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Original poster

Rugby- please can someone explain the rules to me?

81 replies

JohnnyTwoHats · 15/03/2009 15:12

The new man I am seeing plays rugby and I went to watch him last weekend. Unfortunately I was slightly embarrassed at not having any idea what was going on etc.

I know they have to pass the ball backwards and that if it is offside (ie passed forwards) they have a scrum. Is that right?

Don't understand the points system (NM has tried to explain, vaguely). And what is a hooker? We met someone and I said 'who is that' and NM said 'oh he is my hooker' (NM is captain of his team).

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND

How can I be a WAG with no grasp of the rules

OP posts:
Original poster
JohnnyTwoHats · 15/03/2009 16:25

yes that really annoys me re footballers, the dramatic effect with which they greet injury.

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TigersEnglandChick · 15/03/2009 16:24

I love rugby.

If you really want to know the rules then go to a game (or watch one on tv) with someone who both knows the laws and is happy to explain them. My DH knows all the laws but hates having to explain them where as I can bore even the most enthusiastic 'learner' (For want of a better word) with all the nuances!

The commentary is much more informative than it is in other sports (like football or cricket) as the game is more intricate.
I once heard rugby/football compared with chess/draughts ... think it's a good analogy.

I'm keeping an eye on the score and taping the game for later when DH is home

Original poster
JohnnyTwoHats · 15/03/2009 16:24

yes he was down for a wee while
he has been knocked out and carried on playing in past though, not a wuss!

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bronze · 15/03/2009 16:22

The best sum up I've come across is football is a gentlemans game played by hooligans. rugby is a hooligans game played by gentlemen.

Bloods fine its when they can't stand I worry. they don't arse around on the floor not getting up (like in football) unless they truly can't get up.

Original poster
JohnnyTwoHats · 15/03/2009 16:19

Glad we have that straight then...

One of the other halves had bloody flipflops on though, she must have just had a pedicure. Oh, how I laughed when she had to wrap up her feet in a jumper.

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pagwatch · 15/03/2009 16:14

didn't think for a moment you were twohats! Just wanted to clarify the lingo for you.

Original poster
JohnnyTwoHats · 15/03/2009 16:11

Aha. I did keep quiet mainly except for concerned muttering when i saw blood . Will look at that site.

BTW
I am not common .

Actually the commentary on the England France game is quite useful!

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ShowOfHands · 15/03/2009 16:10

Oh I do enjoy it and know far more than I let on. The rules are easy (though the new rules are still confounding me), it's the injuries, the dirty kit and the strange post-match, in the bar shennanigans that cause the raised eyebrows here. BIL followed England round Australia for the last World Cup and ILs are trying to get us to go to NZ with them for 2010.

pagwatch · 15/03/2009 16:04

at SOH nodding support

I have to confess I love it. DH is watching DS1 in national 7's tournament at the mo' and i wish I could bethere but have the other two puppies to look after.

(BTW I am booked into Pennyhill Park next weekend and DH thinks England will be there pre match. Anyone have any requests should I catch any of them by the pool?)

ShowOfHands · 15/03/2009 15:57

Ireland deserve it tbh.

We're in Norfolk so 'Eastern Counties' and I never quite understood what was happening. I just nodded along to be perfectly honest.

DH and FIL on the phone now as it's half time enthusing about the 'fantastic play'.

I'm still shuddering at Chabal. Hideous beast.

bronze · 15/03/2009 15:57

SoH my asking wasn't entirely innocent either. Its the caveman thing

SesIsCountingdowntheweeks · 15/03/2009 15:51

I just about get by having been a football fan most of my life and then meeting DH 4 years ago who is a big rugby fan.

I am as he is at Twickenham today. (Corporate entertainment he says!)
He's not even English though (Irish and hoping for Grand Slam!)

pagwatch · 15/03/2009 15:49

which county SOH?
DH played for Surrey in pre professional era.

I

ShowOfHands · 15/03/2009 15:46

SIL is a prop forward btw. This means you Don't Mess With Her.

ShowOfHands · 15/03/2009 15:45

My SIL plays for England.

BIL and DH played for the county.

FIL played quite seriously

Uncle was a professional.

Still struggle to be interested.

Other BIL a professional ballet dancer which I prefer tbh.

pagwatch · 15/03/2009 15:45

.... ( very important !!!!) female supporters and other halves etc can be called anything except wags. WAGS are football ergo very common.

Don't jeer the other side ( also very common and bad form) and be silent when the other side are taking their kicks at goal.

ShowOfHands · 15/03/2009 15:43

Passing the ball forward btw is a 'knock on'.

Just learn when to shout ruck, when to shout maul and yell heave occasionally. Gets you out of learning the in touch/out of touch/holding on rubbish bits.

pagwatch · 15/03/2009 15:42

The hooker is one ofthe guys who is on the front row ofthe scrum. he ( they) are responsible for making sure that the scrum holds steady and the other side are pushed backwards.
the hooker also often throws in at the line out ( when the ball goes out of play the players line up in two rows to compete for the ball as it is thrown in between them).
Each ofthe fifteen players has a different position name which arethen grouped.
The forwards are broadly all the power players who are used during the scrum. The 'backs' tend to be the faster slightly smaller players who stand outside ofthe scrum and pass the ball freely to try and score.

Anything else?

ShowOfHands · 15/03/2009 15:41

Chabal is playing. Makes me feel dirty and not in a good way.

bronze · 15/03/2009 15:39

Is chabal playing ?

bronze · 15/03/2009 15:36

also 3 for a drop goal think Jonny wilkinson

bronze · 15/03/2009 15:35

try here probably has the scoring too

Scootergrrrl · 15/03/2009 15:33

Get the telly on and watch England beat France - it'll give you a real appreciation of the game

FiveGoMadInDorset · 15/03/2009 15:32

5 is a try when they get the ball over the line and touch it on the ground.
2 is when they convert the try, eg kick it through the post.
3 is a penalty again they have to kick it through the post.
They are not allowed to throw the ball forward.

Original poster
JohnnyTwoHats · 15/03/2009 15:30

Why do they sometimes score 5 and sometimes 2 or 3?

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