RUGBY LEAGUE GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS

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In 1895, when 12 clubs decided to split from the Northern Rugby Football Union, few could have envisaged that 100 years later, the game of rugby league would become the second most popular spectator sport in Britain and spread as far and wide as Australia, New Zealand and even Papua New Guinea.

The emergence of Super League has created a huge interest in the game both nationally and internationally. The switch to summer has meant that crowds have flocked to the grounds to see a game which is highly conducive and purpose made for hard fast grounds and warm weather.

The game is now given global exposure, via the Sky network and various cable and satellite networks which show live and delayed transmissions of our product. The game via the visual media, is flourishing.

Rugby league is simply all about - entertainment. This theory applies both on and off the field and is of paramount importance if rugby league is to flourish and reach its undoubted explosive potential.

The major contributory factor to the entertainment philosophy is the actual game itself. So, for those of you who are new to the sport, here are some of the basic and most vital rules of rugby league.

Two teams take part in a game of rugby league with 13 players on each team at "kick off". Each team also have 4 substitutes/replacements available to bring on at any appropriate moment in the game. Each teams "13" is made up of 7 "backs" and 6 "forwards" . The backs are generally regarded as the attacking players and usually have more pace than the bigger more powerful forwards who are usually the "yard" makers.

Object of the game: For one team to score more points than the other team. There are 80 minutes in which to do this. A team can score points through scoring a "try" or kicking a "goal".

Each team in effect, is given six tackles or chances to score. If after six tackles they have not achieved this then the ball is given to the other team who then also have the chance to score with six tackles. If a team has not scored by the fifth/last tackle then the "acting half-back" will generally pass the ball to the teams "kicker" who will punt the ball downfield in order to gain "territorial advantage" The only disadvantage to this tactic is that if the ball goes out of play on the "full" before bouncing, the opposition gain possession of the ball form where the kick was originally made.

It becomes slightly more complicated than this, but if you grasp this concept then you will have a greater understanding of the game.

The Positions:

1-Full Back, 2-Right Wing, 3-Right Centre, 4-Left Centre, 5-Left Wing, 6-Five-Eighth, 7-Half-Back, 8-Prop, 9-Hooker, 10-Prop, 11-Second Row, 12-Second Row, 13-Lock.

Key phrases and terms:

A try: A try is worth four points and is scored when one teams player touches the ball down over the goal line/try line of the opposition . A conversion follows "worth two points if successful" and is achieved by kicking the ball over the cross bar and between the goal posts. For a try and conversion a team will thus score 6 points.

Forward Pass/knock on: The ball can only be passed in a backwards motion between players. Therefore, if the ball is passed in a forward motion towards the opponents goal-line or knocked forward by the attacking team when attempting to catch it, then play will stop and will be re-started with a scrum awarded to the opposing team.

Scrum: The two sets of "Forwards" (six from each team) lock together and the ball is put into the middle by the "Scrum-half" of the team that have been awarded the scrum (called the feed). In modern day rugby, the team feeding the scrum will nearly always win possession from the scrum.

Play the ball: After a tackle is made, the tackled player restarts the action and the next "tackle" by standing upright and rolling the ball through his legs to a team-mate stood directly behind him. The opposing team must stand at least 10 metres in front of the player when this is taking place.

Offside: Several different types but the most common is when at least one member of the opposing defending team, encroaches within the ten metres at the play the ball - a penalty will result. This offence usually leads to the greatest number of penalties within a game and causes the most distress amongst the fans!

Penalty: Awarded for any foul or rule contravention. The team awarded the penalty can either kick for goal, or kick for touch and take six more tackles level with where the ball landed in touch or continue with six more tackles.

Acting half-back: This is a player from the attacking team who picks up the ball immediately following a play the ball and passes it to a team mate or makes an attacking run. He is generally the hooker.

Advantage: Allowing the advantage means allowing play to proceed if it is to the advantage of the team which has not committed an offence or infringement.

Backs: As applied to a player who is not in the scrum. They comprise of: Full Back, left winger,left centre, right centre, left winger and the two creative players; stand off and scrum half.

Blood-bin: Occurs when a player has blood showing or flowing from a wound. The referee instructs the player to leave the pitch in order to clear up the blood injury so that it is not visible. The player may leave the field for a maximum period of 10 minutes. Any longer and this temporary substitution becomes a permanent one.

Dead ball: Means that the ball is out of play. i.e. the field of play

Drop goal: This type of kick is worth one point to a team if kicked successfully. Sometimes referred to as a field goal, this is a goal scored by propelling the ball on the full, over the cross bar by drop kicking it.

Dummy: The pretence of passing or otherwise releasing the ball whilst still retaining possession of it in attempt to cause confusion to the defending team

40/20 Rule: This was introduced to reward excellence in kicking for touch. If a player kicks the ball into touch and he is within 40 metres of his own line, (the 40 metre line is marked on the field of play) if the ball BOUNCES into touch within the 20 metre area of his opponents half, then the side who have kicked the ball will have head and feed at the resulting scrum. This virtually guarantees possession in an attacking position and is just reward for a precise kick covering over half the length of the field.

Forward: A player who takes part in the scrum. Consists of : Open -side prop, hooker, blind side prop, 2 Second row forwards and a loose forward.

Full-time: Means the end of the game (80 minutes)

Half-time: Means the end of the first half 40 minutes.

Kick-off: The method of restarting the game at the beginning of each half or after a try, drop-goal or goal has been scored.

Kicker: Each side generally has a kicker who takes kicks either in general play and/or kicks for goal. Any player from either side may kick at any point in play however.

Obstruction: Is the illegal act of impeding an opponent who does not have the ball.

Marker: Is a player from the defending team who stands directly in front of the attacking player at the play the ball following a completed tackle. The marker must stand directly in front of the tackled player and not move until the play the ball has been completed otherwise he will be penalised.

Play the ball: Is the act of bringing the ball into play after the tackle has been completed by the team with the ball.

Referee: The man in charge of keeping control of the game and making sure that the game is played within the rules of the sport. He is present on the pitch at all times and it is his job to award penalties to teams if required and make any decisions whilst still maintaining the flow of the game.

Sin-Bin: Occurs when a player from either team commits an offence which the referee deems to be more serious than an ordinary foul. The referee shows the offending player a "yellow card" which means that the offending player must leave the field immediately for a period of 10 minutes

Substitutes: There are 4 on each team and can be introduced at appropriate moments in the game to replace another player from the same team.

Squad Numbers: These were introduced for the start of Super League in order for every teams Super League squad member to be identified with a consistent number(s) which they kept for an entire season. Was introduced as a promotional tool so fans could identify with their heroes.

Territorial advantage: Each team aims to spend as much time as possible in the oppositions half , this is known as territorial advantage.

Zero tackle: Kick reception resulting from an opponents kick in general play. Can also be applied by recovering the ball when lost by the opposition in a set of six tackles. Effectively creates seven tackles.