Rugby For Dummies,® 4th Edition

Rugby basics for fans, players, and parents who are new to the game, plus all the latest developments for those returning to the sport Rugby For Dummies, Fourth Edition teaches you the essential elements of the fast-growing sport of rugby, so you can follow all the action―and get ready for the U.S.-hosted 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups. This helpful Dummies guide also gives you the information that you need to start playing or coaching rugby. You’ll get clear explanations of the rules, insight into strategy and tactics, and info on all the most popular tournaments around the globe. Learn about the rugby greats of yesterday, plus get updates on the most significant changes at every level, from high school to international level. This new edition covers the evolution of the laws that govern play and looks at how the women’s game and the sevens version of the sport have grown. Learn how rugby is played, including necessary skills and strategies for winning Take a look at the most entertaining North American and international rugby competitions Get tips for joining a rugby team or becoming a rugby coach Familiarize yourself with the history of previous World Cups in time for the next one This is the perfect Dummies guide for anyone who wants to better understand all aspects of the game of rugby. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 Rugby: Roots, Boots, and All Chapter 1 Rugby’s Beginnings, Allure, and a Basic Overview Rugby’s Roots: The Birth of the Game The mythical pick-up of William Webb Ellis A century of amateurism How the Game Is Played The field The scoring The gear Understanding the Essentials of the Game Puzzling out the positions Grasping the laws of the game Scoping out skills and tactics Rugby Is a Worldwide Game An international affair North America gets into the action Coaching and Refereeing Keeping Informed about the Game Chapter 2 The Basics Figuring Out the Field Dimensions of the playing area What all those lines mean Goalposts and flags Understanding the Scoring System Scoring a try Converting a try Awarding a penalty try Kicking a penalty goal Drop-kicking a goal Timekeeping on the Field When the clock runs and when it stops When someone’s injured When the TMO is looking at play When the hooter sounds Introducing the Players Taking up position Positions by the numbers The reserves Chapter 3 Grab Your Rugby Gear Getting It Together: The Essentials of the Kit Bag Having a ball Kicking in with a kicking tee Miscellaneous kit items Getting the Gear Rugby jerseys Rugby shorts Booting up Socking it to you Protecting Your Assets Choosing protective equipment Preventing serious injury Knowing what’s barred on the pitch Part 2 Getting Down and Dirty Chapter 4 Location, Location, Location: Positions on the Pitch A Place for Everyone Playing the Numbers Game Fearless Forwards Getting in tight with the tight five Facing off in the front row The second row: Exerting in the engine room The back row forwards: Breaking loose with the loosies Foraging with the flankers Piloting the pack at the number 8 Get to the Back of the Line Passing and pestering for profit: The scrumhalf Feeling footloose and fancy-free: The flyhalf Mastering the midfield: Centers Attacking from the inside out Attacking from the outside in Running wild out wide: The wings Roaming the range: The fullback Surprising the enemy Defusing bombs Chapter 5 Laying Down the Laws The Laws of the Game World Rugby writes the law The laws are dynamic and ever-changing Reading the law book Building up your knowledge Introducing the Match Officials The referee: The one with the whistle Assistant referees: The ones with the flags The substitution official: The one with the numbers The TMO: The one with the video screen Scoring a try Identifying foul play Recognizing the Referee’s Signals Chapter 6 Understanding the Fundamentals The Object of the Game Running, Passing, and Kicking Running Passing Kicking What Can Go Wrong? Knock-on Forward pass The Tackle Law — Where Football Ends, Rugby Begins The tackle situation and continuity The tackled player The tackler Tackling no-no’s The Advantage Law — When Play Stops and When It Continues Observing the Offside Law In general play Being penalized for going offside Crossing the 10-meter line From set pieces At tackles, rucks, and mauls Playing Foul Obstruction Unfair play Repeated infringements Misconduct Taking Penalties Kicking at goal Kicking for touch Choosing a scrum Taking it quick Free kicks Chapter 7 Playing the Game Getting Started Kickoffs to begin each half Restarts after scores and 22s The Tackle Situation The tackled player The tackler What happens next? Breaking Down the Breakdown Tackle, Ruck, or Maul? Roughing It in the Rucks Rucking rules Kick the ball, not the player Stay on your feet Directing the ruck Working the pick-and-go Mastering the Maul Mauling laws Attacking from a driving maul Using a rolling maul Directing the maul Stopping the maul Chapter 8 The Art of Scrummaging Scrum Isn’t Synonymous with Mayhem Sections of the Scrum The front row The second row The back row The ninth forward — the scrumhalf Engagement The put-in The contest for possession Laws at Scrumtime Binding and releasing Collapsing Driving in and up Feeding Strategic Scrummaging Attacking from the scrum Getting a shove on Pushing it over the edge Chapter 9 Lineouts: Restarting from Touch Determining When a Lineout Occurs Understanding Where a Lineout Takes Place Directly into touch Indirectly into touch Figuring Out Who Gets the Throw-in Lining Up for a Lineout Forming a lineout Calling the play Throwing in the ball Taking the throw Starring Roles in a Lineout Jumpers and lifters Jumpers Lifters The receiver Movement in the lineout Talking Tactics Down the Line Peeling off Throwing to the front Setting up the maul Quick off the top Things You Can’t Do Taking It Quick Chapter 10 Individual Skills Running Rampant Receiving a pass on the run Side-stepping the tackler Curving into the swerve Fending off forcibly Going into a hit and spin Throwing the dummy Passing with Panache Bringing tactics into play Spin pass Cut-out pass Lob pass Pop pass Dive pass Scrumhalf pass Kicking Cleverly Spiral punt kick Up and under Chip kick Grubber kick Drop kick Goal kick Tackling Tough Front-on driving tackle Side-on tackle Tackle from behind Ball-and-all tackle Stationary tackle Ankle tap Chapter 11 Tactics and Teamwork Creating a Game Plan Understanding your team’s strengths and weaknesses Winning the set pieces Playing the ten-man game Running from everywhere Analyzing the opponent Exploiting weaknesses Containing the stars Selecting horses for courses Weathering the Conditions Adapting to inclement weather Playing the pitch Deciding On a Game Plan Attacking Artistically Launching an effective attack Breaking through Defending Devilishly Coordinating the defense Blocking the advance: Defensive systems Man-on-man defense Drift defense Developing commitment and trust Part 3 Welcome to the Oval Planet Chapter 12 The World Cup The Crown Jewel of Rugby The Origins and History of the Rugby World Cup 1987 World Cup — Australia and New Zealand 1991 World Cup — Great Britain, Ireland, and France 1995 World Cup — South Africa 1999 World Cup — Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, and France 2003 World Cup — Australia 2007 World Cup — France, Wales, and Scotland 2011 World Cup — New Zealand 2015 World Cup — England 2019 World Cup — Japan 2023 World Cup — France Qualification and Final Tournament North Americans in the World Cup Fighting Eagles Competing Canadians Mammoths and Minnows Great World Cup Moments Japan versus South Africa — 2015 Pool B Australia versus England — 2003 final South Africa versus New Zealand — 1995 final Australia versus South Africa — 1999 semifinal #1 New Zealand versus France — 1999 semifinal #2 Other Cups on the World Stage Rugby World Cup Sevens Women’s Rugby World Cup World Rugby Under-20 Championship Chapter 13 The International Calendar How the Game Is Organized Rugby’s rulers — World Rugby National unions Provincial unions Local unions The Powers That Be Where tradition is king — the Six Nations South versus north — the winter tests The Southern Hemisphere — the Rugby Championship North versus south — the Autumn Nations Series The British & Irish Lions The Pacific Nations Cup The Pacific Four Series The Barbarian Football Club The World Rugby Classic in Bermuda World Rugby Sevens Series Sevens rugby in the Olympics Interprovincial and Provincial Rugby Sensational Super Rugby Pacific The Heineken Cup overfloweth United Rugby Championship England — Premiership Rugby France — The Top 14 Chapter 14 North American Rugby Checking Out Rugby in the United States Origins and Olympic gold Formation and reformations of USA Rugby Soaring with the Eagles Eagles atop the world: Women’s rugby U.S. sevens Investigating Rugby in Canada The birth of Rugby Canada Canadian women on the rise Canadian sevens Going Global: North American Internationals The July inbound tests The November tours Chapter 15 Amateur Rugby in North America Clubbing with the Yanks Finding The Right Club To Join United States club championships Considering the Canadian Club Scene The Canadian Rugby Championship Canadian national championships Chapter 16 Collegiate, High School, and Youth Rugby in North America Playing the American Collegiate Game Starting Young: High School and Youth Rugby in the United States High school championships Youth rugby Canadian Collegiate Championships High School and Youth Rugby in Canada High school rugby Youth rugby Part 4 Coaching and Refereeing Chapter 17 Coaching Grand Obsession: The Making of a Good Coach Improving skill levels Getting your team fighting fit Motivating your team Coaching Safety Keeping your players safe False assumptions and the truth about injuries in rugby Avoiding false security Practicing how to tackle Tackling a Tough Job Deciding Whether Coaching Is for You You’re Not Alone: Support Staff Coaching: Assistant coach Coaching: Defense coach Managing the team Training the team Massaging the players: The physical therapist Calling on the team doctor Chapter 18 Coaching Certification and Advancement Coaching Accreditation in the United States The USA Rugby Learning Center Getting certified Coach Training in Canada The International Rugby Academy Coaching Hatchlings to Eagles Nurturing the youth Having an oval ball in high school Corralling collegians Catering to the clubs Chapter 19 Managing the Game: The Referee The Responsibility of the Whistle Knowledge Consistency Communication Temperament Fitness Becoming a Ref in the States Getting started Moving up Reaching the top Picking Up the Whistle Up North Part 5 Following the Game: The Informed Fan Chapter 20 Get Your Game: Rugby on TV Rugby on Television in the United States NBC Sports FloSports The Rugby Network Rugby on Television in Canada The Sports Network DAZN CBC Sports FloSports TV5 Speaking the Language Rugby’s TV jargon glossary The best of the commentators Chapter 21 Spectating and Staying in Touch with Rugby News Finding a Match to Watch Blending In with the Crowd Following rugby etiquette Dressing for the occasion Spectating across North America Going to watch a test match Enjoying the club experience Getting a close-up view of the action at club level Enjoying the camaraderie of local clubs Sounding like a rugby expert Touring Overseas Finding Out More about the Game Streaming rugby matches Rugby news ESPNScrum Planet Rugby RugbyDump Stuff – Rugby Heaven Goff Rugby Report Americas Rugby News Rugby podcasts OTB Rugby Women’s Rugby Pod The Good, the Bad, and the Rugby The Rugby Hive World Rugby and union websites The New Zealand Rugby Union website The England Rugby Football Union website The United States and Canadian rugby union websites Part 6 The Part of Tens Chapter 22 The Ten (or So) Greatest North American Men Gareth Rees Dan Lyle Al Charron Dave Hodges Mike James Brian Vizard Rod Snow Luke Gross Aaron Carpenter Todd Clever Honorable Mentions Sevens Stars Perry Baker Nathan Hirayama Chapter 23 The Ten (or So) Greatest North American Women Patty Jervey Jen Crawford Gillian Florence Phaidra Knight Heather Moyse Jamie Burke Magali Harvey Kathy Flores Sarah Ulmer Leslie Cripps Honorable Mentions Sevens Stars Alev Kelter Ghislaine Landry Chapter 24 The Ten Best Rugby Moments Top Five Around the World The greatest test ever The 2003 World Cup final Barbarians versus New Zealand 1973 The 2011 World Cup Final Fiji wins Olympic gold Top Five North American Moments Women’s Rugby World Cup final 1991 Canada versus France 1994 U.S. Olympians versus France 1920 and 1924 Wales versus Canada 1993 USA versus Scotland 2018 Glossary Index EULA A practical guide to understanding rugby--North American styleOnce primarily a British and Australian pastime, rugby is now second only to soccer as a televised international sport and is growing rapidly in popularity as a school and amateur club sport across North America; Rugby USA, the governing body for American rugby, boasts more than 50,000 players on its adult, collegiate, and youth teams. Filled with illustrations and photographs of drills and shape-up exercises, Rugby For Dummies gives players, coaches, and parents the heads up on just how the game is played and coached over here--tackling North American rugby rules, various levels of play, and how to coach junior players as well as adults