How to play rugby

How to play rugby 

The game is played with two teams, each consisting of fifteen players. Each team can carry, pass or kick the ball to the end zone to score as many points as possible. The team scoring the greater number of points is the winner of the match. 

The two teams compete for two forty minute halves with a five minute halftime. One referee controls the match with the assistance of two touch judges. There are no time outs, except at the referee's discretion where he can allow one minute for an injured player to decide whether or not to continue to play. 

Each team is only allowed seven replacements per game. Six of the replacements are at the teams discretion and a seventh for injury.  Once a player is substituted, he can not rejoin the game. The only time a player can rejoin the game is if he was temporarily substituted for a blood injury, but he must return within ten minutes of the substitution or be permanently replaced. 

Rugby vocubulary

Blindside - from a set piece, this is the short side of the field
Cap - anytime a player plays in a match he/she is technically awarded a cap
Drop Goal - a kick at the posts taken at anytime a side is close to their own try line- if successful it scores three points but the ball must hit the ground before being kicked
Garryowen - a kick which is high in the air
Grubber - a kick of the ball which cause the ball to bounce and roll along the ground
Knock On - losing, dropping, or knocking the ball forward from a player's hand resulting in the ball being awarded to the other team in a scrum
Mark - a location on the pitch designated by the referee as the location a scrum should come together
Offsides - during rucks, scrums, lineouts, and mauls an imaginary line is present over which any player crossing before the set piece is completed committs a penalty
Penalty - any number of infractions or violations which award the other team a kick
Penalty Try - the awarding of a try due to a flagrant violation by an opposing side that prevents an obvious try from being scored
Place Kick - a kick of the ball resting on the ground, placed in an indention in the ground, from a small pile of sand, or from a kicking tee
Referee - the sole judge and timekeeper of the game
Restart - the kick restarting play after a half or after points are scored
Touch Judge - an official posted on each side of the pitch to mark the spot where balls go out of touch and to judge kicks at goal

Scrum

Scrum: A set piece formed by the front eight players of each team. The ball is thrown into the middle of the group and each team pushes against the other team's assembled eight men to contest for possession of the ball. Scrums restart play after certain minor infractions. The scrum ends when one team gains possession of the ball and moves down the field. 

Lineout

Lineout: Both teams line up opposite each other similar to a jump ball in basketball, but one team then throws the ball down the middle of the tunnel. Line-outs restart play after the ball, or a player carrying it, has gone out of bounds.

Rucking

Ruck: One or more players from each team, who are on their feet and in contact, close around the ball on the ground. Once a ruck has been formed, players can’t use their hands to get the ball, only their feet. A ruck ends when the ball emerges from the ruck or when a scrum is ordered by the referee.