Let’s start with a famous expression about the game, which has a lot of true meaning: ‘Rugby is a game of hooligans played by gentlemen’. Simply put, it is a true team game, where honesty, respect for opponents and referees is encouraged, rather than the meanness and simulation that is sometimes found in another very popular ball game. The principles of the rugby community are ‘Integrity – Passion – Solidarity – Discipline – Respect’.
Rugby, with its rich traditions and values, shares a common ground with communities that uphold integrity and respect. Similarly, the online gaming world values fairness and respect among players. For those interested in exploring online gaming, checking out reviews can be very helpful. For instance, a comprehensive WantedWin casino review can provide insights into the gaming experience, highlighting the platform’s commitment to fair play and integrity, much like the principles upheld in rugby.
To begin with a short excursion
According to legend, in 1823, during a school football match in Rugby, England, a young man named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran towards the opposing goal line. Two centuries later, the game of rugby has become one of the most popular sports: millions of people play rugby, watch rugby and love the game. It is possible to describe the Rules of Rugby for a long time, but let’s limit ourselves to the main points:
IT IS A TEAM GAME WITH AN OVAL SHAPED BALL ON A FIELD WITH AN ‘H’ SHAPED GOAL. THE AIM OF THE GAME IS TO PASS THE BALL TO EACH OTHER WITH THE FEET OR HANDS, TO LAND IT IN THE IN-GOAL OR TO SCORE IN THE OPPONENT’S GOAL. THE TEAM IS AWARDED POINTS FOR THIS. THE TEAM WITH THE MOST POINTS AT THE END OF THE GAME WINS.
Rugby and its variations
Rugby 15 or rugby in its classic form
The history of rugby began with this type of rugby. A rugby match involves two teams of 15 players each. The competition takes place on a 100×70 metre pitch. The marking of the pitch consists of several lines: the scoring field, 22 and 10 metres, and the centre line. In the centre of the scoring field there is an H-shaped goal. In big rugby, the encounter lasts 2 halves of 40 minutes each.
RUGBY SEVENS
In 1883, Ned Haig, a Scotsman, decided to simplify rugby 15s and invented rugby sevens. Today it is an Olympic sport and can be played by both men and women. Unlike classic rugby, each team has 7 players: three forwards and four defenders. The game lasts only 14 minutes, so there are usually many matches in one day. Because there are only 7 players on each team, there are no pauses in this game. Rugby players show crazy speed, stamina and a lot of performance.
TAG RUGBY
This is a type of non-contact rugby. It uses additional equipment – two Velcro straps. This game is based on the basic rules of classic rugby. Tag rugby is usually played by the youngest children or beginners to eliminate the risk of injury from unskilful tackles. Teams have no more than 7 and no less than 5 players. Mixed (boys and girls) and mixed age teams are allowed. The match is played in 2 halves, 20 minutes each.
BEACH RUGBY
Differs from classic rugby by simplified scoring, smaller field, no goal and fewer players.
Rugby is not only a sport, but rather a phenomenon with its own philosophy and code?
From the average person’s point of view, rugby is perceived as a harsh sport. But it’s not just a game, it’s a philosophy, a way of life and an example for other sports in terms of principles that are passed on from generation to generation. It’s respect for opponents and referees. You can see a lot of examples in the media when dimensional players quietly, like schoolchildren, listen to the referee during a match. This is quite different to the way a player and referee communicate, for example, in football. These moments are in rugby’s favour. It is also a respectful attitude to the opponent, which is characteristic of other contact sports: boxing, martial arts, hockey. Mandatory handshake of teams after the game. There is a very good tradition of the ‘third half’ throughout the rugby world. After the match, recent rivals gather and in a friendly atmosphere drink a glass of beer (this is characteristic, above all, amateurs). Another thing is the lack of simulation. Although extremely rare, it is usually condemned by the spectators of both teams.
Who Attends
This game is accessible to everyone in terms of both finances and fitness. Rugby has a place for anyone with different anthropometrics: short, skinny, tall, large. There is a position on the pitch for everyone. That’s why children of any build can come and start practising this game from the appropriate age: at the age of 9 there is admission to sports schools, but there are also sections of additional education, for example, at schools, where you can give your child from the age of 5-6.
First steps. From what age? Specialisation by species.
There are federal standards for different sports. According to them the admission of a child to a section/school of rugby starts, unfortunately, from the age of 9. The point is that this way we initially lose in competition. Children go to other sports at an earlier age and it is already somewhat difficult to lure them into rugby. Only from the age of 9 do we start laying the basic skills (technique, etc.), although in other rugby leading countries like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, France it starts from the age of 5-6, or even 3-4. With the development of these skills they already have superiority. But in many regions of our country is rapidly developing tag rugby (non-contact variety of rugby for children). The process of training and teaching starts from the first grade, there are even attempts to cultivate it in kindergartens. It should be understood that when a child of 5-6 years old takes an oval ball in his hands, even if it is simple lessons, the basis for the future is already laid. He has an initial advantage over nine-year-olds who have met such a ball for the first time. I hope that we will move towards lowering the age of introduction to rugby at the level of youth schools and sections. All over the world the basic skills are laid down with a focus on big rugby (rugby-15), and in children’s age there is no division and specialisation on other types. Of course, there are specifics and differences between rugby and rugby sevens. Where with the same size of the field, fewer players are involved in the game, it is more intense, higher speed and strength load. For rugby sevens athletes are selected with certain parameters of endurance, which at maximum speed can spend long stretches of the game. There is a general worldwide trend of players migrating from big rugby to rugby sevens and back again.
Girls/women and rugby?
Women’s rugby in the US is mainly represented in the rugby sevens format. There is a difference from the world practice: among women there is an orientation to this sport. This is an Olympic discipline, and the successes of recent years of our women’s national team are, first of all, the arrival of athletes from other sports: athletics, handball. The threshold of entry to the world elite of women’s rugby-7 is lower, thanks to which our women’s team has the opportunity to be in the group of leaders due to good physical preparation. But now we can see a trend: the countries where rugby is more developed – Fiji, Ireland, and which previously did not pay much attention to women’s rugby sevens, are now actively developing this direction. They are progressing very quickly because there is an established system of training rugby players.
Injuries and their prevention
Let’s start with the fact that statistically rugby is not the most injury-prone sport. Such trifles as bruises and bumps in rugby, as in hockey, are not considered an injury. Rugby is a contact sport and injuries are inevitable. But the foundations of how to avoid them are laid at an early age. When a player enters the field he is always ready for collisions, tackles. Recently, the rules have been tightened to reduce injuries from collisions. And rugby is already a different game than 20-30 years ago, the very dimensions of the players have changed, their height and weight has increased. There are almost no special means of defence in rugby. You can use a mouth guard for teeth, wear a rugby helmet, soft pads on the shoulders. After all, according to the rules you can not use shin guards and rigid protective equipment as in American football. Even kneepads must be without metal inserts.
Entry into the sport. The price of the question (equipment, rentals).
There is a standard set of equipment: shorts, rugby (T-shirt), gaiters, boots (sports shoes). If you take boots, there are special ones for rugby. This applies, above all, to players of the first line of scrum. At amateur level, football boots with different soles and the number of spikes are quite suitable. Usually every amateur club has annual or monthly fees that go to cover the rent of the sports facility, etc.
What does rugby develop in a person?
Rugby is a diverse sport, it has elements of wrestling, running training, game components. It is all-round physical development without a bias on any part of the body or muscle group, which is the case in other game sports. It is not surprising that Crossfit came from rugby. Crossfit is a strength and endurance exercise programme consisting mainly of aerobic exercise, gymnastics (bodyweight exercises) and weightlifting. As far back as the 70’s rugby has used similar exercises in training.
Mentally, this is teamwork, where there is no room for simulation. Or rather, there is a negative attitude towards it. General principles suggest the development of such qualities: support, co-operation, understanding and respect. Of course, something depends on the coach. This is a sport where you have to overcome yourself. In some ways, it’s a ‘small war’ where you defend your scoring field. ‘Don’t take a step back’ – that goes for rugby too. All of this then carries over into normal life and helps you in the future.
