Differences between Rugby League and Rugby Union One the most prominent differences between the two

sports today is that rugby league has a system of limited tackles whereas rugby union does not. Also rugby union has retained the prevalent use of scrums. The inherent similarities between rugby league and rugby union has at times led to the possibility of a merger being mooted[2] and experimental hybrid games have been played that use a mix of the two sports' rules. History In 1871, English clubs met to form the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Rugby football spread to Australia and New Zealand, with games being played in the early to midnineteenth century. The International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) had formed prior to the schism in 1886 and remained the international governing body for rugby union, although it originally only consisted of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa joined the IRFB in 1948, France in 1978 and Argentina, Canada, Italy and Japan in 1991. On 26 August 1995 the IRFB, now known as the International Rugby Board, declared rugby union an "open" game and thus removed all restrictions on payments or benefits to those connected with the game. Rugby union had previously been a medal sport at four Olympic games, in Paris (1900), London (1908), Antwerp (1920) and Paris (1924), and will return to the Olympics in 2016 and 2020[11] in the sevens form. Rugby union sevens is a core event at both the British Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. The oldest international rugby union competition is the Six Nations Championship, starting in 1883 with games played between England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

Rugby league have 13 players and six tackles

Rugby union have 15 players and play

continues until the ref blows once a player is deemed to have been tackled and going no further he is left alone to get up Rugby league in turn has been described as a simpler game that is easier for spectators to Is played off the floor with a tackled player laying it back and a ruck forming for the ball to be recycled. Have more laws than rugby

league and it has been described as being more a complex game.

understand. When the ball goes into touch, a scrum restarts play. The lesser focus on contesting possession means there are fewer stoppages of play in rugby league, with the ball typically in play for 50 out of the 80 minutes As the ball is in play more and there are less players (13 Rugby union has more laws than rugby league and it has been described as being more a complex game. When the ball goes into touch, possession in rugby union is contested through a line-out. 35 minutes for professional rugby union.

compared to 15) to cover the field it has been implied that rugby league is the more physically demanding sport.

Rugby league in turn has been described as a simpler game that is easier for spectators to

understand.

in rugby league both possession and field position are important

in rugby union field position takes precedence

In league, possession is usually considered more important than territory, as a player cannot score without the ball.

Rugby union is more a game of territory and players often kick possession away to the opposition to move play nearer.

Primary method of scoring points is with tries, whereas in union point-scoring from kicks is often a more significant factor.

The opposition goal line and posts as getting tackled in a bad

position with no team members to help hold possession would lead to an easy try for the opposing

Rugby league allows an opponent to be charged (e.g. by using the shoulder only). Using the shoulder in rugby league is often

team. In rugby union, an charging opponent or in

pushing

possession (e.g. by using the shoulder only) is not permitted. Tacklers must try to grasp the

considered a 'big hit'.

A tackle is deemed to be complete when the elbow of the arm holding the ball touches the ground, or the player is held in an upright tackle. The ball cannot be further

ball-carrier and bring them to ground. In rugby union, a tackle is deemed to be complete when the player in possession is held on the ground; that player must play the ball (either releasing it, passing it, or if

advanced and a play-the-ball or handover must take place. In rugby league a play the ball takes place after each tackle.

over the try line grounding the ball) immediately. In rugby union, play does not stop when a player is forced to the ground in a tackle, as the tackled

The

laws

of

rugby

league

player must immediately play the ball, and the tackler must roll away, which will generally mean a ruck will form. There was no equivalent law in rugby union, in the past going to ground with the ball and protecting

specifically outlaw the so-called 'voluntary tackle': players are not allowed to go to ground unless they are effectively tackled by an opponent, though in practice this rule is rarely applied.

A rugby league field is between 112 and 122 metres long by 68m wide. The distance between trylines is always 100 metres. There are lines going across the field which mark every ten metres. An in-goal area extends six to eleven metres beyond each goal-line. At the goal line is a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for other forms of point scoring: drop goal, penalty and conversion.

it was practised.

A rugby union field is a maximum of 144 metres long by 70m wide. The length from try line to try line is always 100 metres: the only varying distances on a rugby field are the width of the playing field, and the distance from try line to the dead ball line. Lines are painted at the dead ball line, try line, 22 metre line, 10 metre line (broken line) and half way. Lines are also located 5 metres away from the try line and touch line and 15 metres away from the touch line. At the goal line is a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for other forms of point scoring: drop goal, penalty and conversion.

Rugby league position names (shirt numbers)

Rugby union position names (shirt numbers)

Prop forwards (8 & 10)

Loose head Prop (1) and tight head prop (3)

Hooker (9)

Hooker (2)

Second row forwards (11 & 12)

Second row / Locks (4 & 5)

Flankers or Break-aways or loose-forwards (6 & 7)

Lock or loose-forward (13)

Number-eight or eight man(8)

Halfback or Scrum-half (7)

Scrum-half or Half-back (9)

Five-eighth or Stand-off (6)

Fly-half or Five-eighth (10)

Centres (3 & 4)

Centres (12 & 13)

Wings (2 & 5)

Wings (11 & 14)

Fullback (1)

Fullback (15)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_rugby_league_and_rugby_union

Four Nations Rugby In 2012 the Four Nations rugby tournament looks set to replace the existing Tri Nations format contested by the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks, following an invitation to Argentina by the South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby (SANZAR) in September, 2009. SANZAR made the invitation based upon several requirements that the Unin Argentina de Rugby (UAR) would need to meet, including Argentina guaranteeing full player availability for the duration of the tournament, and financial modelling that conformed to SANZARs standards. In May, 2010, the International Rugby Board (IRB) altered IRB Regulation 9 which governs the release of players, a move that was seen as a major step forward in making the Four Nations concept a reality. The proposed format for the Four Nations tournament would see the four teams the Wallabies, All Blacks, Springboks and Argentina play each other on a homeand-away basis, meaning each team would play six matches overall, and the Four Nations tournament would comprise a total of 12 matches. Fixtures: The proposed scheduled that was initially mooted saw the 12 matches take place over an eight-to-nine week period between August and October, and an abbreviated schedule in June/July in Rugby World Cup years. Currently, there has been no announcement by either the IRB or SANZAR confirming whether the Four Nations tournament would be commencing in 2012, although a positive decision for the expansion of the Tri Nations to Four Nations is expected following the 2011 Rugby World Cup. http://www.theroar.com.au/rugby-union/four-nations-rugby/