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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

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QuantitativeMeasure · 15/03/2009 15:14

My DP plays and is a coach, he played at quite a high level in his 'yoof'.
My Ds1 plays and has done since he was 5.

I still know nada about the rules. I just scream and jump when it seemsmost appropriate.

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

Ah well maybe I will be OK then. I would quite like to know though, otherwise when watching I just tend to drift into a thigh related daydream.

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

And what are these 'errors' of which they speak?

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bronze · 15/03/2009 15:26

Well it depends for a start if its league or union just to confuse things even more

Original poster
JohnnyTwoHats · 15/03/2009 15:27

Union.

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bronze · 15/03/2009 15:29

I find its like trying to explain the offside rule in football but I did find a good site a while back to try and explain the rules to ds1. I'll try and find it again

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

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

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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.

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

bronze · 15/03/2009 15:35

try here probably has the scoring too

bronze · 15/03/2009 15:36

also 3 for a drop goal think Jonny wilkinson

bronze · 15/03/2009 15:39

Is chabal playing ?

ShowOfHands · 15/03/2009 15:41

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

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 15:43

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 15:45

.... ( 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 15:45

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.

ShowOfHands · 15/03/2009 15:46

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

pagwatch · 15/03/2009 15:49

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

I

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!)

bronze · 15/03/2009 15:57

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

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.

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 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.

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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