As myth would have it, rugby originated in 1823 when William Ellis picked up the football during a match and began to run forward with it. It was this breaking of the rules of conventional European football that led to the creation of the sport. Rugby became extremely popular among Ivy League colleges in the 19th century and even more popular internationally. American football eventually evolved out of rugby. American football implemented blocking, forward passing and stoppage of play to create the more popular version of the sport. According to Waves Head Coach Robert Ahola, “In the mid-19th century American football evolved out of rugby when Walter Camp took rugby and screwed it all up.”
Pepperdine rugby is currently 5-3. Though the team had minor behavioral issues with the referee in their last tournament, they are hopeful for the rest of the season. Last season, the team ended with a record of 15-2-1.
There are elements of many different sports in rugby. Aside from the obvious similarities to American football, rugby can be compared to soccer, volleyball, basketball and wrestling. It is this diversity that allows for many different types of athletes to play rugby. There is a position for every body type on the rugby field. If a player is small then he is placed on the outside wing where his size becomes irrelevant and he can use his speed to help the team. If a player is big, strong and slow then he can be put in the pack and help the team there.
A full side consists of 15 players who work together to move the ball down the field. Two sides compete against one another for two continuous 40-minute halves. A try is worth 5 points and is scored when a player touches the ball to the ground in the try zone, or end-zone. The ball must touch the ground in order to count. This is where the American football term “touchdown” originated.
After a player scores, the team can elect one player to kick a conversion goal that is worth an additional 2 points. The conversion must be kicked from where the ball was placed when the try was scored. If the player touches the ball down underneath the posts then the conversion can be kicked from in front of the posts; however, if the player touches the ball down close to the sideline, then the conversion must be kicked from the sideline.
In rugby there are two groups of players who work together to move the ball. The “forwards,” or “the pack,” are the bigger and stronger players who push the ball forward running straight up the field. The forwards can be compared to the linemen in American football. They do the dirty work in the trenches and hardly ever pass the ball or score.
The “backs” are the smaller and faster players who attempt to move the ball up the field by running laterally and finding gaps within the defense. The backs can be compared to the running backs and wide receivers in American football. They both do a majority of the ball handling and scoring for their team. The backs use the entire width of the field while the forwards are generally bunched up in one area.
In rugby, it is the combination of these two groups that allows for the continuous play. While one group is working to move the ball, the other group has time to set up for when the ball will return to them.
When there is a dead ball the referee blows his whistle, and there is what is called a “scrum.” This is a test of strength between the opposing packs that is used to determine possession after a dead ball.
If the ball goes out of bounds for any reason then there is a “lineout.” This is where the two packs line up and lift a player in the air to win the ball which must be thrown straightly in between the two teams.
