Rugby Union vs. Rugby League and Other Formats
The Great Split: Union vs. League
There are two primary forms of rugby: Rugby Union and Rugby League. Originally, Rugby Union was played in England by gentlemen amateurs, while Rugby League was played by working-class players for pay. The split occurred in 1895 when the RFU voted against the payment of players for “broken time” (lost earnings while playing), prompting 22 northern clubs to break away and form the Northern Union (later renamed the Northern Rugby Football League), which allowed its players to be paid and introduced changes to the laws of the game.
The Union authorities defended amateurism fiercely, imposing life bans on any player who had anything to do with the professional game. It wasn’t until 1995, a century after the original split, that the International Rugby Board accepted that Union players could be paid.
Key Differences Between Union and League
| Aspect | Rugby Union (15s) | Rugby League |
|---|---|---|
| Players per side | 15 | 13 |
| Tackle rules | Ruck forms after tackle, contest for possession | Player must get to feet and roll ball under foot to teammate |
| Scoring | Try = 5 points, Conversion = 2 points, Penalty/Drop Goal = 3 points | Try = 4 points, Conversion = 2 points, Penalty/Drop Goal = 2 points |
| Popularity | Global, national sport in NZ, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Madagascar | UK (especially northern England), Australia, NZ, Papua New Guinea |
Rugby Sevens: The Olympic Format
Rugby sevens is a fast, high-scoring version of traditional rugby, played with 7 players on each side over two halves of 7 minutes each. The most accessible form of the game for beginners, it follows a tournament format with international competitions spread over one to three days. Teams usually play several games a day.
Rugby sevens has been an Olympic sport since 2016, making its first appearance at the Rio Games. The main competition for sevens worldwide is the HSBC 7s Series. In sevens, penalty goals are rarely seen, and if both teams are tied in a knockout round, a 5-minute overtime period is played where the first team to score wins.
Other Forms of Rugby
Touch Rugby originated in Australia and has steadily progressed around the world. It is a six-a-side game with minimal contact and enjoys the ability of being played by mixed-gender teams.
Beach Rugby is a summer sport enjoyed on sand in bare feet. Halves last only five minutes, and there are no rucks, scrums, or kicking. It can be either contact or touch depending on the rules being played.
Wheelchair Rugby is a team sport for people with disabilities. It made its first appearance in Canada in 1976 and has been a Paralympic sport since the Sydney Games in 2000. It is played with a volleyball on a basketball-sized court by two teams of four players plus eight replacements
