The following is an alphabetical list of terms and jargon used in relation to rugby union. Rugby union is a team sport played between two teams of fifteen players. It is known for its rich terminology. It has sometimes been said that rugby union is a game designed more for playing than spectating, but it is now a sport which is watched by millions in most parts of the world. Rugby union is played in many regions which are widely dispersed geographically, and its traditional heartlands are sometimes at quite some distance from one another. Because of this, terms may vary from region to region, and although names are officially standardised, there can also be variation in hyphenation etc, e.g. lineout, line out or line-out can all be seen in various contexts. This glossary also includes slang, and colloquial usage, eg it is not uncommon to hear the word "rules" used, when technically rugby union has "laws" instead; and also historical and obsolete terms. Some of the less formal terms are often thought to be humorous or invented for comic purposes. Where words in a sentence are also defined elsewhere in this article, they appear in italics. ==
Other abbreviations include:
JRFU)
team names.
non-offending side have the opportunity to gain sufficient territory or tactical opportunity to negate the need to stop the game due to the infringement. The referee will signal advantage with their arm out horizontally, toward the non-infringing team. If no tactical or territorial advantage is gained, the referee will whistle, and give the decision that had been delayed. If sufficient advantage is gained, the referee will call "advantage over", and play will continue. The Advantage Law allows the game to flow more freely, and not stop for every minor infringement. An example of the application of advantage would be if Team A knocked the ball on (technical offence, conceding a scrum) but a Team B player picked the ball up and made a run forwards before being tackled.
Advantage is the period of time after an infringement, in which the non-offending side have the opportunity to gain sufficient territory or tactical opportunity to negate the need to stop the game due to the infringement. The referee will signal advantage with their arm out horizontally, toward the non-infringing team. The Advantage Law allows the game to flow more freely, and not stop for every minor infringement.
drawn across the centre of the pitch when there is a breakdown in open
play, such as a ruck, maul or scrum. Advancing across the gain line represents a gain in territory.
It is an imaginary line across the pitch when there is a breakdown in open play, i.e. a scrum. Advancing across the advantage line represents a gain in territory. Also called the "gain line".
kicker and the centre of the goals (on the goal line), and another imaginary line perpendicular to the goal line. (i.e. for a player standing at a point on the field where they are on the line bisecting the goals at each end of the ground, the angle is zero.)
English people of Scottish origin playing for Scotland
used when the player carrying the ball is running at speed and a defending player is approaching from behind. Even if the defender is not
able to get close enough to the ball-carrier to wrap his arms around
him in a conventional tackle, he may still be able to dive at the other player's feet and, with outstretched arm, deliver a tap or hook to the player's foot (or feet) causing the player to stumble.
An ankle tap, also referred to as a tap-tackle, may be used as a last resort by a defender chasing the attacking player carrying the ball if that player is about to evade them and a conventional tackle is not possible. If the defender is not able to get close enough to the ball-carrier to wrap their arms around them in a conventional tackle, they may still be able to dive at the other player's feet and, with outstretched arm, deliver a tap or hook to the player's foot (or feet) causing the player to stumble. At speed, this will often be sufficient to bring the ball-carrier down and may sufficiently delay the attacker for a defender to complete the tackle or for the defending team to organise their defence.
language|Lowland Scots]] for "old".
offload the ball to a team mate for them to carry on the attack before the tackle has been completed. This type of tackle involves preventing the player being tackled from being able to move their arms effectively.
line-out at the point where the ball left the field of play. The exception to this is if the ball is kicked into touch on the full. In this case, a line-out is taken from the point from where the ball was kicked from, and not from where it entered touch.
then kicks the ball. If the player receives the ball outside the 22
then retreats back into the 22 and kicks into touch on the full it is a lineout at the nearest point on the touchline from where the ball was kicked.
to get a new one for the players. Relatively uncommon in rugby.
performed in general play that goes to off to the side of the kicker rather than in front, for chasers further afield. The aim of the banana kick is to be less predictable than conventional kicks and is named such
thus as the rise and fall of the ball is in a curve like that of a
banana.
organisations, particularly if they are perceived as stuffy or snobby 2)
Some rugby teams have given blazers to their players
article
les Bleus! (go on the Blues!)
breakdown in play; it is the opposite of openside. The [[Rugby union
positions#6. Blindside flanker & 7. Openside flanker|blindside
flanker]] is expected to cover the opposing team blindside at scrum and breakdown.
the defence used in rugby league. It relies on the whole defensive line moving forward towards their marked man as one, as soon as the ball
leaves the base of a ruck or maul. The charge is usually led by the inside centre. The idea of this technique is to prevent the attacking team
gaining any ground by tackling them behind the gain line and forcing interceptions and charged down kicks. However, the defending team can be
vulnerable to chip kicks and any player breaking the defensive line
will have lots of space to play because the defence are running the other way and must stop, turn and chase.
his body. If the other player is a ball carrier, the player may attempt a
tackle. If the other player does not have the ball it is a foul in
rugby union.
visible bleeding injury may be replaced for up to fifteen minutes
(running time not game time), during which he or she may receive first-aid treatment to stop the flow of blood and dress the wound. The player may then to return to the pitch to continue playing.
to replace someone who is bleeding. A recent development.
Oxford or Cambridge in England, or wearing a blue shirt. See also Azzuri, bleus
rugby union match. It was implemented in order to encourage attacking
play throughout a match, to discourage repetitive goal-kicking, and to reward teams for "coming close" in losing efforts.
scrum-half, in which he turns away from the scrum facing the touchline, and kicks the ball back over the scrum into the clear "box" of space behind the opposition to allow his own team to chase through and regain the ball in undefended territory .
ensuing ruck. During this time teams compete for possession of the ball,
initially with their hands and then using feet in the ruck. Most
referees will call "ruck" or "hands away" as soon as a ruck is formed. Most infringements take place at the breakdown, owing to the greater variety of possible offences at a breakdown, for example handling in the
ruck, killing the ball, offside at the ruck and so on.
compensated players for the time they missed from work due to their rugby playing commitments. The use of these payments was one of the issues that led to the [[History of rugby league#The schism in England|schism]] of rugby football in England. Broken-time payments were
the original player payment system of the Northern Rugby Football Union (the original rugby league governing body) in [[1895-96 Northern Rugby
Football Union season|1895]].
ruck, or slip through a tackle.
especially if they do it frequently.
<dt id="ball-carrying arm" >Ball-carrying arm
the attacking player's ball-carrying arm is touching the ground at the same time that a defending player is in contact with the attacker. <dt id="ball back" >Ball back
point where the ball left the field of play. However, if the ball is kicked into touch without first bouncing inside the field of play (on the full). In this case, the scrum is taken from level with the place from where the ball was kicked from. The ball is given back to the team who did not kick it out of bounds; ball back is waived in certain circumstances:
line before going out of play (the 40/20 rule). <dt id="banana kick" >Banana kick
<dt id="blindside" >Blindside
the opposite of openside. <dt id="blood replacement (obsolete)" >Blood replacement
[[File:Leicester Tigers v Leinster - January 2008 (2) H Cup.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Corner flag]]
precodified varieties in the south west of Ireland, some of which were similar to modern rugby. Since William Webb Ellis spent his formative years in Ireland, it has been suggested that he was trying to demonstrate caid at Rugby School.
competed for by England and Scotland
competitions.
"North America" or "NAm"(although this term excludes the other nations in North American)
has appeared three times for his/her country has "three caps", originally named after 2 2) A commemorative cap given to a rugby player every time s/he plays in an international match, see also blazer 3) Scrum cap
cautioned, and shown a yellow card. A cautioned player is suspended
from playing for ten minutes sometimes by sending to the sin bin.
involved Scottish, Welsh and Irish sides.
centre|Centres]]: They are the players wearing shirts numbers 12 & 13. They are divided into inside and outside centre.
Cite error: A <ref>
tag is missing the closing </ref>
(see the help page).
<dt id="dummy runner" >Dummy runner
the opposition as if running onto a pass, only for the ball to be passed to another player, carried on by the ball carrier or kicked forwards. As with a dummy pass, this tactic draws defenders away from the ball and creates space for the attacking team <dt id="dump tackle" >Dump tackle
wraps his arms around the ball carrier's thighs and lifts him a short distance in the air before forcibly driving him to the ground. The tackler must go to ground with the ball carrier for the tackle to be legal. This technique is useful to completely stop the opponent in his tracks. A dump tackle which drops the ball carrier on his head or neck is known as a spear tackle, and will almost invariably concede a penalty and possibly result in a caution for the tackler.
microphone to communicate with officials off the pitch, particularly video refs.
contrast to association football which uses a round ball.
Eight
scrum, in which the number 8 picks up the ball and transfers it to number 9 (scrum half).
non-English players. London Scottish, London Irish and London Welsh are the best known, but there are others.
of/set up by foreigners in any given country.
another's eyes. Dangerous play which is severely penalised, and may result in legal prosecution.
XV" etc, in which fans get to invent non-existent teams or tournaments of their own choosing.
e.g. Fédérale 1 (Le championnat de France de première division fédérale)
refer to a national governing body, whereas "Union" is more favoured in English speaking countries.
to be sent on, often as a replacement.
for the team itself. Before 1875, there were twenty players. There are other variants of rugby which use seven or ten players.
referee blows his whistle; full time.
more, depending on their circumstances.
5m of either try line, or a player carries the ball over his own try
line and touches it down, the referee will award a scrum on the five metre line; this is to prevent all but the most brutal packs from driving the ball over the try line within the scrum.
tournament between England, France, Ireland Scotland and Wales, which was the precursor of the contemporary Six Nations Championship: 2) Asia
the game designed for coaching children.
flanker|Flanker]]: Also known as breakaways or wing forwards. They are the players wearing shirts numbers 6 & 7. They are the players with the fewest set responsibilities. The player should have all round attributes: speed, strength, fitness, tackling and handling skills. Flankers are always involved in the game, as they are the real ball winners at the breakdown, especially the number 7. The two flankers do not usually bind to the scrum in a fixed position. Instead, the openside flanker will attach to the scrum on whichever side is further from the nearer touchline, while the blindside flanker attaches himself to the scrum on the side closer to the touchline.
referred to by a number of different names, they are the players wearing
shirt number 10. This position is one of the most influential on the
pitch. The fly-half makes key tactical decisions during a game. Generally a fly-half is also the goal kicker due to excellent kicking skills.
is loose under circumstances other than its having been placed there or dropped from the kicker's hands to be kicked.
play, but increasingly used to refer to association football or soccer. In North America, Ireland and Australia, this can refer to indigenous football codes. Despite folk etymology, it does not mean a ball kicked by foot originally, but one carried on foot (as opposed to on horseback, or with a stick/club etc) 2) The rugby ball itself.
themselves, eg West of Scotland Football Club. Now more commonly "RFC" or "Rugby Football Club", as the term "football" is being monopolised by association football.
you, rather than behind. [[Forward pass#Rugby league and union|Forward pass]]. It is an integral part of [[American football|American]] and Canadian football, but illegal in both forms
of rugby. It is called a throw-forward in the laws of the game. A forward pass occurs when the ball fails to travel backwards in a pass. If the ball is not thrown or passed forward but it bounces forward after hitting a player or the ground, it is not a throw-forward.If the referee deems it accidental, this results in a scrum to the opposing team, however deliberate forward passes result in the award of a penalty. See also knock on.
may also substitute for referee or touch judge in case of injury to
either of them.
non-offending team after a foul.
penalty. This is a lesser form of the penalty, usually awarded to a team for a technical offence committed by the opposing side such as numbers at the line-out or time wasting at a scrum. A free kick is also awarded for calling a mark. A team cannot kick for goal and the normal 22m rule applies for kicking for position from a free kick. A Free Kick is signalled by the referee with a bent arm raised in the air.
tournament or league.
important defender. They are the player wearing jersey number 15. They act as the last line of defence against running attacks by the opposing three-quarter backs. The full back is expected to field high kicks from the opposition, and reply with a superior kick or a counterattack. The full back is sometimes the specialist goal-kicker in a team, taking penalty and conversion kicks.
whistle.
across the centre of the pitch when there is a breakdown in open play, such as a ruck, maul or scrum. Advancing across the gain line represents a gain in territory.
Garryowen or up and under kick, is a high short punt onto or behind the defending team.
See also "uglies".
Presidents and Prime Ministers agreed, as part of their support for the international campaign against apartheid, to discourage contact and competition between their sportsmen and sporting organisations, teams or
individuals from South Africa. With the end of apartheid this is no longer in force.
through the plane bounded by the two uprights and above the crossbar. 2)
drop goal or penalty goal count for 3 points and
conversions count for two. 3) Goal from mark.
of scoring. It occurred when a player "marked" and scored a goal from there. In the modern game, a goal cannot be scored from a free kick, but in the past the reward for scoring a "goal from mark" (which is a difficult kick to play) was three
or four points. Occasionally referred to as a field goal.
and play rugby league.
Games]] (especially Gaelic football) to go and play rugby, or other "foreign games". Formerly frowned on, now quite common. See also Rule 42
order to slow down a defender only to sprint once defender has slowed down.
tournament or league, in addition to winning the competition overall.
tackler attempts to impede the ball carrier by applying a chokehold-like
grip.
grounded by the ball carrier for a try to be allowed. It cannot be bounced off the ground as in American or Canadian football.
situation that often occurs during the group stage of a tournament, where either (1) any team in the group could qualify and any team could be eliminated, or (2) more teams have a legitimate chance to advance to the next stage than allowed by the tournament structure. Typically, a group of death will see an unusual match-up of heavyweight sides, due to a quirk in the seeding system.
in which the ball flies and bounces low to the ground, rather than a
high one. Also mulligrubber or daisy cutter. It is a type of kick which makes the ball roll and tumble across the ground, producing irregular bounces making it hard for the defending team to pick up the ball without causing a knock-on. It gives the ball both high and low bounce and on occasions, the ball can sit up in a perfect catching position.
shinguards.
shape.
game.
before matches. See Haka of the All Blacks
half-time 2) Short for fly-half or scrum half.
allows for a rest and a huddle etc.
players (and the referee) to rest. At halftime, the two teams swap ends.
Refreshments may be given to the players, such as oranges, water/energy drinks, and there is usually a team talk and a huddle, while the
first half is evaluated.
sustains an injury to this tendon.
or arguing on field.
carrier of repelling a tackler using his arm. For the action to be
legal, the ball carrier's arm must be straight before contact is made; a
shove or "straight-arm smash", where the arm is extended immediately
before contact or on contact, is illegal and classed as dangerous play.
was a New Zealand based organisation opposed to the racial discrimination practiced by South African rugby.
where the tackler grasps the ball carrier above the line of the shoulders (most commonly around the neck or at the line of the chin and jaw).
Executed violently or at speed, a high tackle is potentially instantly lethal and, as extremely dangerous play, high tackles are a cause for penalties, and yellow or red cards.
Wales
and one of the precursors of the Six Nations Championship
number 2 shirt. The hooker is the player who is in the centre position of the front row of the scrum and who uses his/her feet to 'hook' the ball back. Due to the pressure put on the body by the scrum and the requirement to use both arms to bind to other players (and hence having no free arm to use to support or deflect bodyweight) it is considered to
be one of the most dangerous positions to play. Hookers normally throw
the ball in at line-outs, partly because they are normally the shortest of the forwards, but more often because they are the most skillful of the forwards.
the receiving player. Generally made in times of panic or when there is no-one else available. Called the Hospital Pass due to the high chances of the receiver going to Hospital afterward.
break, which is used to discuss tactics, and psych-up.
does not reach the intended player.
extending from each goal line to each dead ball line.
formerly known as the International Rugby Football Board. Based in Dublin.
ball which is being passed to another player.
mainly made up of Argentina players, but also including ones from Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay
play at senior level.
shirt.
[[File:Jeremy Staunton kicks a penalty 1 Wasps Perpignan.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A kicking tee can be seen just under the
ball in this picture]]
coin is tossed and the winning captain either chooses which direction
his team shall play, or elects to take the kick that starts the game. Both halves of the match are started with a drop kick from the centre-point of the halfway line, sometimes using a tee. The kick must cross the opposition's 10-metre line, unless played by a member of the receiving team. The opposition are not allowed to encroach beyond the 10-metre line until the ball is kicked.
If the ball does not travel 10 metres, goes straight into touch, or goes
over the dead ball line at the end of the pitch, the opposing team may
accept the kick, have the ball kicked off again, or have a scrum at the centre.
After a score, the game is restarted from the same place under the same restrictions, with the conceding team drop-kicking the ball to the scoring team. However, in sevens, the scoring team kicks off.
fielding kicks and running them back.
for Scotland
found in the islands.
is when a player loses possession of the ball and goes forward off the hands or arms of a player and hits either the ground or another player. It results in a scrum with the put-in to the opposition.
down in the rankings of a tournament or the IRB international rankings.
tackle is a tackle executed on a player who has already passed or kicked
away the ball. As it is illegal to tackle a player who does not have
the ball, Late tackles are penalty offences (referees allow a short margin of error where the tackler was already committed to the tackle) and if severe or reckless may result in yellow or red Cards.
than "rules". Often referred to as "the laws of the game" or "laws of rugby union". Sevens and Tens have slightly different rules to the full fifteen-a-side game.
same level of skill 2) (informal) Rugby league as opposed to rugby union.
parallel with each other between the five-metre and 15-metre lines. The hooker of the team in possession throws the ball in while his opposite
number [may] stand in between the touchline and the five-metre line. (Note, from August 1st 2008 the IRB is conducting a global trial of a modification to this Law which requires the opposing player to stand no closer than 2m to the other players in the line out.) All players not involved in the lineout, except the scrum-half, must retire 10 metres.
The ball must be thrown in straight down the middle of the lineout and the hooker must not cross into the field of play while throwing in. If throw is not straight then the throw is given to opposition or a scrum.
Jumpers can be lifted by their team-mates below the waist, but the opposition's jumpers must not be obstructed, barged or pulled down.
communicate intentions about a line-out within one team in a match without giving information away to the other team. The advantage in line-out comes from knowing in advance how the throw will be made.
other team names too.
the players wearing shirts number 4 & 5. Locks are very tall,
athletic and have an excellent standing jump along with good strength. So they are the primary targets at line-outs. They also make good ball carriers, bashing holes in the defence around the ruck and maul. They also have to push in the rucks and mauls.
position on the front row of the scrum. A loose head prop traditionally wears the number 1 shirt.
As the loose head has considerable potential freedom of movement compared to other front row players, the loose head can attempt to play various illegal techniques to divert the push of the opposing pack and is often able to illegally interfere with the ball in the scrum using his free arm.
A mark is the place where the game will restart after a stoppage, such as where a scrum-offence or penalty offence occurred, or on the touchline where the ball went out of play (or where the ball was kicked in the case of ball-back). Marks are generally defined by the referee, or the touch judge when the ball leaves play by the touchline.
Marks can also be defined by a defending players who execute a clean catch (catch the ball before it bounces or touches another player) of a ball kicked by an attacking player if the defender is standing within his/her own 22 metre zone or in-goal. To "call a mark", the player shouts "Mark!" as he/she catches the ball. The referee then awards that
player a free kick which must be taken by that specific player. (If
for whatever reason, that player cannot take the kick, a scrum is awarded instead.) If the player is simply a poor kicker he/she is likely to take a 'Tap Kick' and immediately pass the ball to the fly-half or full back who will generally deliver a clearance kick.
Marks can be called when the ball is cleanly caught following a kick by the opposition for any type of kick except a kick off or restart after a
score. It is legal, though very unusual, to call a mark from a clean
catch of a Penalty Kick.
The offside line becomes the last foot of the last man on each side of the maul. Players can only join in from behind that team-mate. Anyone who comes in from the sides will be penalised by the referee. Hands are allowed to be used in the maul. If either team deliberately collapses the maul then that side will be penalised by the referee. (Note that from August 1st 2008, the IRB is conducting a global trial of a modification of this Law which will allow players to deliberately collapse a maul providing the collapse is achieved buy pulling from above the waist.)
If the ball does not come out in a timely fashion, the referee will award a scrum to the team that did not take the ball into the maul.
Mauls can only exist in the field of play. Play that looks like a maul can exist within the in-goal but restrictions on entry to the maul and the need to bind on to a team member do not apply.
line.
children. It differs substantially from normal rugby. Also known as "dragon rugby" etc
Often used in relation to the Rugby World Cup (after the small fish of the same name). See also feeder nation, emerging nation
mulligrubber is directed towards the ground and forced to bounce. Often used in situations where either the ball needs to be placed in a specific position (i.e. on the try line) or to intentionally stop the opponent from being able to catch the ball on the full.
also a film of the same title.
<dt id="mark" >Markand which is awarded a penalty as compensation.
France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and occasionally Italy. Most rugby playing nations are in the Northern Hemisphere, including Japan, Canada,
the USA and the other European nations.
and that there is no time to score.
position that is usually known only by the shirt number. Number Eights must have a good tactical awareness in order to coordinate scrums and ruck moves with the scrum-half. If the ball is at his feet at the back of a scrum, ruck or maul, it is normally the number eight's decision whether to pass the ball out or drive the breakdown on in order to make ground.
before he reaches the ground, usually by turning to face a team-mate and
tossing the ball into the air for a team-mate to catch.
forward of the relevant offside line i.e. between the relevant offside line and the opposing team's dead ball line.
In a match, most players will be offside several times but they only become liable for penalty if they do not act to attempt to become onside
(which generally means retreat downfield) or attempt to interfere with
play.
In open play, only the ball carrier's team (or the team that last carried or deliberately touched the ball) is bound by offside - the offside line for them is the ball. (Note every player who passes the ball backwards is offside and must attempt to retire.)
people running rugby, who are thought to be old, or behind the times. Famously used by Will Carling.
Rugbeian.
relevant offside line for the particular phase of play. Players who are onside take an active part in playing the game.
Previously offside players may be "put onside" by the actions of other players (for example, in a kick ahead in open play, players in the kicker's team in front of the kick are offside but can be put onside by the kicker or any other team member who was onside at the time of the kick running up the pitch past them). So that players can be confident they are now onside and can take an active part in the game, the referee
may shout "Onside" or "All Onside".
inside the field of play it is termed as ball is kicked into touch on the full.
breakdown in play. The [[Rugby union positions#6. Blindside flanker & 7. Openside flanker|openside flanker]] is expected to cover the opposing team openside at scrum and breakdown. It is the opposite of blindside.
opposing team.
Cambridge, in relation to their rugby clubs. Used often outside rugby contexts as well.
the captain of the team.
during the Fascist period to play down rugby's English connections.
rugby grounds, e.g. Ellis Park, Parc y Scarlets and [[Parc des Princes]]
team. A pass is to transfer a ball to a teammate by throwing it. Passes in rugby must not travel forwards. There are different varieties of pass, including the flat, direct spin pass; the short, close-quarters pop pass; and the floated pass - a long pass which an advancing player can run onto at pace.
Penalties are awarded for serious infringements like dangerous play, offside and handling the ball on the ground in a ruck. Penalties are signalled by the referee with a straight arm raised in the air. Players can also receive red and yellow cards, as in Association football.
The offending team must retire 10 metres (or to their goal line if closer) for both penalties and free kicks. A team can either kick for goal, tap and run the ball, take a scrum or kick directly into touch
with the resulting line-out awarded to them.
opposition can take the option of a place kick at goal from where the infringement occurred (or, if the offence occurred when a player was
in the process of kicking the ball, the non-offending team can opt to
take the kick from where the ball landed which may be more advantageous). This is called a penalty kick. If successful, it is worth
three points.
A penalty try awarded if the referee believes a team
illegally prevented a try from probably being scored. Penalty tries are always awarded under the posts regardless of where the offence took
place. (This gives the non-offending team the opportunity for the easiest possible conversion kick meaning that a penalty try is generally
a certain 7 points for the non-offending team.)
example, first phase would be winning the ball at the lineout and passing to a centre who is tackled. Second phase would be winning the ball back from the ensuing breakdown and attacking again.
turf.
kicking for goal. It typically involves placing the ball on the ground. To keep the ball in position, a mound of sand or plastic kicking tee is sometimes used.
goals all have different point values.
and/or a role filled by that player. These are usually assigned numbers.
of obtaining the ball.. 2) The amount of time each team spends in control of the ball.
foul is a deliberate act of foul play, usually to prevent an opponent scoring.
prop|Prop]], prop forward
They are the players wearing shirts number 1 & 3. The role of both the props is to support the hooker in the scrum and to provide support for the jumpers in the line-out. The props provide the main power in the
push forward in the scrum. For this reason they need to be
exceptionally big and strong.
for the game, sometimes used in the huddle. Pronounced "sike up".
lineout.
apartheid era South Africa, when bans were in place.
serious foul, or who has been shown a second yellow card. In
International matches, Red cards are shown to players who have been ordered off, which results in the player being removed from the game without being replaced. Players are usually ordered off for serious foul
play, for violent conduct or for committing two offences resulting in
cautions (yellow cards).
Red cards are also commonly used in non-international matches in precisely the same manner as in International matches but there is no regulation requiring their use. (i.e. in a domestic match, a referee may dismiss a player without actually displaying a red card.)
its own side. Now represented by Zambia (Northern Rhodesia)
and Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia).
promise.
kicking used for kicking penalties and converting tries.
A ruck is formed when the ball is on the ground and two opposing players
meet over the ball. The offside line becomes the last foot of the last man on each side of the ruck and players compete for the ball by
attempting to drive one another from the area and to 'ruck' the ball backwards with their feet.
Rucks commonly form at tackles, but can form anywhere in the field of play where the ball is on the ground.
Handling the ball while it is in the vicinity of a ruck is a penalty offence. (Though modern practice allows a player on the ground to support the ball with his/her hands and for the player who is acting as scrum half to 'dig' for the ball once possession has been secured.)
If the ball does not come out of a ruck after about five seconds, the referee will award a scrum to the team he considers to have been moving forward in the ruck.
rugby. Often used in contempt of the person involved, sometimes with undertones of snobbery. See also rugger 2.
of Gaelic Games terminology#F|foreign sports]] (including rugby union) being played on GAA-controlled property. See [[List of non-Gaelic games played in Croke Park]] for exceptions to this rule. In recent years, this has been relaxed to allow rugby internationals to be played in Croke Park etc. See also Foreign Sports, Barracks Games.
can release the ball.
abbreviated to scrum. The term is retained in American football.
together and push against each other. The scrum-half from the team that has been awarded possession feeds the ball into the centre of the scrum from the side most advantageous for his hooker (which is typically the side of [[Rugby union positions#1. Loosehead prop & 3. Tighthead prop|loose head prop]]).
The ball must be fed straight down the middle of the tunnel and the hookers must not contest for the ball until it is put in. If they do, a free-kick is awarded for "foot up".
The scrum is taken again if the ball comes straight out of the tunnel or
if it collapses. If the scrum wheels (rotates) due to pushing more than 90 degrees the scrum is reformed and awarded to the other side.
Pulling in an attempt to unbalance the other side or to assist in rotating the scrum is a Penalty Offence.
protect the ears and hair.
Also known as a half-back, they are the players traditionally wearing shirt number 9. Scrum halves form the all-important link between the forwards and the backs. They are relatively small but with a high degree
of vision, the ability to react to situations very quickly, and good
handling skills.
They are often the first tackler in defence and are behind every scrum, maul or ruck to get the ball out and maintain movement. They put the ball into the scrum and collect it afterwards. Scrum Halves generally also act as "receiver" in the line-out to catch the ball knocked down by
the forwards. (The receiver is a member of the line out and so stands
within 10 metres of it and may join the line once the ball is thrown.)
to the term scrimmage used in Gridiron.
game, and local climate, seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, this often
runs from autumn until spring (i.e. overlapping two years), in some
countries such as those in the Southern Hemisphere it runs during the middle of the year.
Second XV, but Third XVs are less common, and Fouth and Fifth XVs even rarer.
these, as well as a manager.
"sham" and "amateur", in pre-professional days, players who were ostensibly amateur, but were being paid to play rugby in secret. Various
regions of the world were accused of this, as were police and military
rugby teams.
players involved in the tackle.
Where players who are on the ground on the opposition side of the ruck do not move away quickly enough, players on their feet may be tempted to
"help" them move by pushing them away with their boots.
This potentially dangerous act is illegal and if done deliberately (or recklessly) may result in penalties and yellow or red cards.
to the sidelines used to be a synonym for being replaced or sent off
with an injury.
The notional area where a player must remain for a minimum of ten minutes after being shown a yellow card. In high level games, the sin bin is monitored by the fourth official.
matches
See also Haka, Sipi tau.
England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy. Preceded by the Five Nations, which did not include Italy.
off at an angle to fool the opposition. See also scissors
subzero temperatures internationally.
from other forms of football including rugby union. Appears to have been influenced by rugby's own nickname of "rugger". See also kicking code.
Zealand and South Africa, or for something occuring there. Increasingly refers to Argentina as well. Many other rugby playing nations are in the
Southern Hemisphere, but are not usually referred to as such.
Pacific island nations play some form of rugby.
opposition player. It is highly dangerous and may lead to serious injury. Spear tackle
A spear tackle is a dangerous tackle in which a player is picked up by the tackler and turned so that they are upside down. The tackler then drops or drives the player into the ground often head,neck or shoulder first.
Spear tackles are particularly dangerous and have caused serious injury including spinal damage, dislocations and broken bones in the shoulder or neck. On rare occasion, even death can occur.
Spear tackles are taken very seriously by the various Union discipline committees and can result in lengthy playing bans.
1895.
conditions, particularly cold winters. Canadian and Russian rugby have often played split seasons, to allow the ground to thaw out.
team names, e.g. Stade Français
Flaminio]]
The Stellenbosch Laws were a set of experimental laws of rugby union considered by the International Rugby Board (IRB) from 2006 through 2008. The trials ended in late 2008, with the IRB choosing to adopt roughly half of the proposed changes.
jersey 2) Nasal strip
the turf when running, rucking or mauling etc. They are often checked before games for safety. Raking and stamping are two fouls which involve misuse of studs. Early studs were nailed onto the sole of the boot, but more recent ones tend to be screwed on, or moulded on.
able to assist a team mate. Effective support play is considered vital
to quickly take advantage of opportunities to make ground towards the opponents' end of the field or to score.
union for serious infringements.
[[File:Dragons vs Leinster welsh try Celtic League 9 may 2008.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Try and try line]]
A tackle takes place when one or more opposition players [tackler(s)] grasp onto the ball carrier and succeed in bringing him/her to ground and holding them there.
Once briefly held, the tackler(s) must release the tackled player who must then him/herself immediately release or attempt to pass the ball so
that play can continue.
ruck, or slip through a tackle.
free kicks to meet the regulation that requires the ball must be kicked a visible distance before a player may pass or run with it.
In a tap kick, the player momentarily releases the ball from his hands and taps it with his foot or lower leg and then quickly catches it again. The player will then generally try to run forward with the ball.
Despite its name, a tap tackle is a not actually a tackle as the ball carrier is brought to ground by a form of trip, is not actually held on the ground and may attempt to get up and continue to run. A tap tackle is used when a defending player is unable to get close enough to the ball carrier but is able to dive at the other player's feet and, with outstretched arm, deliver a tap or hook to the player's foot (or feet) causing the player to stumble. At speed, this will often be sufficient to bring the ball-carrier down, allowing a team-mate of the tackling player to retrieve the ball or provide sufficient delay for the defending team to organise a defence.
high level games, and internationals, the referee will often confer with TMOs on possible tries, fouls etc, which he could not see clearly. The TMOs use film footage from different angles to try and come up with a fair decision.
Ten Metre Law:
The Ten Metre Law is a form of offside which is designed to prevent injury to a defending player who attempts to catch a ball that has been kicked ahead by the attacking side.
In the normal Law of Offside in open play, it is possible for an offside
player to be put onside by actions of the opposing team. This ability
to be put onside by a member of the opposing team does not apply if the offside player was within 10 metres along the field of a defending player waiting to catch the ball and the offside player remains offside until either he/she retreats onside or is put onside by a member of their own team.
Malaysia.
union matches with full (Test) status are called Test matches.
position on the front row of the scrum. A tight head prop traditionally wears the number 3 shirt. He is named the tighthead since in the scrum he will have an opposition player bind to both his left and
right hand side, meaning his head is unexposed to the side of the scrum as opposed to the loosehead, whose left-hand side is exposed.
around its long axis, which is aligned with the direction the ball is travelling.
is the area outside and including the two touch-lines which define the
sides of the playing area. As the touch-lines are not part of the playing area they are part of touch.
touch-line and raises a flag if the ball (or player carrying it) goes into touch. Touch judges also stand behind the posts to confirm that a goal has been scored following a penalty kick or conversion of a try.
area.
of its make up, or by being specifically designed for tours e.g. British and Irish Lions
is well-established. Sometimes used inaccurately for countries such as Japan, the USA, or Germany, where rugby has been played since the 19th century, but which are not in the top rung.
the other team offguard. Famous trick plays include the dummy kick, scissors, dummy pass etc
South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
using the foot, or attempting to do so. This is in distinction to a tackle, ruck or maul.
"Truck and trailer" occurs when a player carrying the ball leaves a maul, along with one or more of his teammates. Once the ball carrier leaves the maul, the maul is over, and if the ball carrier's teammates are in front of the ball carrier and prevent defending players from making a tackle, the defending team will be awarded a scrum. If the incident of truck and trailer is judged to be deliberate or the latest in a series of similar infringements, a penalty may be awarded instead.
pressure. It is the primary method of scoring. A try is worth five points. It is scored when a player places the ball on the ground with downward pressure in the in-goal area between (and including) the goal-line and up to but not including dead ball line of the opposition's
half. (As the goal posts and post protectors are also part of the
goal-line, touching the ball down against the base of these is also a
try.)
There is no such thing as an "own try". If you touch the ball down in your own in-goal area, it results in a twenty-two metre drop out or a five metre scrum.
across the entire width of the pitch passing directly through the goal
posts which defines the boundary between the "field of play" and the "in-goal". As the goal line is defined as part of the "in-goal", attacking players can score tries by placing the ball with downward pressure onto the goal line itself. The base of the goal posts and post
protectors are also defined to be part of the goal line. 2) The goal line
is often referred to as the "try line" though that term does not appear in the Laws of the Game.
When a scrum is formed, the gap between the legs of the three players from each team who form the 'front row' is called the 'tunnel'.
When a team concedes possession of the ball, particularly at the breakdown, they are said to have turned the ball over to the other team.
This can happen due to defending players stealing the ball from an
isolated attacker, counter rucking, a knock on, an intercepted pass or the ball not emerging from a maul (wherein the referee awards the scrum feed to opposing team).
reduced to fifteen, often seen as XX.
A drop kick is taken from behind the 22m line if a team touches down
in its own in-goal area but did not carry the ball over the try line,
or if the ball is kicked over the dead ball line from any other play other than the kick-off.
The ball only needs to cross the line, but if it goes directly into touch a scrum is awarded to the receiving team at the centre-point of the 22m line.
positions.
positions.
people from the South Seas or Polynesian region before a match. The haka is the best known, but there are others such as the Samoan siva tau, Tongan sipi tau, the meke and Fijian cibi.
In domestic matches, yellow cards are commonly used in exactly the same manner as in International matches but this is not required by regulation, so a referee may order the temporary suspension of a player without showing a yellow card.
guide]
union laws & equipment guide]
* Category:Rugby union-related lists Rugby union terms
player.
is tackled in possession of the ball. Short for "holding the ball".
[17]
torpedo punt which travels over 70 metres.[18]
the opposite direction to the usual. See checkside. [19]
then runs in the other direction to evade a defender.
shoulder. See hip-and-shoulder.
disposed of the ball legally by either hand or foot. [20]
determined by their win-loss ratio and percentage.
playing close to an opposition forward. See zone-off.
another player (either by a teammate or by the opposition), before it has touched the ground, or been touched by any other player, and after it has travelled a minimum of 15 metres. [17]
half-foward to half-back down the centre, and out to the wings and flanks. [21]
over an opposition player. 2) a description of a kicking style that results in long kicks.
as the result of a turnover in the defensive end of the ground.
early point in the contest.
in play.
hits the ground and before it hits it again; a half-volley kick. A drop kick is one of the types of kick which can score a field goal.
sidelines.
by place- or drop-kicking the ball through the opponent's goal other than via a kickoff or free kick following a safety; formerly, "goal from
the field". A missed field goal can be returned as a punt, if recovered in-bounds by the defending team. In some leagues, four-point field
goals can be scored under special circumstances.
the ball in play as a kickoff or following a safety (the score; "safety touch" in Canadian football) or fair catch.
Canadian football the term includes muffs.
upright posts 18 feet 6 inches apart extending above a horizontal crossbar whose top edge is 10 feet off the ground. The goal is the surface above the bar and between the lines of the inner edges of the posts, extending infinitely upward, centered above each end line in American, and each goal line in Canadian football.
zone]]. parallel lines. See also Gridiron football
communicate instructions for the upcoming play.
caught.
opposing player.
noun, such an action producing a punt, place kick, or drop kick
kick offs).
following a try or drop goal. The kickoff may be a place kick, or a drop kick.
football#B|backward pass]]
kicked ball.
placed stationary on the ground or, where legal, on a tee.
ultimately resulting in either a score, a turn-over, or the end of the half. (b) physical control of the ball after a pass or fumble.
before it reaches the ground. Used to give up the ball to the
opposition after offensive downs have been used, as far down the field as possible.
intentionally kicked low to the ground, typically bouncing on the ground
a few times before being picked up.
by pushing them away with a straight arm.
ILG-2004-p22
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).ILG-2004-p9
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page).afl_rules
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).rules1
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).fox_sports1
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Encyclopedia Canadiana ISBN 0 7172 1601 2 p111
== Philotus was revived in 2008, by Commedia della Scozia in Edinburgh. It was performed in Edinburgh University’s New College as part of the 12th Medieval and Renaissance Scottish Language and Literature Conference in July and played in the Queen’s Hall as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.