Introduction Rugby, also known as Rugger, is a football game played with an oval ball by two teams of either 15(Rugby Union) or 13(Rugby League) players each. The object of the game is to score as many points as possible by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding an oval ball in the scoring zone at the far end of the field -- called the in-goal area. Grounding the ball, which must be done with downward pressure, results in a try (worth 5 points). After a try a conversion may be attempted by place kick or drop kick. If the ball passes over the bar and between the goal posts the conversion is successful and results in a further 2 points. Points may also be scored from a drop kick in general play (worth 3 points) and a penalty kick (worth 3 points).

The ball may not be passed forward (though it may be kicked forward) and players may not receive the ball in an offside position, nor may they wait in such a position. Players may not be tackled without the ball. Play only stops when a try is scored, or the ball goes out of play, or an infringement occurs. When the ball goes out it is thrown back in at a line-out where the opposing "forwards" line up and jump for the ball. Infringements result in a penalty, or free kick, or scrum. In a scrum the opposing forwards bind together in a unit and push against the other forwards, trying to win the ball with their feet.

The above is stating the basic game of today but when rugby originated back in the later part of the 19 century then the idea of the game was distinctly different to its modern form

History Whether in legend or in fact, rugby is said to have originated in 1823 at the Rugby School in England. To this day, a stone marker at the gates of the school commemorates the event when "William Webb Ellis ... with fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it." Ellis and the rest of the world never looked back.

The new sport grew in private schools and universities throughout the United Kingdom, and in 1871 the first Rugby Union was founded in London. Rules for the game were set out based on the game first played at Rugby School in 1823. Similar unions were organised during the next few years in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Canada, South Africa, and the U.S. Among the Union's chief activities are conferences, organising international matches, and educating and training players and officials.

Soon the professional version of the game came along. The governing body of Rugby League football (professional rugby) in England, founded in 1895. Originally called the Northern Rugby Football Union (popularly Northern Union), it was formed when 22 clubs from Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire left the Rugby Football Union over the question of compensation for loss of wages sustained by players while participating in games. Later, league play spread to Australia, New Zealand, France, and other countries. The present name was adopted in 1922.This led to the formation of a Rugby League, which introduced a 13-player game with modified rules for professionals.

So from this time forward, there was a separation of the Rugby Union (amateur), and the Rugby League (professional). The rules vary slightly, but both are played on similar pitches.

Scoring Over the years the scoring system has changed considerably. There are four ways, which points can be obtained these are by following: