There are 15 players on the pitch; 8 forwards and 7 backs. The number on the back of your jersey indicates your position.

1. Tight head prop
2. Hooker
3. Loose head prop
4. Second row
5. Second row
6. Blind side flanker
7. Open side flanker
8. Number 8
9. Scrum-Half
10. Fly-Half
11. Left Wing
12. Inside Center
13. Outside Center
14. Right Wing
15. Full Back

MOVE FORWARD PASS BACK

In order to make your way down the field, the ball must be passed either sideways or backwards. The ball can only move forward if kicked or carried by a player.

NO PADS?!

Unlike American football, rugby players do not wear pads. This actually makes the game safer as it encourages proper tackle technique with arms and shoulders and not heads. Any contact to the head will be penalized with either a penalty, yellow or red card.

HOW TO SCORE POINTS

Players score by either physically touching the ball down in the “Try zone”, or scoring a penalty kick off of the other team’s infringement.

TRY

The main objective of the game; to touch the ball down in the opponent’s end-zone (Try-zone) area for a score worth 5 points. The ball must be touched down to the ground under control for the score to count!

CONVERSION

After scoring a try, a team will kick for an additional 2-points from the line that the try was touched down.

SCRUM 

Used to restart play after a technical infringement. All 8 forwards join to compete for the ball.

LINEOUT

Used to restart play after the ball goes out of bounds. Forwards assemble in a straight line across from each other, where one team’s Hooker throws the ball down the middle. Each team uses various formations to lift players and compete for the ball.

KNOCK-ON

An infringement when a player loses, drops, or knocks the ball forward from their hands, resulting in a scrum to the other team.