest padding on Head, Shoulders, Collarbone etc. Only a mouthguard is required. |
Advancing the Ball |
Running with the ball, passing the ball backward and laterally, and kicking the ball as a forward pass. |
Contact? |
Players must try to grasp a player when making the tackle; All tackles must be between the shoulders and knees.A tackle is deemed to be complete when the player in possession is held on the ground or a upright tackle. |
Scoring Methods |
Touchdown (6) Field Goal (3) / Penalty Goal (2). Safety (2) Conversions (1) |
American Rugby Pitch Dimensions (Field):
- 120yds x 53.5yds
- End zones = 10yds.
- Goalposts are Tee-shaped and are placed 10yds behind the goal line.
- Length of Match = 4 15-minute quarters.
- Ball = American football (any size is legal).
- Each team gets 3 timeouts per half.
- Unlimited substitutions at any point in the game.
- Substitutions only at stoppages in play but not used to hold up play.
- Kickoffs: Kickoffs occur at the 30yd line; any player may catch the ball.
- 11-a-side (2 Props, Hooker, 2 Locks, Scrum Half, Fly-half, Center, 2 Wings, Fullback); 15-18 on roster.
- Running with the ball.
- Passing the ball backward and laterally.
- Kicking the ball as a forward pass: Only the opposition, the kicker, and all teammates behind the kicker at the time of the kick are allowed to retrieve the ball.
- 50/20 Rule: Any ball kicked from behind the 50yd line, lands in bounds, and then goes out of bounds between the 20yd line and the goal line goes to the kicking team; they are awarded a lineout on the 20yd line.
- Each team is allowed 6 tackles or chances to either advance to midfield or score; If they have not achieved this during their tackles, the ball goes to the opposition.
- After the player with the ball is tackled, they must stand up and play-the-ball (snapping the ball to any player) and the defense must retreat at least 10yds.
- The offense must play the ball where the ball carrier was tackled; If the ball goes out of bounds it will be put on the edge of the field where it left the field, then the teams will line up and play will start much like the start of an American football play.
- Prior to the snap of the ball, all players except for the player snapping and player taking the snap are allowed unlimited motion.
- When the offense kicks the ball to the defense; This can be done at any time but it is normal to punt on the last tackle.
- If the defense intercepts a pass.
- Following an unsuccessful kick at goal; If the kick at goal misses and goes dead, play is restarted with a scrum awarded to the defense at the center of the 20yd line.
- When the ball-carrier drops the ball and the defense recovers the ball.
- When the offense runs out of tackles, an automatic handover takes place.
- If a one-on-one tackle is attempted, the tackler can legally strip the ball from the ball-carrier.
- If a player knocks the ball forward or throws a forward pass, the defense is awarded a scrum at the spot of the foul.
- If the ball goes out of play, the defense is awarded a line-out: The defense is awarded a line out if the offense kicks the ball out of play and they haven't been awarded a penalty before the kicks. Penalties and 50/20 kicks are the exceptions to this rule (Field Only).
- The offense may lose possession in a scrum or line out.
- If a player on the offense commits an illegal play, the defense is automatically awarded possession.
- No player can take a voluntarily tackle.
- Tackling or interfering with a player who is not in possession of the ball is not permitted.
- Pushing, shoulder charging, and tripping with the legs or feet is not permitted.
- Players must try to grasp a player when making the tackle; All tackles must be between the shoulders and knees.
- A tackle is deemed to be complete when the player in possession is held on the ground or a upright tackle; The player that was tackled must then immediately Play-the-Ball (American Football Snapping) after being released and the tackler(s).
- Once the tackle has been made, it is illegal to try and move the player from the point where the tackle was made.
- Once a tackle is made, all players, with the exception of two markers, must retreat at least a minimum of 10 yards towards their end of the field.
- A scrum is a way of restarting the game safely and fairly after a minor infringement; it is awarded when the ball has been knocked or passed forward, when a player is accidentally offside, or when the ball is trapped in a ruck or maul with no realistic chance of being retrieved.
- Scrums are 5-a-side, Contested, with the scrum-half feeding the ball in; 5 players in a 3-2 formation (3 in the front row, and 2 in the second row) are to contest scrums, with the attacking side having the loose head and feed.
- The ‘crouch, bind and engage’ system applies, with the ball to be fed into the center of the scrum.
- The two packs of forwards engage with each other so that the heads of the front-rowers are interlocked with those of their opponents; A team in a scrum must not push the scrum more than 2yds toward their opponents goal line.
- Once a scrum is formed the scrum-half from the team awarded the feed throws the ball into the gap between the two front-rows known as the tunnel; the two hookers then compete for possession by hooking the ball backwards with their feet, while each pack tries to push the opposing pack backwards to help gain possession.
- The side that wins possession transfers the ball to the back of the scrum, where it is picked up either by the loose forward or by the scrum-half; either the scrum half or the loose forward can then pass, run, or kick the ball and normal play then resumes.
- A team in a scrum must not wheel/screw a scrum past a 45 degree position. (Scrum challenge for the ball Rule); The front rowers must engage square on, rather than bore in on an angle.
- Front-rowers are also banned from twisting their bodies, pulling opponents, or doing anything that might collapse the scrum. They must not push an opponent in the air.
- Finally, the back row must remain bound until the ball has left the scrum. For flankers, this means keeping one arm, up to the shoulder, in contact with the scrum. The Scrum Half (no. 6) must have both hands touching the scrum until the scrum has ended.
- The scrum must be stable, stationary and parallel to the goal-lines when the scrum-half feeds the ball; otherwise a free kick is awarded to the non-offending team. If the scrum is acceptable then the scrum-half must feed the ball into the scrum without delay.
- The referee will often warn a team and if the warning is not heeded the opposition is awarded a free kick. The ball must be fed into the middle of the tunnel with its major axis parallel to the ground and touchline. The ball must be thrown in quickly and in a single movement — this means that a feed cannot be faked. Once the ball has left the hands of the scrum-half the scrum has begun.
- The lineouts will have a maximum of 6 players from each side for the purpose of simplification and fairness to a proper contest to the line out. The furthest two players from the throw in will stand no less than 2yds apart. (Lineout Rule).
- Forward players from each team line up 1yd apart, perpendicular to the touchline and between the numbers and the touchline.
- The ball is thrown from the touchline down the center of the lines of forwards by a player (usually the hooker) from the team that did not play the ball into touch. The exception to this is when the ball went out from a penalty, in which case the side who gained the penalty throws the ball in.
- Both sides compete for the ball and players may lift their teammates. A jumping player cannot be tackled until they stand and only shoulder-to-shoulder contact is allowed; deliberate infringement of this law is dangerous play, and results in a penalty kick on the center of the 15yd line.
- A player in the line-out will attempt either to catch the ball or to knock it back to a "receiver", a player from their own side (often the scrum-half but sometimes another forward) who is standing close to the line-out on their side of the pitch and in a position to receive such a ball. Each team may have, at most, one receiver at a line-out.
- Players must not interfere with the opposition during the line-out. In particular, they must not interfere with or tackle a jumper while his feet are off the ground, or interfere with players supporting him; such actions are deemed to be dangerous play and will be penalized with a penalty kick.
- Players in the line-out must not close the gap or enter the gap, except in the act of jumping for the ball, nor may they jump or support a jumper before the ball is thrown; such actions are penalized with a free-kick.
- If the ball is thrown beyond the hash marks, a player from the throwing team who is not taking part in the line-out may run forward to take the ball. If he does so, an opponent may also run forward to contest possession.
- Players who are taking part in the line-out may move beyond the hash marks as soon as the ball leaves the thrower's hands.
- However, if a player runs forward or infield and the ball is not thrown beyond the numbers, that player is off-side.
- The line-out ends when the ball travels 15yds.
- Players not forming part of the line-out, or acting as receiver, must stay at least 10yds from the line of touch until the line-out is over; the only exception is if the line-out is formed within 10yds of their goal-line, when they need only retreat behind the goal-line.
- A line-out ends when the ball, or a player carrying it, leaves the line-out, or, if a ruck or maul is formed at the line-out, when all the feet of all the players forming the ruck or maul move beyond the line of touch.
- Touchdown (6): A player tackled just short of the try-line can legitimately reach across it and place the ball down for a touchdown.
- Field Goal (3) / Penalty Goal (2).
- Safety (2): The team that gives up the safety must kickoff to the opposing team at the 20yd line.
- Conversions (1): All conversions are taken from center of the 15-yard line.
- If you don't follow these laws, you are likely to give away needless penalties.
- Fouls = Tripping, Striking, Kicking, Dangerous play:
- No player can make a challenge to put their opponents at risk on purpose, for example a head-high tackle, Using foul language.
- If the referee sees or hears any of these things, an instant penalty will be given: All fouls will either result in either a yellow or orange card.
- A yellow card means a 10-minute suspension / an orange card means a player is thrown out the game.
- Similar to other forms of rugby, both teams must wear their dark color uniforms during games unless either 1) the teams share similar colors or 2) if someone is colorblind; If that is the case, the designated home team will wear their dark color uniforms and the away team will wear either 1) their lighter color uniforms or 2) an alternative darker color uniform.
- Required = Rugby jersey, shorts, socks, cleats and mouthguard.
- Optional padding (but required if suffered a serious injury, and is only required for the afflicted area) = IRB-Approved Headgear, shoulder pads, and shin guards.
- 11-a-side Uniform # System: Props (1/2), Hooker (3), Lock (4/5) Scrum-Half (6), Fly-Half (7), Center (8), Wings (9/10), Fullback (11), Reserves (12-18).