This thread is to discuss the playing and training of Rugby, specifically for me rugby union. For discussion on professional rugby, check out the Sports & Games forum! First let's get you excited! This is a pre-game war dance one of the perennial top teams in the world, new zealand.
What is rugby? Rugby is a mix of elements from every sport resulting in a test of conditioning, toughness, agility, coordination, strategy, strength, and willpower as 15 people from each team go to do what cracked.com describes as: "a game where large men run at each other and then stomp on each other with spiked boots for 80 minutes."
The closest description outside of that is a game where people run the ball and tackle each other like football(minus the protective gear, forward passing, and blocking), but with the teamwork and non-stop play of soccer. The ball can only be advanced by running with it in hand or by kicking it forward. A quick description of the rules can me found in this video: + Show Spoiler +
The Scoring -A "Try" is scored when a player crosses into the opponents try-zone and places the ball with control in a downwards motion in the try-zone. This is worth 5 points. -Tries are followed by conversions which is a kick from the ground through the upright goal posts. This kick is taken in-line with where ever the ball was placed down for the try, i.e. if you score by the sideline, you kick by the sideline. This ball is placed at a depth of the kickers choosing, usually farther back the farther away from center the ball was scored -Penalty Kick - When the other team commits certain penalties they are given the option to take a kick off the ground from the spot of the infraction. If it goes through the uprights it is worth 3 points. -Drop-kick - Anywhere on the field at anytime the player may opt to drop the ball, let it hit the ground, then kick it through the uprights. This is worth 3 points.
Play restarts
Line-Out When the ball travels out of bounds, the game is restarted with a throw-in called a line out, formed by the two lines of men waiting to receive the ball. Players are allowed to lift their own players into the air in order to receive the ball or try to steal it
Scrum When an infraction has occured sometimes it is restarted with a scrum. This is where the 8 forwards from each team bind together and against the other team in contest for a ball rolled in the middle
Penalty When other infractions occur, the team is awarded a penalty instead of a scrum. The other team must back up 10 yards before they can come up and make a tackle. The team with the penalty may elect to kick it out of bounds and receive a line out in their favor where it goes out, kick for points from the spot of the infraction, or just run a play while the other team is back 10 yards.
So what happens after a tackle? A player has a few options offensively when he is tackled to continue the play since it does not stop like in American football. A player is allowed one movement with the ball after he is tackled then must let go of it. Off-load The player may choose to use this movement to make a pass, which produces some of the best and exciting plays in rugby with great continuity Ruck One of the most important aspects of rugby is rucking to keep possession of the ball. After a player goes down, most often the other team will ruck over, which is when your teammate comes in from behind you to drive away the tackler and protect the ball by standing over it. The back of the ruck is the new line of scrimmage. The other team can fight this by counter-rucking which is when you drive the other team off the ball. This can only be done from straight behind the tackle, not from the side Maul Another option when you are tackled is to stay on your feet, wrapped up, while your team rallies behind you to push/drive you down the field against your tackler. Same rules on where you can come in to stop a maul as in a ruck. The back of the maul also considered an offsides line
That covers the basics, let's see something awesome! Some great up-close offense
Some crushing hits and last ditch tackles
That's all I have for now, if anyone has anything else they'd like me to add to the OP let me know.
Could you talk about recommended gear/stuff that is highly beneficial to do (stretching, lifting) when you are interested in playing rugby? I tried practice three times but it seems impossible to lift properly the next day, there is always something feeling 90%. How do you deal with this?
On November 10 2011 05:35 NeedsmoreCELLTECH wrote: Could you talk about recommended gear/stuff that is highly beneficial to do (stretching, lifting) when you are interested in playing rugby? I tried practice three times but it seems impossible to lift properly the next day, there is always something feeling 90%. How do you deal with this?
Every team i've been with does stretching as part of practice. The only time i take lifting off during rugby season is the day before and after games. Sure you'll be sore but i like to keep my strength levels up in-season. You deal with it by saying PAIN DON'T HURT and keep lifting running and hitting like a boss.
Only gear you need is cleats and maybe a mouthgaurd (stopped using mine a few seasons ago, but i don't recommend this)
On November 10 2011 06:49 decafchicken wrote: Only gear you need is cleats and maybe a mouthgaurd (stopped using mine a few seasons ago, but i don't recommend this)
Unless you're a lock (like me); then you're going to be sorry if you don't tape your ears (or wear a scrum cap I guess).
On November 10 2011 06:49 decafchicken wrote: Only gear you need is cleats and maybe a mouthgaurd (stopped using mine a few seasons ago, but i don't recommend this)
Unless you're a lock (like me); then you're going to be sorry if you don't tape your ears (or wear a scrum cap I guess).
haha very true. Don't have to worry about that out in the backline :D
Missing the last week of my season with the fucking flu. I thought I was over it, because all my symptoms were basically gone. Went HARD in the gym and at practice from saturday -> tuesday as well as drinking a boatload on saturday (drinkup + sorority formal + afterparty) and it seems that I have shot myself in the foot.
Hopefully I'll be well enough to make it to the game on saturday (i'm not doing anything besides going to class, forcing healthy food into myself, taking my vitamin D and sleeping.) but I certainly won't play after missing all but two days of practice this week, against the best team in the division. Oh well - now that it's the off season (alumni game is all that's left) it's time to get back to the regular gym schedule, a dedicated strength program, and put some SERIOUS pounds on my squat and deadlift. I don't have much time to catch up with the other forwards on the team, so it's time to put in some WORK.
As far as the strength program, I think I have all of that down... but does anyone have any tips for power/plyometric work? I really want to work on my speed coming out of a scrum (as openside flanker) on my change of direction, and on my power into a tackle. Next time I have a free day off, I'll go into the gym and try some things out, but if anyone has tips, or things that have helped them then feel free to share! (yeah, decaf, I know - oly lifting.)
I really really want to get in to rugby, but I come from a huge football background. I'm confused on the tackles I watch in those highlight videos. Is there a reason everyone hits really high? Are there rules to tackling?\
On November 10 2011 10:36 emjaytron wrote: I originally thought people were joking when they said there was an injury in rugby called cauliflower ears
yup, this happens a lot in wrestling as well, I'd assume it is prevalent in any sport involving grappling.
On November 11 2011 10:29 Hurricane wrote: I really really want to get in to rugby, but I come from a huge football background. I'm confused on the tackles I watch in those highlight videos. Is there a reason everyone hits really high? Are there rules to tackling?\
On November 10 2011 10:36 emjaytron wrote: I originally thought people were joking when they said there was an injury in rugby called cauliflower ears
yup, this happens a lot in wrestling as well, I'd assume it is prevalent in any sport involving grappling.
Oddly enough cauliflour ear is caused by your own team mates more than anything - with the exception of an ear getting stomped on during a ruck, it's mostly an issue for the second rowers, who spend much of the game with their heads wedged in between their team mate's lower thighs. Quite the friction problem there.
Tackles are actually supposed to be made between the top of the stomach and just above the knee - a little lower than you would typically see them in football. It's the most effective point to hit and stop the runner, and it gives the least risk of injury for both the person being tackled and the one doing the tackling. The reason you see the high hits in the highlight videos is that a normal (legal) tackle doesn't give you that same "oooooooh!" moment from the viewers as the high hits do.
Just for reference, the ideal tackle in football is shoulder just above the hips and wrapping the legs with your arms, so I guess it's the same thing with nfl highlights where the "good" tackles don't get shown, just the ones that make you go "awwwwwwwww shit".
I played for 3 years in high school and enjoyed it way more than any of the other sports I played growing up. Regret not playing in college now that I'm graduating but I just assumed everyone that played in college were like the 1 or 2 giant genetic freaks each team had in high school so I never went out for the team out of fear of getting crushed. Anyone play any college rugby and how was it?
Going to play this year as a senior in high school. Haven't played since freshman year, and wasn't very good, still learning the rules and all. Hopefully it'll be fun.
On November 11 2011 12:58 saltydeeds wrote: I played for 3 years in high school and enjoyed it way more than any of the other sports I played growing up. Regret not playing in college now that I'm graduating but I just assumed everyone that played in college were like the 1 or 2 giant genetic freaks each team had in high school so I never went out for the team out of fear of getting crushed. Anyone play any college rugby and how was it?
I feel like this is a huge misconception about college rugby. Anyone can play! Our starting scrum half is all of 150 pounds. and theres a couple other kids around that weight too. Just takes some hard work a bit of athleticism.
On November 11 2011 13:05 Dalguno wrote: Going to play this year as a senior in high school. Haven't played since freshman year, and wasn't very good, still learning the rules and all. Hopefully it'll be fun.
On November 11 2011 12:58 saltydeeds wrote: I played for 3 years in high school and enjoyed it way more than any of the other sports I played growing up. Regret not playing in college now that I'm graduating but I just assumed everyone that played in college were like the 1 or 2 giant genetic freaks each team had in high school so I never went out for the team out of fear of getting crushed. Anyone play any college rugby and how was it?
I feel like this is a huge misconception about college rugby. Anyone can play! Our starting scrum half is all of 150 pounds. and theres a couple other kids around that weight too. Just takes some hard work a bit of athleticism.
Agreed. I'm definitely still underweight for my height (180/6'3) and none of my tackling issues are because of my size; it's all in your head, and if you want to play and are willing to work hard, anyone is welcome on a pitch. I suggest you try it out!
We're in the middle of alumni weekend right now - I don't think anyone on the team has been sober since roughly wednesday when the alumni started showing up. Played against the old timers, (40+ alumni as well as our coaches) today, and I'm surprised how athletic some of these guys remain. It's encouraging to see that people can play such a demanding sport for many years. They couldn't go a full fourty minutes - but there were enough of them to keep subbing in that it wasn't an issue.
@decaf, one of our recent alumni tells me he plays for the ann arbor mens team, and is an assistant coach for the college team. Small world, huh?
On November 11 2011 12:58 saltydeeds wrote: I played for 3 years in high school and enjoyed it way more than any of the other sports I played growing up. Regret not playing in college now that I'm graduating but I just assumed everyone that played in college were like the 1 or 2 giant genetic freaks each team had in high school so I never went out for the team out of fear of getting crushed. Anyone play any college rugby and how was it?
I feel like this is a huge misconception about college rugby. Anyone can play! Our starting scrum half is all of 150 pounds. and theres a couple other kids around that weight too. Just takes some hard work a bit of athleticism.
Agreed. I'm definitely still underweight for my height (180/6'3) and none of my tackling issues are because of my size; it's all in your head, and if you want to play and are willing to work hard, anyone is welcome on a pitch. I suggest you try it out!
We're in the middle of alumni weekend right now - I don't think anyone on the team has been sober since roughly wednesday when the alumni started showing up. Played against the old timers, (40+ alumni as well as our coaches) today, and I'm surprised how athletic some of these guys remain. It's encouraging to see that people can play such a demanding sport for many years. They couldn't go a full fourty minutes - but there were enough of them to keep subbing in that it wasn't an issue.
@decaf, one of our recent alumni tells me he plays for the ann arbor mens team, and is an assistant coach for the college team. Small world, huh?
Haha ann arbors mens team isn't much to talk about, but i know a lot of kids on UofM's college team including their captain/president.
Alumni games are always a good time, usually total bullshit but those old guys are crafty and dirty as fuck :p I'm about to get ready for out banquet this year (hands down my favorite night of the year) so hopefully i bring back some awards! (cough leading scorer cough)
EPT
