Rugby union

Rugby union is a team game, normally played by 15 players on each side, on a grass pitch, with an oval ball. Points are scored by a "try" - touching the ball to ground after crossing the opponent's touchline. A try is worth 5 points, and another two may be added if the try is converted - a conversion means kicking the ball from ground between two vertical posts at the mid-point of the touchline, and above the cross bar that connects them, from a kicking position in line with the point at which the ball was touched down for a try. There are two other ways of scoring points - a penalty goal worth three points is scored when such a kick is made successfully fro the place at which an offense has been committed resulting in the referee awarding a kick at goal as penalty. A drop-goal can also be scored at any time - in this case the ball must be dropped from hand to ground immediately before it is kicked over the crossbar.

Rugby union is an aggressive contact sport, played without any physical protestion for the players. Teams are a mixture of strong, heavy forwards and lighter fast-running backs, and the ball is moved downfield by either running with the ball in hand or by regaining the ball after a kick ahead; the ball may not be passed forward from hand, bau can be passed back. In rugby union, "earning the right to go wide" generally means keeping possession with the heavier forwards through successive phases of play, taking the ball progressively downfield towards the opposing touchline. This tactic "wraps up" the opposition in defence in the centre of the field, and needs solid, hard "grunt" work - aggressive running by the forwards in short bursts. When tackled, usually by other forwards, the player in possession must recycle the ball quickly, either by a short pass out of the tackle to another player - usually another forward, or by ensuring that his team regains possession after a tackle by placing the ball behind his body as he is tackled so that his teammates can win the ball back from the ensuing ruck. Each forward in turn will try to 'break the gain line' before being tackled, so moving the ball slowly downfield. To counter this, the defense must tackle aggressively - trying to loosen the ball in the tackle, and to push the forward back in the tackle so that he falls behind the ball; this is physically exhausting, and draws defenders into the 'breakdown'. The breakdown is the phase of play when the ball falls to ground after a tackle; the defenders will seek to ensure that, by outnumbering the offense at the breakdown, they have a chance of 'turning over possession'.

While the forwards steadily gain ground, the half-backs, who direct the overall team tactics, patiently wait for gaps to appear in the defensive line as defenders are drawn out of position. When an opportunity arises, the half-backs will pass the ball quickly out to the fast-running backs who can, if they are fast and skillful enough, exploit them. In rugny union, the ball cannot be passed forward, so moving the ball to the backs means a loss of territory that must be regained by running in space.

Play stops when the ball leaves the field of play across a sideline, and is restarted by a "line-out". In this set piece, the ball is thrown in from the touchline between two opposing lines of players who jump for the ball (with assistance from their team mates. The side "throwing in" has a clear advantage, and the throw in is given against the side that was in possession when the ball crossed the sideline.

Play also stops when a minor offense has been committed - usually when the ball is knocked forward unintentionally. Then play is re-started with a scrum, when the forwards of each team link arms and crouch down to push against each other while the ball is introduced beween them. Again the side introducing the ball into a scrum has the advantage, and this is given to the side that was not responsible for the stoppage.

International competition

In the Southern Hemisphere, the major rugby-playing nations are New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina, and (Tonga, Fiji and Western Samoa also have national teams). In the Northern hemisphere, the main rugby nations are France, England, Italy, Wales, Ireland and Scotland (the six nations); rugby is also popular in Japan and Canada.

South Africa are the current world champions - holders of the Rugby World Cup, which is competed for in a tournament held every four years. South Africa beat Argentina in the 2007 final.