Rugby with XV

• Sanctions

the penalty : Certain faults (ex: off-sides, irregular plating, etc) are sanctioned by a penalty (the referee places himself at the place of the fault, the shoulders parallel with the touchlines while raising to the vertical the arm located on the side of the not-faulty team). The penalized team must then move back with at least 10 meters of the place of the penalty (or behind its line of goal, if the penalty is with less than 10 meters of this one). A penalty is typed with the foot, except if the profit team prefers to make a fray. On kick of penalty one can:

• to try a goal,
• to type in key, i.e. to try to send the ball touches some while profiting from privileged rules: always touch direct validates and benefit of the handing-over concerned. One speaks about “penaltouche” when, whereas the goal seems realizable, the team chooses to type in key to profit from the handing-over concerned and to try a test of fronts (to be noted that the handing-over concerned is done at least with 5 meters of the line of in-goal, even if the balloon left more close, in accordance with the general rule).
• to type full field,
• to play “hand” (in fact, to type a very small kick, placed or of flight, and immediately taken again with the hand by the same player, which connects with ordinary play);

the blow-franc : Less serious faults can be sanctioned per blow-franc (indicated by the referee by a “arm broken” to right angle, before upwards pointing arm). The blow-franc is played like the penalty, except that it does not give right to an attempt of goal, and that a found key does not profit from privileged rules. Moreover, the folded up adversaries with 10m can charge the bottor, as of its first dash. Since the years 1990, the team profiting from a frank blow cannot try of goal (drop) as long as the balloon did not become died, or was not touched by an adversary.

the fray sanctions minor faults like the forward pass, or of the handing-over concerned incorrect.

A voluntary fault of anti-play can involve moreover a temporary exclusion of a player for one 10 minutes duration (“yellow paperboard”).

the test of penalty : The referee also has the capacity to grant the test on a voluntary fault of the adversary without which a test could have been marked. He is granted between the posts. The tests of penalty often sanction a series of frays collapsed on the line of in-goal.

• Lasted, replacements

The replacements of players formerly were not authorized, then not authorized on wound. The “coaching” (replacement for tactical reasons) is now allowed. Only the players present on the bench of key are authorized to enter on the ground (either a maximum potential manpower of the team of 22 players). A player who was replaced cannot return any more on the ground (except for the players of first line in the event of wound of another player of first line). A player who bleeds must be replaced while it is made look after, it will be able to then take again his place if the duration to be made look after does not exceed 15 minutes in which case the temporary replacement becomes final.

Composition of a team

See also: Composition of a team of Rugby to XV

A team is made up of 15 players with well defined stations. The distinction between players takes all his direction on a static phase such as the fray or the key.

First of all, one distinguishes the fronts , called also more familiarly " gros" : numbered from 1 to 8, they are the players who constitute the fray. Divided into 3 lines (1, 2,3 then 4,5 and finally 6,7,8), they occupy a quite precise place in the fray.

• the numbered players 1 and 3 are the pillar S (left (in English Loosehead m.) and right (Tighthead m.)). They surround the talonnor (number 2 (Hooker)) and constitute the first line. They run certainly less quickly than the other players of the team but their role is not less important: the frays are much more technical than it does not appear to with it, it is not that a vulgar showdown to know what a pack pushes most extremely! The talonnor is also that which gives the balloon concerned at the time of the keys even if one sometimes saw other players undertaking this task when the talonnor did not have a good throw.
• second line (numbers 4 (Lock) and 5 (Lock)) are traditionally largest of the team. At the origin, they were used to jump in key but since it is authorized to carry its partner at the time of the keys, other combinations are used much (one makes jump a third line to divert the adversary).
• Finally the third line , two third line wings (left and right), called in English flankers , (numbers 6 (Blindside Flancker) and 7 (Openside Flancker)) and a third line center (number 8): these players must be at the same time powerful and mobiles to defend effectively on the adversary. The station of number 8 is generally held by a player of experiment and big size, having enough retreat and authority to direct the work of its team-members during the frays.

Then, come the back :

• the half of fray (number 9 (Scrum Half)) : as its name indicates it, it introduces the balloon into the fray. If the third line centers is not seized any, it is him which makes it leave the fray. Small, nimble and sharp, it must instigate the play and feed the remainder of its team in balloons. Thus, after each regrouping, it must, as far as its availability, to leave the balloon for a fellow-member. It is generally him which quickly plays the penalties to try to put the opposing team at fault. It also deals to launch the play at the time of the catch in key with the balloon by one of its fronts.

• the half of opening (or opener , number 10 (Fly-Half)) : it is him which generally touches the balloon in a team. Indeed, in the majority of the cases, it receives the balloon of the half of fray after a regrouping since it has a better vision of the play with a more important passing. It is with him to decide if it types with the foot, carries the balloon or passes it. Its qualities of play to the foot are generally recognized but it is not therefore him which types the penalties and transformations in a team. Transmission 9-10 (fray-opening) is often the key of the good performance of a team. These numbers 9 and 10 form the hinge what is called.

• the centers (12 (Inside Centers) and 13 (Outside Center)) : divided into first and second centers (according to their proximity with the opener), they try to perforate unfavourable defense while combining technical, speed and power. In modern Rugby, the distinction between first and second center really any more do not have of direction: one should rather speak about center left (12) and about center right (13).

• the wingers left (11 (Wing Left)) and right (14 (Right Wing)) : of a smaller gauge, they are in end of line of attack. Their speed must enable them to infiltrate in nonoccupied space to go to mark a test.

• the back (15 (Fullback)) : last rampart before the line of in-goal, it occupies a very important station because it must combine capacities of defender to those of attacker. It often remains in withdrawal to take delivery of the balloons struck with the foot by the opposing team but it can contribute its share to the offensive of its team by bringing the excess: it is said whereas it " intercale".

Note: The results of a team often depend on the performances of the players who compose the backbone of it (one speaks about stations - keys or spinal column ), i.e. the central axis 2-8-9-10-15.

Competitions

International competitions of nations

World cup of Rugby

• 1987 : New Zealand
• 1991: Australia
• 1995: South Africa
• 1999: Australia
• 2003: England
• 2007: South Africa

Tournament of the six nations

Instituted in 1883, this tournament first of all opposes England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, until in 1910, France does its appearance and which the tournament is baptized “Five Nations tournament”. Italy joined the tournament in 2000.

Each team faces each of the others. That which will have gained the greatest number of matches will gain the tournament. If a team gains all her matches, it carries out a Grand Slam. This title is obviously much more required than a simple victory of the tournament.

The Argentine required to take part in the tournament in November 2006. She deplores her lack of competition, remaining confined with the rounds and the world cup. So that the distance is not a problem, she proposed to play all her matches in Europe where many of its players evolve/move. The Argentinian request was however rejected.

Tri-Nations

Other competitions

• Latin Cut, (2 editions)
• Mediterranean Plays

• Cut of Africa of Rugby

• Cut of the 5 nations of the Pacific Created in 2006

• Churchill Cup of Rugby to XV Appeared in 2003

• Championship of the world of Rugby to XV of less than 21 years

International competitions of clubs

• Cut of Europe of Rugby to XV: competition gathering each year the best European clubs.

• European Challenge and European Shield

• Super 14 (in the past “Super 12”): equivalent of the Cut of Europe for the southern hemisphere, this championship joins together every year since 1996 of the provinces of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Confronting 12 teams at the origin, it passed to 14 formations in 2006.

• Celtic League : competition of Rugby to XV joining together clubs Welsh and Irish provinces and Scottish.

(note: the February 22nd 1997, the champion of Europe (CA Brive) receives the winner from Super the 12 (Auckland Blues). The southern hemisphere carries it, 11-47)

National competitions of clubs

• Championship of France of Rugby to XV
• Yves Challenge of the Manor (Coupe de France - Cut of the League)
• Championship of England of Rugby
• Cut of England
• Championship of Italy of Rugby
• Championship of Romania of Rugby to XV
• Currie Cup
• National Provincial Championship (New Zealand)
• Cut of Portugal of Rugby to XV

National selections

See also: List of the national teams of Rugby to XV

The international federation of Rugby is called the International Rugby Board. It counts 95 members and 20 associated members.

All these nations, and some others, are affiliated with the one of six continental associations of Rugby:

• Africa: African Confederation of Rugby (BECAUSE)
• North America: North American and West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA)
• South America: Confederación sudamericana of Rugby (CONSUR)
• Asia: Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU)
• Europe: International federation of Rugby amateur - European Association of Rugby (FIRA-AER)
• Oceania: Federation off Oceania Rugby Union (FORU)

These nations are classified by the IRB in three divisions (see also the Classement IRB of the national teams of Rugby to XV).

The First Division

• five nations of old the Five Nations tournament
• England; called the XV of the Rose
• Scotland; called the XV of the Thistle
• France; called Blue the or the XV of France
• Wales; called the XV of the leek or more rarely the Dragons
• Ireland; called the XV of the clover

• three major nations of the southern hemisphere

• South Africa; called the Springboks
• Australia; called the Wallabies
• New Zealand; called the AlBlacks or more rarely Kiwis

• to which are added from now on:

• Argentinian; called the Pumas
• Italy; called Gli Azzurri

The Second Division

• Canada
• the United States
• Fiji
• Japan
• Romania
• Samoa
• Tonga

Occasional selections

• the Lions team made up of the best players of British Isles
• the Barbarians (multinational team which one becomes member by invitation)
• the Léopards (side-African team, a first match in 2005 against the team of university South Africa)
• the Pacific Islanders (team made up of the best representatives of the southern Pacific Islands. Appeared in 2004, they return at the end of 2006 for a round to Europe)
• the South American Jaguars (team primarily gathering players Argentinian, Uruguyan and Chilean, created in 1979 to circumvent the sporting blockade of South Africa under apartheid, and which gained in 1982 a victory against Boks with Bloemfontein, particularly rare exploit at the time)

Some rugbymen

See also: List of rugbymen famous

Without forgetting the elements which influence the play like the weather or the referees.

The vocabulary of Rugby with XV

See also: Lexicon of Rugby with XV

Records

See also: Rugby with XV (statistics)

Notes and references of the article