Rugby Rules: What You Need to Know About the Game

When you watch a rugby, a full-contact team sport played with an oval ball, originating in England. Also known as rugby football, it's not just about strength—it’s about timing, strategy, and knowing the rugby rules inside out. Unlike soccer, rugby doesn’t stop for every tackle. The game keeps flowing, and that’s where the real skill kicks in.

The two main versions—rugby union, the more widely played form with 15 players per side and complex set pieces like scrums and lineouts and rugby league, a faster version with 13 players, fewer stoppages, and a six-tackle rule—follow different rulebooks. In rugby union, you can only pass the ball backward or laterally. Forward passes result in a scrum. Tackles must be below the shoulders, and the tackled player must release the ball immediately. If you don’t, you risk a penalty. The scrum isn’t just a restart—it’s a strategic battle for possession. And lineouts? They’re aerial chess matches where height, timing, and coordination decide who gets the ball.

Scoring matters too. A try is worth five points, and it’s not just about crossing the line—you have to ground the ball with downward pressure. Convert kicks after a try are worth two more. Penalty kicks and drop goals? They’re worth three each. That’s why teams sometimes choose to kick for goal instead of going for another try. It’s not cowardice—it’s math.

There’s no offside rule like in soccer. In rugby, you’re offside if you’re in front of the ball carrier or the last foot of a ruck or maul. That’s why players constantly adjust their positioning. And don’t forget the high tackle rule—any contact above the shoulders now carries heavy penalties, even if accidental. Safety rules have changed the game, and senior players in Nottinghamshire know this better than anyone. They’ve seen the evolution, from rough-and-tumble matches to today’s structured, fast-paced contests.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just theory. It’s real talk from people who’ve played, coached, and watched rugby for decades. You’ll learn why the game is called rugby, how the rules shaped its identity, and how senior athletes keep playing despite age and wear. Whether you’re new to the sport or just brushing up on the details, this collection gives you the facts without the fluff. No jargon. No hype. Just what you need to understand the game—and maybe even pick up a ball and join in.