Rugby Union
According to legend, rugby originated when a student at England’s Rugby School picked up the ball during a soccer game and began running with it. In doing so, William Webb Ellis created a sport that combines speed and skill with strength and toughness. Its fast-paced and ferocious nature has made it popular around the world, and the last three world champions have come from three different continents. This Web guide includes Web sites that can teach you the rules, history, and skills required to play the game and help you follow the world of competitive rugby.
Rugby began with one player playing by his own rules. Today, the international rulebook has almost ... read more »
Rugby competitions take many different forms, including amateur contests, international ... read more »
With competitions being played regularly in both hemispheres, you need to find sources from around ... read more »
If you’re looking to see how your favorite teams or players are doing this season or have ... read more »
Whether you’re a hooker looking to improve your scrummaging or a fly-half looking to improve your kicking, the Web can help. It can also serve as a resource for coaches in teaching technique and devising game plans.
- To find rugby teams to join, visit your national governing body’s official Web site. For advice on how to find these sites, see the “Rugby Associations, Tournaments, Leagues, and Teams” section of this Web guide.
- Many principles and techniques for coaching and practicing are applicable to several sports. For more sites that can help you play or coach better in general, see the findingDulcinea Sports Web Guide.
For players …
Rugby For Beginners
will help you learn basic skills and principles. The “Basics” section uses text and pictures, while the “Defence” section uses two videos to show you how to tackle. If you need anything clarified, there is an “Ask The Expert” section that will answer any question you have.
BBC Sport
has video tips from professional players on topics like passing, catching, kicking, and tackling. The videos can be slow to load, but they are very helpful.
For coaches …
RugbyTactics.com
has a coaching section featuring animated drills and in-game moves. The animation makes the information easy to understand and use in real-life situations, but the explanatory descriptions could use more detail.
Grassroots Rugby
focuses on how to prepare your team, from coaching philosophy to training to in-game strategy. It is a text-heavy site with no illustrations, and it does not include specific drills. It instead concentrates on the philosophy behind coaching and what coaches should look for in their team.
CoachingRugby.com
is a subscription service from Sportplan.net offering more than 200 animations and videos, plus articles with technical analysis. It also has a computer program that allows coaches to design their own drills and practices. For more information on what the subscription (which costs £50) includes, see the
Sportplan Web site. There is some free content, including tips from professional players.
Rugby may be famous for its relative lack of equipment, but there is still a lot needed to play. ... read more »
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