Sport
Rugby
- players
- 2–30
- minutes
- 80
- years
- 6+
In the box
An oval ball
Official rules (PDF, federation's site)
Box details
- Origin
- Traditional game, with no specific designer or publisher
- Mechanics
- Team-BasedReal-TimeRace
Where to buy it
Near you
In a shop
Within 50 km.
The basics
Two teams of fifteen, or seven in rugby sevens, try to score more points by grounding the oval ball in the opposing in-goal area or kicking it between the posts. Passes must always go backwards and tackles must be below the shoulders; a try is worth 5 points, a conversion 2, a penalty and a drop goal 3. After two 40-minute halves, the team with more points wins.
The rules, step by step
Setup
2 teams of 15 or 7, Oval ball, H-shaped posts
- Two teams of fifteen players, or seven in rugby sevens.
- An oval ball, two in-goal areas, H-shaped posts.
How to play
2 halves of 40 min, Pass backwards, Tackle below shoulders
- Two halves of 40 minutes, or 7 minutes in rugby sevens.
- The pass must always go backwards: a forward pass is penalised.
- The tackle must be made below the line of the shoulders.
Scoring
Try 5 points, Conversion 2, Penalty and drop goal 3
- Try: 5 points, by grounding the ball in the opponents' in-goal area.
- Conversion after a try: 2 points.
- Penalty goal: 3 points. Drop goal: 3 points.
- Penalty try: 7 points, awarded outright with no conversion to attempt.
End of the game
After the 80th minute, Ball out or foul
- The match ends when the ball goes dead or an infringement occurs after the 80th minute.
House rules and pitfalls
A converted try is therefore worth 7 points: the most useful value to remember when keeping score.
- A converted try is therefore worth 7 points: the most useful value to remember when keeping score.
Going further
Frequently asked questions · In the same family
Frequently asked questions
How do you score points?
A try is worth five points (grounding the ball in the opponents' in-goal area), followed by a two-point conversion. A penalty goal and a drop goal are worth three points each.
Why do you always pass backwards?
It is the fundamental law: you may only pass the ball by hand backwards or sideways. A forward pass is penalised. You advance by running or kicking.
What is a knock-on?
Dropping or knocking the ball forwards. It gives the opponents a scrum. It is the most common infringement.
What are the scrum and the lineout for?
To restart play after an infringement (scrum) or after the ball goes into touch (lineout). They are highly codified set pieces for winning possession.
How many players and how long?
Fifteen per team in rugby union, two halves of forty minutes. Sevens is played with seven players, in halves of seven minutes.