In This Guide
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.
Expand All Guide SectionsRules and History of Rugby
Rugby began with one player playing by his own rules. Today, the international rulebook has almost 150 pages that dictate even the most minute detail. This section will show you the beginnings of the game and what it has become today.
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- This is a guide to rugby union, the most popular form of rugby. The second most popular form is rugby league, which was formed after an 1895 split of England's Rugby Football Union. BBC Sport has an excellent guide to the rules of rugby league.
- This section gives you the basic rules of rugby, along with the official International Rugby Board rulebook. For the official rulebooks of other leagues and competitions, see the official Web sites listed in the “Rugby Associations, Tournaments, Leagues and Teams” section of this Web guide.
- There is another popular form of rugby known as rugby sevens, which is a simpler version of the rugby union played with seven players on each side. The official IRB Web site has a sevens rulebook in PDF format and information on the Sevens World Series.
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For rules …
BBC Sport
has a comprehensive guide to the laws, terms, scoring, equipment, and positions of rugby union. The explanation to laws includes illustrations and video. The positions guide features articles written by players themselves, who give firsthand accounts on how to play each position. For more knowledgeable rugby fans, there is a section in which professional referees answer questions, clarifying the game’s laws and interpretations.
The International Rugby Board
has the official rulebook for international rugby in PDF form. Additionally, there are rulebooks for under-19 rugby and rugby sevens, as well as a book of referee signals.
Scrum.com
has a rugby dictionary, featuring short definitions of rugby idioms, terms, and competitions.
For history …
Rugbyfootballhistory.com
covers the history of rugby in Britain, including the William Webb Ellis story, the RFU split, and the role of rugby during World War II. Additionally, it tells the history of prominent international competitions and of Tri Nations squads. A particularly useful resource is the Club History Links, which links to the history pages of club Web sites.
WesClark.com
has a collection of historical documents, including newspaper articles, book selections, photographs, and cartoons. There is little organization or overriding theme, but these interesting bits from rugby’s history will entertain and enlighten any rugby enthusiast. There are several links to other sites included, the best of which are Pete Shortell’s examination of the William Webb Ellis myth and copy of the 1871 Laws, and Rugby-Pioneers.com, a blog about historical photographs.
Colonial Rugby
features a collection of articles by Australian author Sean Fagan, covering rugby’s early history in Australia and abroad.
Rugby Associations, Tournaments, Leagues, and Teams
Rugby competitions take many different forms, including amateur contests, international tournaments, professional club leagues, and exhibition tests. Learn about all of them using the official Web sites of rugby’s most significant organizations and competitions.
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- There is a Six Nations Championship-type tournament for Southern Hemisphere countries, known as the Tri Nations. Though this annual tournament is very significant, it does not have an official Web site. For information, see the official sites of the New Zealand All Blacks, Australia Wallabies, and South Africa Springboks, or the relevant sites listed in the “News and Analysis of Rugby” and “Rugby Statistics” sections of this Web guide.
- For less prominent organizations and leagues that are not listed here, visit the IRB site below and use the “Pick Your Union” tab in the upper right-hand corner. It will direct you to official Web sites of national governing bodies, which will have information on the competitions within that country. Keep in mind that not all of these sites will be in English.
- League, team, and tournament sites are a good source for buying tickets.
- We’ve included the official site of USA Rugby below. This Web site is typical of national governing body sites; to find the governing body sites for other countries, use the “Pick Your Union” tab on the International Rugby Board (IRB) Web site.
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For governing bodies …
The International Rugby Board
governs international rugby and the Rugby World Cup, and it works to spread the sport through development programs and funding to small nations. The site helps you follow international rugby with news, history, rankings, and tournament information. There are also resources for coaches and referees, including the official laws and regulations. The IRB is made up of 96 full member nations and 19 associate members, and information and links to each union member can be found in the drop-down menu in the upper right-hand corner.
USA Rugby
is the governing body of American rugby, including amateur and collegiate competitions, the Super League, and the men’s and women’s national teams. It will assist you in finding a club or starting a team at your college. You can also follow what is going on at the top levels of American rugby in the news section.
For international tournaments …
The Rugby World Cup
is the premier competition in international rugby. For a subscription of $24.99, you can relive all the action of the 2007 RWC with video of every game or watch classic matches and all-time highlights. There is also plenty of free nonvideo content, including game recaps, stats, and RWC history. The next RWC is in 2011 in New Zealand, and this site will begin focusing on that event as it draws closer.
The Six Nations Championship
is contested yearly between the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. You can follow the tournament with news, rosters, standings, box scores, and video highlights of every game. You can also find the rules and history of the competition.
For club leagues …
The European Rugby Cup
is a yearly competition featuring the top club teams from Six Nations countries. It is also known as the Heineken Cup. Follow the action through live audio broadcasts in addition to reading news, standings, and fixture results. Team profiles feature rosters, statistics, and links to official team Web sites. There is a link on the left-hand side to the European Challenge Cup, which features teams that didn’t qualify for the Heineken Cup (including teams from Romania, Portugal, and Spain).
The Guinness Premiership
is a 12-team professional league and the top level of English rugby. The top teams qualify for the Heineken Cup, while the bottom teams are relegated to National Division One. You can find all the basic league information here, plus team profiles with links to club sites. Choose a team from the Clubs section and then click on “Club Info” to find the link.
The Magners League
is a professional league featuring 10 clubs from Ireland (both the Republic and Northern Ireland), Scotland, and Wales. Like the Guinness Premiership, the top teams play in the Heineken Cup, but there is no system of relegation. The site is easy to navigate and includes all the information you’d expect.
The Super 14
is a league featuring 14 teams from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. The Web site is not inspiring, but it has all the basics: news, results, standings, and stats. Links to team sites can be found by clicking “Tickets and Contact details” in the team profile.
For touring clubs …
Barbarian FC
is a team of world-class players from different countries and clubs who are assembled each year to play exhibition matches. The Barbarians often take their famous attack-style rugby on tours through the British Isles and to the Southern Hemisphere, playing local clubs and national teams. Learn the history and philosophy of the Baa-Baas in the “About Us” and “Roll of Honour” sections or browse the “Video” section for classic action, including “That Try” from The Greatest Match Ever Played. You can also view upcoming fixtures and get the latest news.
The British and Irish Lions
tour through a Tri Nations country every four years, with the next tour scheduled for 2009 in South Africa. The team is restricted to players from Britain and Ireland. The Lions’ site has a brief history, a review of the 2005 tour, and profiles of Tri Nations countries.
News and Analysis of Rugby
With competitions being played regularly in both hemispheres, you need to find sources from around the world to fully appreciate competitive rugby. This section highlights the world’s best Web sites for news and commentary.
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- The blogs below, like most blogs, list links to other blogs that the authors enjoy in the margins of their page. These lists are called blogrolls, and they’re a great way to discover new sites.
- The league and team sites found in the previous section are a good source for news, but bear in mind that they don’t typically feature candid analysis.
- Message boards are full of news, opinions, and debates among fans that can help you gauge public opinion and gain new perspectives. Use caution, however, as most of the posters are completely anonymous, and it is difficult to determine whether their posts are factually incorrect or biased. Some of the most active rugby message boards are found on Planet Rugby, Scrum.com and The Rugby Forum.
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For free news and commentary …
Scrum.com
is an ESPN-owned site that focuses on European rugby but features coverage of rugby in the Southern Hemisphere as well. This is the best site to find breaking news and match reports; important matches are covered in real time with a live scoreboard and running match commentary. There is also commentary from a large team of respected writers.
Rugby365
is a South African site that covers international and professional rugby. Search for news by country using the “All the News” tab, or by competition using the “Tournaments” tab. The “Opinion” tab has four sections: “Second Phase” features commentary from Rugby365 writers, while “Tight Five” features more humorous articles. “Write of Reply” and the “Forum” have reader comments and allow you to post your own thoughts. For coverage focused more on rugby in the United States and Canada, visit RugbyRugby, a site administered by Rugby365.
Planet Rugby
covers international and professional rugby. Click the “By Country” tab for all the information you need on national teams, including news stories, history, past and future fixtures, and even national anthem lyrics. The “Tournaments” tab will give you news, game results, and standings for each competition. “Fixtures & Results” will show you who is playing today in any league.
NewsNow
searches the Web every five minutes to find the most recent rugby stories from newspapers and Web sites all over the world, and provides links to these stories.
For subscription sites …
ERugbyNews
is the companion Web site for Rugby Magazine, which covers all levels of American rugby. Much of the site requires a subscription of $39.50, including content from the print magazine, archived material, and the columns of Alex Goff. Free content, which consists of news stories and player profiles, can be found under the “News & Features” tab.
Rugby World
is a British monthly magazine that has covered rugby since 1951. Though the Web site doesn’t feature much content from the print edition, it does have news stories from competitions around the world.
or blogs …
Scrumbag
offers a humorous look at the world of rugby, primarily British and international rugby. Updated several times a day, the blog tends to alternate between cogent analysis and amusing takes on the lighter side of the game.
The Rugby Blog
is written by a witty Englishman who tends to focus on English and international rugby. His coverage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, which can be found under the “Categories” menu, is particularly good. The “Clips,” “Tickets,” and “Photos” sections are undeveloped, but the “Fans” tab takes you to a very interesting diary of the author’s travels.
RugbyDump
is written by three people from three different continents whose goal is to create the best online collection of rugby video clips. Each blog entry has a video clip featuring the most exciting tries, biggest hits, funniest bloopers, and all the Haka dances you could ask for.
Rugby Statistics
If you’re looking to see how your favorite teams or players are doing this season or have done in the past, this section will help you find detailed player statistics and archives of match results.
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- For stats in a given league or tournament, see the official Web sites listed in the “Rugby Associations, Tournaments, Leagues, and Teams” section of this Web guide.
- Most player stats include games and minutes played, tries, conversions, drop goals, penalties, yellow cards, and red cards.
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For historical results …
RugbyData.com
has game results for men’s and women’s international, Guinness Premiership, Heineken Cup, and Super 14 competitions.
Pick and Go
has a database of international tests played by members of the Six Nations and Tri Nations, plus Argentina and the British Lions. There is also a separate database for Super 12/14 teams. Use the search box at the bottom of the page to find and organize stats in great detail. (For example, you can search for South Africa’s record against Northern Hemisphere teams in games played at a high altitude, organized from the worst result to the best result.) For advice and ideas on how to use the search, read the FAQ page.
For player stats …
Scrum.com
has an archive of player and team stats for international competitions. The player stats, which can be accessed only by browsing alphabetically by player name, include stats by year, competition, and match.
For player profiles …
Knowtheplayers.com
has rosters of prominent international teams with pictures and biographical information for each player. There is also a “Big Fellow Index,” which ranks players based on height and weight. The site is currently in beta and will be continually adding to its index of players.
Playing Rugby
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.
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- 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.
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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 Equipment and Apparel
Rugby may be famous for its relative lack of equipment, but there is still a lot needed to play. This section will help you find the jerseys, sneakers, headwear, mouth guards, and other equipment you need to play the game. You can also find apparel and memorabilia so that you can show support for your favorite teams.
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- For the merchandise of a particular team, see the team’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.
- The ball-maker Gilbert claims to be as old as the game itself. According to its official Web site, the ball used by William Webb Ellis was made by company founder William Gilbert out of a pig’s bladder. Today, Gilbert is the most well-known producer of rugby balls, which can be found on many of the sites below.
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For equipment and apparel …
WorldRugbyShop.com
has a large collection of equipment and apparel. The site is very easy to navigate using the “Departments” menu, and apparel can be browsed by team, country, and league. The company is based in the United States and ships internationally.
Rugbystore.co.uk
is similar to WorldRugbyShop.com in its large selection and intuitive design. The main difference is that it’s based in the UK and is thus a better option for European shoppers.
For memorabilia …
RugbyMemories.com
has a good selection of match programs, books, signed items, and other collectibles.
Rugby Relics
sells match programs, photos, jerseys, and other rare pieces of rugby history. Most items have detailed descriptions explaining both the condition of the item and its historical context. The site is not professionally designed, and the ordering process isn’t as simple as on most sites, though there are many ordering options available. Browse both by item and by country/team.
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