Rugby is the UK’s fifth most popular sport, and is played at all levels and ages across the nation. If the game has recently sparked your interest, here is everything you need to know about getting into the rugby union. Whether you simply want to understand it more when watching, or are keen to start playing, having a good knowledge of rugby is the best place to start. 

Background of the Game 

According to legend, rugby was fittingly named after a young man in the town of Rugby decided to pick up the ball and run to the opposing team’s side during a game of football.

Starting as a playground game, which is now played professionally, rugby is the built upon an ethos of control, mutual respect, and discipline. The game aims to attract individuals who portray these values.

Before understanding the rules of the game, it’s essential that prospective players are aware of how physical rugby is. Concussion is one of the most common injuries which is related to the game. If you are unfortunate enough to experience a brain injury from playing rugby, get in touch with a professional to see if you can claim any compensation.

Be prepared to put yourself at some degree of risk when participating in rugby. However, you can take steps to protect yourself by wearing the correct equipment and playing fairly.

Watching Rugby

If you don’t understand how a game is played, it’s likely you won’t enjoy watching it as much.

The aim of the game is that each team wants to touch ground with the ball on the opposing team’s side. This will score them a ‘try’ which is worth 5 points. Afterwards, a player will attempt to kick the ball between the two goal posts to gain an extra 2 points.  However, the opposing team will prevent this from happening through tackles and attempts to seize the ball.

There are 15 players in each team, with 8 forwards and 7 defenders. The game lasts 80 minutes, which two 40-minute halves.

Compared to football, rugby can seem a lot more fast paced.

Health and Fitness Benefits of Playing Rugby

Like any physical activity, playing rugby can reap a number of health and fitness benefits. However, rugby is particularly good at developing upper body strength due to constant tackling and throwing throughout the game.

Rugby players are also likely to have big leg muscles from running full pitch lengths and performing scrums. Players can also be very agile mentally as they will be able to react quickly to the opposition of other players. Naturally, running for long periods of time will also improve cardiovascular fitness.

If rugby union sounds like the sport for you, join your local team today and get involved!