Rugby Union: An Introduction
Rugby is one of the most popular sports in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It perfectly blends physical strength and skill with tactical nous. This is also a historic sport with a rich history. There are several iterations of the sport, all with their own rules and history. Here, we will be focusing on Rugby Union.
World Rugby is the sport’s governing body with 133 members across multiple tiers. The sport’s most prestigious international event is the Rugby World Cup. Meanwhile, there are many clubs and international competitions across the planet. Let’s dive into the history of rugby.
The Early History of Rugby
Rugby’s legendary origin goes back to 1823. William Webb Ellis was playing football with his friends at a school in the town of Rugby, England. Then, he inexplicably decided to pick up the ball and run the field. The story is nice but its legitimacy is questioned with little evidence to support it. However, his legacy continues because teams compete for the Webb Ellis Cup in the World Cup.
The reality was that there was no difference between rugby and football until 1863. That’s when the Football Association banned players from picking up the ball and running with it in hand. Later that year, schools and institutions that favoured carrying the ball codified a set of rules. This was closer to rugby as we know it. Then in 1871, the Rugby Football Union became the first official governing body for the sport.
There was still time for another split. In 1895, many teams broke away from the Rugby Union because of class divides and economic inequality. They formed Rugby League which traditionally was a more working-class game. That’s also why many people associate rugby union with private education.
Rugby became extremely popular across Great Britain and Ireland. The first international game saw the English beat Scotland in 1871. In 1888, the world saw the first international tours, with the British teams playing around Australia and New Zealand. In 1886, the original version of World Rugby formed and became a global governing body.
They standardised many rules including the length of a rugby game and the introduction of the oval ball in 1892. However, the scoring system has changed several times over the years. Tries are the most iconic rugby score, but their value began as only a single point. Between 1971 and 1991 they were worth four points before finally becoming five points in 1992.
Conversions, penalties, and dropped goals have maintained their values since 1948. However, the sport no longer uses the ‘Goal From Mark.’ This was where a player caught the ball before shouting ‘mark’. Opposition stars couldn’t tackle him and he had a free shot at goal. The sport removed this in 1977.
The Summer Olympics included rugby union four times between 1900 and 1926. This was the sport’s first international tournament. In 1905, the world witnessed the Haka for the first time with New Zealand performing it on their famous tour. The ceremonial Māori dances are still performed by the All Blacks nearly 120 years later.
How Many Players on a Rugby Union Team?
Since 1877, rugby union teams have had 15 players on each side. Before this, as many as 20 men faced off on football fields. In short, there are two sections to a rugby team with positions comprised of backs and forwards.
Unlike in soccer, the backs are the most attacking players. They include wingers, fly-halves, and scrum-halves. The fly-half operates a similar conductorial role to a quarterback in American Football. Typically, they are the most famous and highest-earning players.
The forwards are the most physically dominant and imposing players. They try to make space for the backs and use their power to force opponents back into their half. Hookers, props, and locks are all examples of forwards.
The Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is rugby union’s most prestigious event. The first installment was in 1987 with 16 teams competing for glory. Now the tournament features 24 of the top nations from across the globe. This competition occurs every four years.
Only four countries have won the Rugby World Cup. South Africa is the most successful side with four victories. New Zealand is a three-time winner. Australia has won the tournament twice while England has a single victory.
Eight European teams qualify for the event with five from Oceania. There are also spots for two African nations, three from the Americas, and one Asian country. Japan and Argentina are the two most successful teams from the latter two regions.
The Japanese became the first country from outside the Six Nations or SANZAAR bodies to host a World Cup when they held the event in 2019. Pacific nations including Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga have a strong record in qualifying for the World Cup.
Ireland has reached the quarterfinals eight times but never passed this stage. Scotland reached the semifinals for the only time in 1991 while Wales achieved this in 1987. France is arguably the strongest team that hasn’t won the Webb Ellis Cup with three second-place finishes.
The Six Nations
The Six Nations is Europe’s preeminent international rugby union competition. It began as the Home Nations Championship but expanded multiple times to include France and finally Italy. This is an annual event and one of rugby’s most popular events.
England and Wales are the tournament’s most successful teams with 39 titles each. Every team plays each other once with multiple points available depending on the result. If a team scores four or more tries in a match they get a bonus point.
The Six Nations is also noteworthy for several traditional trophies and awards. The most successful team receives the Championship Trophy. If one team beats all of their opponents they win the ‘Grand Slam.’ England achieved this 13 times while Ireland has four Grand Slam titles.
Teams also compete for seven individual trophies within the tournament based on individual rivalries. For example, England and Scotland contest the Calcutta Cup while France and Italy play for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy.
Ireland has won Six Nations titles. Andy Farrell’s team are the favourites to win the tournament in 2025. Ireland is worth 11/10 in the Rugby Union betting markets to lift the Championship Trophy next year following their triumph in 2024.
Italy and Scotland are the only two teams who haven’t won the Six Nations in its current edition. Meanwhile, Europe’s strongest Tier-Two nations including Georgia and Romania continue pushing for inclusion in the event.
The Rugby Championship
The Rugby Championship is the Southern Hemisphere equivalent of the Six Nations. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina contest this tournament every year. It began as the Tri-Nations Series until the Pumas joined in 2011.
The All-Blacks are the most successful Rugby Championship side with 20 titles. Argentina has never won the competition while Australia and South Africa have four titles. Similarly to the Six Nations, individual team rivalries also have trophies. The New Zealand and Australia compete for the Bledisloe Cup.
International Rugby Union Tests and Tours
A rugby union test is a match against another nation outside of an international tournament. It’s comparable to a soccer-friendly in the sense that teams may choose their opponents. However, unlike in soccer, rugby unions take the results very seriously.
Teams often play tests as a part of a series of two to three games. An example was Ireland’s tour of South Africa in 2024. Tests allow teams to try new tactics and give up-and-coming players a chance when there’s no trophy on the line. However, there’s prestige in winning a series and it also affects a team’s global ranking.
The British and Irish Lions is a combined team of players from the Home Nations and Ireland. They play every four years and tour one of Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa in rotation. Players from the four nations consider it a great honour to earn a Lions’ selection.
The Lions wear red jerseys and white shorts. Their crest is an amalgamation of the four countries’ badges. A panel also selects the Lions head coach. Usually, it’s the most successful of the four nation’s team coaches of the moment. Ian McGeechan coached four separate Lions tours while Warren Gatland led three.
Club Rugby Union
Rugby Union also has many club competitions with league and cup formats. England and France have separate domestic tournaments with the Premiership and Top-14. Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa all have teams in the United Rugby Championship.
The European Rugby Champions Cup is the most prestigious top-tier competition on the continent. Teams qualify for this from how they place in the leagues above. Toulouse is the tournament’s most successful side with six victories. Ireland’s Leinster has four titles.
Super Rugby is the main competition in the Southern Hemisphere. Teams from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and the Pacific Islands qualify for this event. The Crusaders hold 12 titles with New Zealand dominating the tournament.
It’s often a requirement for international stars to play for domestic clubs to qualify for their countries. For example, the best Irish internationals must play for one of the four provinces if they want to represent their nation. This ensures that club teams can stay competitive. Rare exceptions can be made like when Jonny Sexton went to Racing Metro in France.
Japanese Rugby is an interesting case because it’s one of the world’s most lucrative leagues. Some of the globe’s highest-paid rugby stars currently play there. Many players from the Pacific region join Japan Rugby League One teams because of the financial rewards and stability.
