by No Mark » Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:20 pm
A lot of people are uncertain about the rules, it seems. Here are the basics:
* You can only pass the ball backwards
* If you kick the ball straight off the pitch from inside your own 22 metre area (in effect, your penalty area), the line-out is taken from where the ball goes out, by the other side, like in a throw-in.
* If you kick the ball straight out from outside the 22 metre area, the line-out is taken from level to where you kicked the ball
* A Maul is a pile-up of players where they're still on their feet and someone is holding the ball - like an untidy scrum
* A Ruck is where the ball hits the deck and players drive over it. A lot of penalties are given for players trying to pick the ball up or scoop it slyly back with their hands in Rucks
* Whether it's a Scrum, Ruck, Maul or Line-out, both sides have to be behind the line of the last player from their team involved in the scrum, ruck etc. If they try to get closer to the oppo before the ball's out, to get a sneaky advantage, it's offside
Other Rules:
* If you have the ball, and someone squeezes your testicles violently, it's generally best to let them have it, in one way or the other
* You can punch people in scrums, rucks, mauls, line-outs and open play, but ONLY if the referee and linesmen aren't watching
* Eye-gouging is considered "Bad Form" and "French Practice". Other forms of illegal violence and unarmed combat are okay, so long as you buy each other a pint afterwards
* In football, the cry of "Man On!" signals that someone from the opposition is closing in on the person with the ball. A cry of "Man On!" in a Rugby match could mean that some form of intimate assault is being committed at the bottom of a "Ruck" (see above). If that is the case, they're probably Public Schoolboys and should be allowed to get on with it.
I hope that helps a little...