The object of the Game is that two teams, each of fifteen players, observing fair play, according to the Laws and in a sporting spirit should, by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding the ball, score as many points as possible.

Rugby is played by men and women and by boys and girls world wide. More than three million people aged from 6-60 regularly participate in the playing of the Game.

The wide variation of skills and physical requirements needed for the Game mean that there is an opportunity for individuals of every shape, size and ability to participate at all levels.

Each team must have no more than fifteen players on the playing area + up to seven replacements/substitutes.

PLAYING A MATCH

A match is started by a kick-off and lasts twice 40 minutes.
After the kick-off, any player who is onside may

• take the ball and run with it.
• throw it or kick it.
• give the ball to another player.
• tackle, hold or push an opponent holding the ball.
• fall on the ball.
• take part in a scrum, ruck, maul or lineout.
• ground the ball in in-goal.

SCORING

Try

When an attacking player is first to ground the ball in the opponents’ in-goal, a try is scored.

Penalty Try

If a player would probably have scored a try but for foul play by an opponent, a penalty try is awarded between the goal posts.

Conversion Goal

When a player scores a try it gives the player’s team the right to attempt to score a goal by taking a kick at goal; this also applies to a penalty try. This kick is a conversion kick: a conversion kick can be a place kick or a drop kick.

Penalty Goal

A player scores a penalty goal by kicking a goal from a penalty kick.

Dropped Goal

A player scores a dropped goal by kicking a goal from a drop kick in general play. The team awarded a free kick cannot score a dropped goal until the ball next becomes dead, or until an opponent has played or touched it, or has tackled the ball carrier. This restriction applies also to a scrum taken instead of a free kick.

FOUL PLAY

When a player and an opponent are running for the ball, either player must not charge or push the other except shoulder-to-shoulder.

A player must not intentionally move or stand

• in front of a team-mate carrying the ball thereby preventing opponents from tackling the current ball carrier or the opportunity to tackle potential ball carriers when they gain possession.
• in a position that prevents an opponent from tackling a ball carrier.
• in a position that prevents an opponent from playing the ball.

A player carrying the ball after it has left a scrum, ruck, maul or lineout must not run into team mates in front of the player.

A flanker in a scrum must not prevent an opposing scrum half from advancing around the scrum.

REPEATED INFRINGEMENTS

A player must not repeatedly infringe any Law. Repeated infringement is a matter of fact. The question of whether or not the player intended to infringe is irrelevant.

When different players of the same team repeatedly commit the same offence, the referee must decide whether or not this amounts to repeated infringement. The referee can suspend the guilty player(s) for a period of 10 minutes playing time.