The Characteristics of Two Different Sports in One
By: Kenia Torres
What is rugby?
Rugby is a sport that is similar to both American football and soccer. There are similar characteristics such as tackling and kicking the ball, but in a different format. Unlike football, you tackle without any gear and you can kick the ball virtually whenever, in which football you can only kick the ball for a field goal or a punt. Rugby is similar to soccer because you have two forty minute halves, but unlike soccer because you can hold the ball and pass it with your hands. Infused with similar characteristics, rugby has been able to combine the characteristics of two popular sports to become an extremely popular sport worldwide.
What are the positions and are they related to defense and offense?
There are two positions known as forwards and backs, however, this does not specifically indicate that the forward is strictly offense and the backs are strictly defense. Anyone and everyone participates in both defensive and offensive plays.
How can you pass the ball in rugby compared to football?
In football, the quarterback can only make a forward pass. Once the wide receiver catches the ball, the wide receiver is able to pass the ball laterally or backwards (although not an ideal move), which is exactly how rugby players are allowed to pass the ball. If a rugby player makes a forward pass, this results in an infringement and the ball is awarded to the opposite team, which is also occurs in football.
What are some rugby lingo/terminologies?
Since I could not have said it any better, the following are definitions provided from a Rugby FAQ from a website known as LifeTips:
Ruck: Once a player is tackled to the ground, a ruck is formed when one or more players from each team close around the ball. The ball then emerges and play continues.
Maul: When the ball carrier is held up by a member of the opposition and by a member on his/her own team, it is called a maul. The ball can either be removed from the maul or taken to the ground, which then forms a ruck.
Scrum: A scrum is used to restart play after a minor infringement occurs (i.e. forward pass). The scrum consists of eight of the 15 players, called forwards. These eight players bind together and come head to head with the eight players of the opposition. The ball is thrown into the middle of the scrum on the ground and the players work with their feet to hook the ball behind them, making it available to play. The ball is then collected by the scrumhalf and passed out to the back line.
Lineout: When the ball goes out of bounds, play is restarted with a lineout. Two lines are formed with opposing teams. The ball is thrown in the air in the tunnel between the lines. Teams will lift players to contest for the ball.
How can you score?
Again, since I could not have explained the scoring system any better, the following are definitions provided from a Rugby FAQ from a website known as LifeTips:
Try: When the ball is grounded over an opponents’ goal line in their ‘try zone’ it is worth 5 points.
Conversion: After scoring a try the scoring team gets an attempt to kick the ball over the crossbar and through the posts of the rugby uprights. A conversion is worth 2 points.
Penalty: If the opposition commits a penalty, a team can choose to kick at the goal. A penalty kick is worth 3 points.
Drop Goal: During play a team may drop the ball on the ground and kick it over the goal, this is called a drop goal. This is worth 3 points.
Do you need to have experience in order to join rugby at UC Irvine?
Definitely not! Most of the girls are new to the sport and they begin to understand the sport together as a team. The UCI Women’s Rugby team allows anyone to try out and even encouraged me to try out! Check out their practices on Thursdays from 8 PM to 10 PM at the Arc Fields.
What are the positions and are they related to defense and offense?
There are two positions known as forwards and backs, however, this does not specifically indicate that the forward is strictly offense and the backs are strictly defense. Anyone and everyone participates in both defensive and offensive plays.
How can you pass the ball in rugby compared to football?
In football, the quarterback can only make a forward pass. Once the wide receiver catches the ball, the wide receiver is able to pass the ball laterally or backwards (although not an ideal move), which is exactly how rugby players are allowed to pass the ball. If a rugby player makes a forward pass, this results in an infringement and the ball is awarded to the opposite team, which is also occurs in football.
What are some rugby lingo/terminologies?
Since I could not have said it any better, the following are definitions provided from a Rugby FAQ from a website known as LifeTips:
Ruck: Once a player is tackled to the ground, a ruck is formed when one or more players from each team close around the ball. The ball then emerges and play continues.
Maul: When the ball carrier is held up by a member of the opposition and by a member on his/her own team, it is called a maul. The ball can either be removed from the maul or taken to the ground, which then forms a ruck.
Scrum: A scrum is used to restart play after a minor infringement occurs (i.e. forward pass). The scrum consists of eight of the 15 players, called forwards. These eight players bind together and come head to head with the eight players of the opposition. The ball is thrown into the middle of the scrum on the ground and the players work with their feet to hook the ball behind them, making it available to play. The ball is then collected by the scrumhalf and passed out to the back line.
Lineout: When the ball goes out of bounds, play is restarted with a lineout. Two lines are formed with opposing teams. The ball is thrown in the air in the tunnel between the lines. Teams will lift players to contest for the ball.
How can you score?
Again, since I could not have explained the scoring system any better, the following are definitions provided from a Rugby FAQ from a website known as LifeTips:
Try: When the ball is grounded over an opponents’ goal line in their ‘try zone’ it is worth 5 points.
Conversion: After scoring a try the scoring team gets an attempt to kick the ball over the crossbar and through the posts of the rugby uprights. A conversion is worth 2 points.
Penalty: If the opposition commits a penalty, a team can choose to kick at the goal. A penalty kick is worth 3 points.
Drop Goal: During play a team may drop the ball on the ground and kick it over the goal, this is called a drop goal. This is worth 3 points.
Do you need to have experience in order to join rugby at UC Irvine?
Definitely not! Most of the girls are new to the sport and they begin to understand the sport together as a team. The UCI Women’s Rugby team allows anyone to try out and even encouraged me to try out! Check out their practices on Thursdays from 8 PM to 10 PM at the Arc Fields.