All About Rugby

Rugby is one of the most exciting and popular sports in the world. The Rugby World cup is the third most watched sporting event in the world, close behind the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics. Learn all about this great sport right here.

(The following are external links, not associated with UC Davis.)

For a quick intro, start with this 5 minute video from Major League Rugby, the premier professional rugby league in the United States.

For a longer tutorial that offers more details on how to play the sport for beginners, check out this 20 minute video from James Haskell.

Primarily we play 15s rugby, which means there are 15 players on each team.

From USA Rugby’s website:

Fifteens is played with 15 players on each side of the ball who compete for 80-minutes (two 40 minute halves) in individual matches through the year. Rugby fifteens was an Olympic sport in the early 1900s where the U.S. men won gold medals in 1920 and 1924. The Rugby World Cup is now the main pinnacle event of the sport -- taking place every four years -- and also serves as the third-largest single-sporting event in the world. 

RULES OF RUGBY 15s

Two teams of 15 players have 80 minutes to advance the ball past their opponents' side of the field (pitch) and touch it to the ground for a score worth 5 points (try). Participants may only pass the ball backwards or sideways with no blocking allowed; using a variety of phases such as lineouts, mauls, rucks and scrums to retain possession during play. Rugby is unique in that play is continuous even after players are tackled on the field. Kicking is the only method by which both teams may move the ball forward. After each try, worth 5 points, the scoring team is allowed an opportunity to kick the ball through the posts for an additional 2 points (conversion). Certain penalties also earn the non-offending team a kick through the posts, worth 3 points (penalty) if made. At the conclusion of the match, the team with the most points wins.

If you need some more convincing (or maybe your family needs some convincing), check out this video on: Why the Youth Sport Your Kids Should be Playing is Rugby

ARE YOU READY TO GO ALL IN FOR AGGIE RUGBY?

Fill out the PLAY HERE form to connect with us.