Rugby league is a team sport, played by two teams of 13 players. The aim is to carry an oval ball up the field towards the opponents in-goal where the ball is grounded to score a try. The opposing team attempts to prevent the attacking team from carrying out this objective by tackling the player with the ball. It is one of the two codes of rugby, the other being rugby union.
Rugby league was initially played by a breakaway faction of the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) known as the Northern Union. When similar breakaway factions occurred from RFU-affiliated Rugby Unions in Australia and New Zealand, in 1907 and 1908 they formed associations known as Rugby Leagues and used the modified Northern Union rules. The Northern Union later changed its name to the Rugby Football League. Thus, the game became known as rugby league.
History
- Main article: History of rugby league
Like most forms of football, rugby league's roots can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games which bear little resemblance to modern sports. It is then important to acknowledge the development of the modern codes and two separate schisms in football history.
In the nineteenth century football was most prominently played in private schools. Each school had its own rules based on whatever playing field that was available to them. The rules could be categorised as either handling or kicking forms of football. The kicking and handling forms were later codified by The Football Association and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) respectively.
In 1895 rugby football was later beset with a schism that resulted in the formation of the rebel Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU). The schism was caused by the RFU preventing 'broken time payments' which was expenses paid to players who had taken time off work to play rugby. Northern teams typically had more working class players who could not afford to play without this compensation, in contrast rugby teams in the South of England mostly consisted of middle and upper class players who did not depend on such payments. There were similar movements in other countries. The NRFU's rules made changes to the rules in order to increase the number of spectators as they were now dependent on money from the turnstile. Organisations allied to the NRFU changed their names from union to league, hence the names rugby league and rugby union.
Competitions
Rugby league is played in more than 30 countries and at all levels.
International
Rugby league at the international level is run by the Rugby League International Federation. The main international competitions that are played are:
Intranational level
Club level
The two main Rugby League competitions are the National Rugby League (in Australia and New Zealand) and the Super League (in Great Britain and France). The champion team from each competion play for the World Club Challenge each February.
Australia
Main article: Rugby League in Australia
Rugby League in Australia is run by the National Rugby League, which administers the club competition, and the Australian Rugby League, which is in charge of the national team, the Kangaroos
The National Rugby League is the result of a merger between the Australian Super League and the Australian Rugby League in 1998. It is played by 15 teams based on the east coast of Australia and Auckland.
- The New South Wales Rugby League is in charge of the game in New South Wales, and runs the VB Premier League, the Jim Beam Cup and other local competitions.
- The Country Rugby League of New South Wales is in charge of the game in New South Wales country areas.
United Kingdom
Main articles: Rugby League in England, Rugby League in Wales, Rugby League in Scotland and Rugby League in Ireland
Rugby League in the United Kingdom is administered by the Rugby Football League (RFL), who control both the club game and the Great Britain side. The RFL are also in charge of the England national rugby league team: other bodies linked to the RFL are responsible for the Wales and Scotland teams. The RFL administer the premier professional European competition, Super League (Europe), and co-operate with the British Amateur Rugby League Association in administering the amateur game in England. The two main competitions under their auspices are:
- Super League (Europe) is the premier professional competition in Europe. It was formed intially as a breakaway from the (British) Rugby League Championship in 1996, but has since been re-integrated into the RFL's structures. Promotion and Relegation takes place each year as teams move between Super League and National League One. In 2006 a French team, Les Catalans joined the competition.
- The Challenge Cup is a Europe-wide knock-out competition. First held in 1896, it was intially it was only for British clubs (amateur and professional), though in recent years the entry has been expanded to allow French and Russian teams to take part.
New Zealand
Main article: Rugby league in New Zealand
Rugby League in New Zealand is under the control of the New Zealand Rugby League, which runs the national competition, the Bartercard Cup and the national team, the Kiwis. One New Zealand club, New Zealand Warriors, play in the otherwise Australian National Rugby League.
The game in New Zealand is strong and lately several star players have risen to prominence. Amongst them are Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall. In 2005, the optimism surrounding New Zealand rugby league was justified by their victory over Australia in the Tri Nations final held in the UK.
Papua New Guinea
Main article: Rugby league in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is the only country to have rugby league regarded as its national sport. The national team of Papua New Guinea is the Kumuls. Port Moresby participated in the Queensland Cup in the late 1990s. The national competition is the SP Cup.
France
Main article: Rugby League in France
Once a strong test playing nation,the game in France suffered after an assault by the Vichy government in the 1940's. In December 1941, Philippe Petain signed an order drafted for him by the French Ministry of Sport banning rugby league. Rugby league's assets were seized, grounds were taken over, and players were 'invited' to play Rugby union. Those who didn't were blacklisted. The reprecussions of this many believe are still felt today, although the standard of football from the Chanteclairs is gradually improving. French club Les Catalans play their first season in the Super League (Europe) in 2006. The governing body of Rugby League in France is Fédération Française de Rugby à Treize, and the national competition is the French rugby league championship. The domestic competition in France is the French rugby league championship. French rugby league's most famous player is undoubtedly, Puig Albert.
Other countries
Playing rugby league
Typical markings for a rugby league field
- Main article: Playing rugby league
Rugby league is played by two teams on a rectangular field with a length generally double the width. The in-goal areas, located at each end of the field, are used to score a try. At the intersection between the field of play and each in-goal area are also a set of goal posts in the shape of the capital letter H, used for point scoring via a field goal, penalty goal or conversion. The aim is to score more points than the other team, and each of the above scores carry different numbers of points. Although the exact number for each has varied over time, currently tries are worth four points, conversions and penalty goals are worth two points and a field goal is worth one.
Rugby league consists of an attacking team who has possession of the ball and a defending team who must attempt to stop the attacking team from scoring. In order to score points the attacking team must move up field. To do this they use a combination of kicking and running head-on into the defensive line to either force back the defence or break the defensive line. The defending team must devise tactics to limit the effectiveness of the attacking team's ball running and kicking.
The attacking team has six chances to attempt to score. The defending team tries to stop the attacking team from scoring by tackling the player with the ball. When a player is tackled, the entire defending team, with the exception of two markers, must move back 10 metres towards their in-goal area. The tackled player must then play the ball.
After each tackle the attacking team is usually closer to the oppositions in-goal area and hence goal posts. If the attacking team is tackled a sixth time, a change over takes place, where the defending team becomes attacking and vice versa.
Attacking Tactics
- The largest players generally move the ball up field through what is known as a hit up in order push back the defence; in other words gain field position.
- Skilful forwards will attempt to pass the ball after drawing in the defence which breaks down the effectiveness of the defensive line; known as an off-load.
- The attacking team may use combinations of plays utilising speed, passing and kicking designed to confuse the defence, breaking down the effectiveness of the defensive line.
- Kicking is most commonly attempted as a last ditch attempt to score, when a team has used all of its 'chances'. Kicks are used to break the defensive line or to gain field position.
Defensive Tactics
- A defending team must effectively defend against ball runners. The sliding defence and the umbrella defence are effective in stopping line breaks.
- Players in the defence usually drop out of the defensive line to cover the back half of the field in order to defend against line breaks and kicks.
- A defensive team may force the attacking team in to touch or force errors which gives possession to the defending team.
- Late during the tackle count an attacking team uses an array of tactics to put themselves in the better defensive position on the opposite side of the 'change over'.
Players
- Main article: Rugby league positions
Players on field are divided into forwards and backs. Each position has a designated number, 1 through to 13. Numbers 14 and higher are given to players on the bench, who only come on to the field to replace a starting player who is either injured or tired.
Backs
The backs are generally smaller and more athletic. Backs are likely the most creative and evasive players on the field, preferring fine skills, tactics and/or set plays to break the defensive line in favour of brute force.
- The title of full-back comes from the fullback's defensive position where the player drops out of the defence line to cover the back half of the field. They are normally the last line of defence, this means they have to be good tacklers. Usually a full back will be the player who catches any kicks from the opposing team. In attack the fullback will typically inject themselves into the line out wide at second or third receiver or run close in support of their forwards in anticipation of a short pass or offload. Fullbacks can play a role in attack similar to a halfback or 5/8th and the fact that the fullback doesn't have to defend in the (first) defensive line means that a coach can hide a playmaker from the tackling responsibilities of the first line whilst allowing them to retain their attacking role, e.g. Brent Webb.
- The wings (or wing three quarters) are normally the fastest players in a team and play on the far left and right fringes of the field. Their main task is to receive passes and score tries. The rôle is somewhat similar to a Wide Receiver in American Football
- The centres or centre three-quarters are positioned one in from the wings and together complete what is known as the three-quarter line. Their main role is to try and create attacking opportunities for themselves or their wingers.
- The half-back (or scrum-half) has in recent times taken on a leadership rôle which has led them to be considered the player that gives a team direction in attack. The scrum half, along with the stand off together form the "creative unit" of the team. They will control the attack, deciding how the team attacks and if and when the ball is kicked. This player is also responsible for making sure all the other players are in the right positition for an attacking move.
- The postition of stand off (or 5/8th) in the modern game has become blurred with that of the scrum half, and the stand off's rôle is almost entirely dependent upon the coach's strategy and the respective players' abilities.
The half-back position mentioned above is named after the rôle or location of the player with respect to the scrum during 'scrum play' or scrummage. To understand the half back or any other players rôle in the scrum, see rugby league positions.
Forwards
The forwards' two responsibilities can be broken into 'normal play' and 'scrum play'. For information on a forward's rôle in the scrum see rugby league scrummage. Forward positions are traditionally named after the players position in the scrum yet are equal with respect to 'normal play' with the exception of the hooker. Forward positions are traditionally broken into:
- Front row forwards (two prop forwards and a hooker).
- Props are normally the largest players on field and usually weigh over 100 kilograms or 15 stones in the men's game. In attack they will carry the ball forward, normally running straight, fast and hard, normally running straight into the opposing teams props. Their main role here is to try and gain as many yards as possible. This is normally done in the middle of the field, however sometimes they will run out wide to try and hit the smaller backs.
- The hooker is most likely to play the role of dummy-half. In defence the hooker usually defends in the middle of the line against the opposition's props and second-rowers. The hooker will be responsible for organising the defence in the middle of the field. In attack as dummy-half this player is responsible for setting the play from every play-the-ball and passing the ball to the right player. It is vital that the hooker can pass very well.
- Second row forwards, of which there are two. They are normally slightly lighter, faster and more mobile and than props. They help share the work load of the props. They are used to run attacking plays wider, normally near the opponents try line.
- The lock (or loose forward) is the only forward in the third (last) row of the scrum. They are usually the fittest player on the field, and the one responsible for cover defence should the attacking team break through the defensive line. Typically they are big ball-runners who can ocassionaly slot in as a passing link or kick option; it is not uncommon for locks to have the skills of a 5/8th and to play a similar rôle in the team.
For further information on a players see rugby league positions.
Rugby league worldwide
Those nations that play rugby league are in their greater numbers in Europe and the Oceania. Of these two areas Oceania is the strongest region; it consists of Australia who has dominated the sport since the 1970s, New Zealand whose players may be found throughout both southern and northern hemisphere club competitions and Papua New Guinea which is the only country to call rugby league its national sport.
The Oceanic region has strong support for both forms of rugby. People of Islander heritage are typically larger then Europeans, which may explain a liking for such games. Also, rugby games loosely resemble tribal warfare, particularly in Papua New Guinea and thus integrates with their culture more easily than other sports that are less physical.
Among the European nations rugby league has traditionally been a game for Great Britain, Ireland and France only. However, early 21st century developments have seen Georgia, Germany, Estonia, Malta and others take part in international rugby league tournaments or matches. There are now over 20 nations currently active in their rugby league pursuits.
Australia and Great Britain have since the beginning represented the world's two leading rugby league playing nations; perhaps except during 1954 when France fell to England in the Rugby League World Cup final. Australia have won every world cup since 1975 and also won many more international tournaments. Until November 25, 2005, they had also not lost a tournament or series of any kind for nearly thirty years. This record was finally broken when they lost to New Zealand in the final of the 2005 Tri-Nations Series.
Glossary
‘ball-runner’ vs ‘ball-player’ (also ‘ball-running’ vs ‘ball-playing’)
- A descriptive categorization of a players technique based upon their favoured ‘action’ (play) when receiving the ball. A ‘ball-runner’ prefers to run at the defensive line and will look to pass/offload to his supporting teammates upon reaching, breaking or busting through the defensive line but not before. Alternatively a ‘ball-player’ prefers to pass before the defensive line rather than at or after meeting it, and can imply they possess a degree of creativity in their ‘passing game’. Although not mutually exclusive (players can combine both ‘ball-running’ and ‘ball-playing’ in their overall ‘game’) it is an important distinction in playing styles that requires a different approach from coaches & players and different sets of skills to employ and counter in attack and defence.
calls
- Plays across the Rugby League field often originate not from set plays but from the spontaneous ‘calls’ of players on field. Players will call for passes, kicks etc… when they sense an opportunity and playmakers will often respond. Teams sometimes have a high priority call meant to override other calls, e.g. the NSW in State of Origin have for many years used an “Arko” call in reference to the nickname of the former head of the Australian Rugby League – Ken Arthurson, because he always got his way… The Dummy-half must decide between many competing pass calls (and his own play options) which he will choose to service at every play-the-ball
change over or handover
- Change over refers to the attacking team relinquishing possession of the ball and the defending team gaining possession of the ball. This means the previous defending team becomes the current attacking team and vice versa.
dummy-half
- In attack the player who stands behind the tackled player at the ruck and receives the ball from the 'play-the-ball' which he can then pass or run with. Any player who receives the play-the-ball is called the dummy-half for that play, although it is common for the hooker to be referred to as the teams "dummy-half" independent of individual plays.
chip kick
- A chip kick is simply a punt kick that is very short and very low. It is usually performed so that the kicker or another member of the team can quickly recover the ball; thus the ball must not go out of reach of the receiving player.
first receiver, second receiver etc...
- The order a player receives the ball starting with a pass from the dummy-half, hence being the 'first receiver' and so on, of a pass in that play. (The dummy-half is excluded from this numbering scheme i.e. he is the 'zero receiver', as although he is the first ball handler he does not receive a pass)
game
- ‘Game’ is a catch phrase that can be used to describe the total sum of an individual players or teams collective talents, skills, limitations, playing style, on-field playing actions etc… in Rugby League. Often it is limited to describe a particular group of skills e.g. a “players passing game” or a “teams kicking game”, but it can be used generally e.g. “they were off their game tonight” or “the fullback still has mistakes in his game”.
Alternatively ‘game’ can refer to an individual match or the game of Rugby League itself.
goal line
- The goal line is the line between the 'field of play' and the in goal area, thus there is a goal line for both in goal areas. The goal posts are also situated on the goal line. The goal line represents the goal of the attacking team. A try can be scored by 'touching down' on the goal line.
head and feed
- A team is said to have the head and feed of a scrum. The feed refers to the action of placing the ball into the scrum.
in goal area
- The in-goal area is a special area where points are scored in the form of a try. There are two in-goal areas on the field, one for each team. A defensive team must defend the in-goal area behind them from the attacking team. The attacking team must defeat the oppositions defences to score a try in their in-goal area.
left/right arm carry:
- When running with the ball a player can employ a one-arm (hand) carry by tucking the football into their shoulder/arm-pit. This allows a more secure hold when impacting in the tackle, it frees one hand to fend off tacklers, and allows one-arm offloads. Often players secure the ball exclusively with either their left or right arm. Being predictable, this becomes an important consideration for defenders trying to avoid the fend of the empty arm whilst targeting the ball-carrying arm to try and wrap the ball up and shut down the possibility of an offload, or to attempt to strip the ball from the attackers possession (Strips are only legal in a one-on-one tackle).
offload
- A pass, usually short & one-handed, made by an attacking player to his supporting teammates after he has reached the defensive line, i.e. while the defenders are attempting to tackle him. The advantageous opportunity for the attackers created by the offload is called second-phase play.
place kick
- The place kick is a kick from a tee. This act of kicking the ball from the tee is similar to hitting a goal ball from the tee. The tees in both sports provide the same support, to lift the ball off the ground. In rugby league higher tees are used to kick the ball higher.
playmaker
- A player who provides the organizational structure and creative impetus in a team via his passing game, (and usually though not always) his kicking and running game. A playmaker will organize his team by talking and structure attacking sets with his plays. From first receiver halfbacks are usually the teams primary playmaker, although 5-8ths often play a similar role in the modern game.
play-the-ball
- After a player has been tackled, and provided the team has not completed the number of tackles allocated to it under the six tackle rule, the player stands facing the opposition try-line, places the ball on the ground, and projects it backwards with one foot to the waiting dummy-half.
rushing up
- Rushing up is the act of a defender coming out of the defensive line in a hurry in anticipation of a pass. The aim is either to intercept the pass or tackle the player upon receiving the ball from a pass. It is somewhat risky to leave the defensive line but is very effective in stopping the attacking play. Also called a 'shooter'.
'Rushing up' can also refer to the entire defensive line (or sections of it) moving up quickly together, not just a single player coming out of the line.
the halves
- Narrowly defined they are the halfback and 5-8th. They form a ‘halves combination’ and are usually the teams organizers and creative playmakers. The definition can sometimes be extended to others who play a traditional halfback 5/8th role in a team from another position, most commonly fullback, lock or hooker. Sometimes the hooker, as ‘dummy-half’ is automatically included when ‘the halves’ are referred too.
the ruck
- In Rugby League the structure formed at the play-the-ball after a player has been tackled. It is often cited as a reference point in describing play, e.g. "they passed two-wide of the ruck and scored". In compromises of the tackled player who 'plays the ball', the dummy-half who receives the play-the-ball, two optional defensive markers who ignore the 10m offside rule and stand face to face with the player playing the ball, although they must stand directly in line with that player, and the A and B Defenders who stand either side of the gap in the defensive line that is left behind the play-the-ball ('A' usually refers to the defender on the left of the gap, and 'B' to the defender on the right as viewed from the attacking team).
second-phase play
- The play generated by an offload, which is effectively a second play under the same tackle, hence the name. The defensive line is typically standing still or retreating after an offload and is often disorientated and disjointed, presenting an excellent opportunity for the attacking team to capitalize on.
short-side & open-side
- From a play-the-ball (ruck), tap or scrum the ‘short side’ is the segment of the field to either the left or right that is shortest, and the ‘open side’ is the segment of the field to the left or right that is longest. The defensive line on the short-side doesn't usually push up as quickly as the open side prsenting oppurtuinites for the attack against defenders who think that the lack of space means the attack will ignore them go to the open side. Often teams ‘switch the point of attack’ by passing to one side from dummy-half only to have the 1st receiver throw a long pass (or run) behind the ruck to attack the other side in an attempt to catch out lazy defenders who have ‘switched off’ once the ball initially moved away from them.
slide defence:
- A defensive technique where each defender in the line will mark up against an opponent and (on the open-side) ‘show them the outside’ by standing several metres inside their opposite, encouraging them to try and beat them out wide. The defensive line will then ‘slide’ sideways with their opposite attackers as they attempt run wide and tackle them side on. The weakness of slide defence is the inside pass & run that cuts back towards the centre of the field, catching the defenders wrong-footed. See ‘Up & In defence’ (to be added).
See also
External links
