The Cavalier daily :: Wednesday, May 6, 1970 :: University of Virginia Library

With the advent of this weekend's
Commonwealth Cup comes
numerous requests for an article on
the structure of rugby. Therefore
the following is an attempt at the
rules of the game.

Apparent mayhem actually has
organization. In rugby, there are
three ways of getting the ball into
play: the kickoff, the scrum, and
the lineout. The kickoff starts play
each half and after a score, much
like football.

The lineout, a hooligan's attempt
at basketball's "jump ball,"
is used to get the ball back in
bounds after it is kicked, passed, or
forced out. The out of bounds line
in rugby is called the "touch line."
The lineout forms perpendicular to
the touch line and the ball is
thrown in between the two teams
who line up parallel to one another.

The scrum is the mass of players
huddled together either in a set
position or around a loose ball. In
the scrum there are eight "linemen"
from each team binding together
and pushing against the other team.
The object is to "heel" the ball
through the scrum to the backfield
(seven) strung out diagonally across
the field.

There is no blocking in rugby,
and players wear no protective
padding or helmets. Members of the
scrum can wear a leather cap, and
all players may opt to wear a
mouthpiece. There is no forward
passing and, in fact, the ball may
only be moved forward by running
with it or kicking it. Therefore the
kick becomes a strategic weapon.

Because of the absence of
blocking and a resemblance to
"keep-away," rugby becomes a
game of momentum. If one team
can advance the ball fast enough,
and keep the other team backing
up, they will almost certainly score.

A "touch-down" in rugby is not
a score, but results from a player
downing the ball in his own end
zone. Then that team gets a free
kick from their 25 yard line. A
score, either running the ball over
the goal or kicking it through the
uprights is called a "try." A try
counts three points. A conversion
after the try counts two points.

A scrum is usually called for
minor rule infractions. If there is a
major rule violation the team put to
this disadvantage is allowed a
"penalty kick," which counts three
points if the ball is kicked through
the uprights. However, the team
can choose a short or long punt
instead of a placement attempt.

The fair catch in rugby is
identified by the "mark." The
player catching the ball must stand
his ground and yell "mark;" no one
may tackle the catcher.

"Knock-ons" occur when the
ball bounces or is deflected forward.
When this happens a set
scrum occurs. Another illegal move
is "hands in the scrum." It is
positively illegal to use the hands to
pick up the ball when it is on the
ground and there are more than
two persons (from opposite teams)
around the ball.

When three players from opposing
teams are around a loose ball, a
loose scrum (ruck) is formed. The
object is the same as in a set scrum;
that is, getting the ball to the
backfield. A loose scrum may form
anytime, and the team that stays
close to the ball will win most of
the loose scrums and maintain
possession.

Offsides occurs in several ways.
The offsides line is constituted by
the rugby ball. For instance, in a
lineout if the person catches the
ball and chooses to hold the ball
instead of passing it to the backs,
any opposing team player that
breaks past this player with the ball
is offside, Likewise, in a set scrum
if anyone heads into the opposing
team backfield before the ball gets
there, he is offside.

Finally, when a person kicks the
ball downfield, all those men on his
team in front of him are offside
until the punter runs past them.
There is no rule infraction for this
unless the players in front of the
punter attempt to tackle the
receiver of the ball before he runs
five steps.

Hopefully, the mayhem this
weekend will now seem a little
more organized. This article (plus a
lot of imagination) should make for
a pleasant time for all Virginia
rugby enthusiasts.