View source for Rugby union

{{Short description|Team sport, code of rugby football}}
{{Distinguish|Rugby league}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox sport
| image      = 2014 Women's Six Nations Championship - France Italy (51).jpg
| image_size = 350px
| caption    = Scrum between France and Italy during the [[Women's 6 Nations Championship|6 Nations Championship]].
| union      = [[World Rugby]]
| nickname   = 
{{Plainlist|
* Union<ref>{{cite book |title=British language & culture |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]] |first=David |last=Else |year=2007 |edition=2nd |page=[https://archive.org/details/britishlanguagec0000unse/page/97 97] |isbn=978-1-86450-286-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/britishlanguagec0000unse/page/97 }}</ref>
}}
* Rugby
* Rugger
| registered  = 8,400,000<ref name="6.6m">{{cite web|url=https://rugbyredefined.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/irb-dev-glob-map.pdf |title=119 countries... 8.4 million players|access-date=27 February 2014|publisher=[[World Rugby|IRB]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617194732/https://rugbyredefined.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/irb-dev-glob-map.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group="nb">As of 2014 the International Rugby Board, now known as World Rugby, removed the total breakdown of world-wide player numbers by country, by age and gender to publish instead an overall figure for each nation. This document, titled '119 countries... 6.6 million players' adds the number of registered and unregistered players reported by each country. Some unions only report their registered players, i.e. those who play for an affiliated club or region. Other unions, such as England's [[Rugby Football Union]], also report people taking part in outreach and educational programmes, or unregistered players. In the 2012 figures reported by the RFU they reported 1,990,988 people playing rugby in England, including 1,102,971 under 13s, 731,685 teens and 156,332 seniors. Some of those recorded would have experienced rugby via educational visits to schools, playing tag or touch rugby, rather than playing regularly for a club. The figures released in 2023 give an overall figure of those playing rugby union, or one of its variants, as 10,984,118, but also reports that of that total, 8.4 million are registered players, while 2.5 million are unregistered.</ref>
| contact   = [[Full-contact|Full]]
| team      = 15 (with up to 8 substitutes)
| mgender   = Separate competitions
| category  = 
{{Plainlist|
* [[Team sport]]
* Outdoor
* Full contact
}}
| equipment = 
{{Plainlist|
* [[Football (ball)#Rugby union|Rugby ball]]
* [[Scrum cap]] (optional)
* [[Cleat (shoe)|Rugby boots]]
* [[Mouthguard]]
*Kicking tee (optional) (often used by kickers)
*Shoulder pads (optional)
}}
| venue     = [[Rugby field]]
| olympic   = Part of the Summer Olympic programme in [[1900 Summer Olympics|1900]], [[1908 Summer Olympics|1908]], [[1920 Summer Olympics|1920]] and [[1924 Summer Olympics|1924]]<br />[[Rugby sevens]] included since [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016]]
| region    = Worldwide (most popular in certain European and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, in [[Japan]], and in [[Argentina]])
|name=Rugby Union|first=Early 19th century, [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], [[England]]}}

'''Rugby union football''', commonly known simply as '''rugby union''' or often just '''rugby''', is a [[Contact sport#Terminology|close-contact]] [[team sport]] that originated at [[Rugby School]] in [[England]] in the first half of the 19th century. Rugby involves running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, the game is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an [[Rugby ball|oval-shaped ball]] on a rectangular field called a pitch. The field has H-shaped [[Goal (sports)#Structure|goalposts]] at both ends.

Rugby union is a popular sport around the world, played by people regardless of gender, age or size.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fTqOAQAAQBAJ|title=Australia's Asian Sporting Context, 1920s – 30s: Sport in the Global Society – Contemporary Perspectives|first1=Sean|last1=Brawley|first2=Nick|last2=Guoth|date=2013|isbn=978-1-317-96632-6|archive-date=30 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030103707/https://books.google.com/books/about/Australia_s_Asian_Sporting_Context_1920s.html?id=fTqOAQAAQBAJ|pages=168|publisher=Routledge}}</ref> In 2023, there were more than 10&nbsp;million players worldwide, of whom 8.4&nbsp;million were registered. [[World Rugby]], previously called the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) and the International Rugby Board (IRB), has been the governing body for rugby union since 1886, and currently has 116 countries as full members and 18 associate members.

In 1845, the first rules of the game were written by pupils at Rugby School; other significant events in the early development of rugby include the decision by [[Blackheath F.C.]] to leave [[The Football Association]] in 1863 and, in 1895, the [[History of rugby league#The schism in England|split]] between rugby union and [[rugby league]]. Historically rugby union was an amateur sport, but in 1995 formal restrictions on payments to players were removed, making the game open to professionals at the highest level for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Scianitti|first=Matthew|title=The world awaits for Canada's rugby team|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/the-world-awaits-for-canadas-rugby-team|access-date=8 March 2020|newspaper=[[National Post]]|date=18 June 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129194424/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/06/18/the-world-awaits-for-canadas-rugby-team/|archive-date=29 January 2013}}</ref>

Rugby union spread from the [[Home Nations]] of the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], with other early proponents of the sport including [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]] and [[France]]. The sport is primarily followed in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Australia, [[Italy]], [[Fiji]], [[Tonga]], [[Samoa]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Southern Africa]], [[Argentina]], and in more recent times, [[Japan]], [[South Korea|Korea]], [[South America]], [[the United States]] and [[Canada]],<ref name="urlU.S Rugby Scholarships - U.S. Sports Scholarships">{{cite web |url=https://www.ussportsscholarships.com/us-rugby-scholarships/ |title=U.S Rugby Scholarships – U.S. Sports Scholarships |access-date=21 September 2020 |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915102108/https://www.ussportsscholarships.com/us-rugby-scholarships/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="urlRugby: Fastest growing sport in the U.S. also one of the oldest - Global Sport Matters">{{cite web |url=https://globalsportmatters.com/youth/2018/07/19/rugby-fastest-growing-sport-in-the-u-s-also-one-of-the-oldest/ |title=Rugby: Fastest growing sport in the U.S. also one of the oldest – Global Sport Matters |date=19 July 2018 |access-date=9 December 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101215006/https://globalsportmatters.com/youth/2018/07/19/rugby-fastest-growing-sport-in-the-u-s-also-one-of-the-oldest/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="urlWhere Is Rugby the Most Popular Among Students: Comparison of US and UK Student Leagues {{!}} Love Rugby League">{{cite web |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/where-is-rugby-the-most-popular-among-students-comparison-of-us-and-uk-student-leagues/ |title=Where Is Rugby the Most Popular Among Students: Comparison of US and UK Student Leagues {{!}} Love Rugby League |date=17 October 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812171546/https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/where-is-rugby-the-most-popular-among-students-comparison-of-us-and-uk-student-leagues/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> its growth occurring during the expansion of the [[British Empire]] and through French proponents ([[Rugby Europe]]) in Europe. Countries that have adopted rugby union as their ''[[de facto]]'' [[national sport]] include [[Rugby union in Fiji|Fiji]], [[Rugby union in Georgia|Georgia]], [[Rugby union in Madagascar|Madagascar]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=53025.html |access-date=1 December 2013 |title=Madagascar take Sevens honours |date=23 August 2007 |publisher=International Rugby Board |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024222252/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=53025.html |archive-date=24 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Rugby union in New Zealand|New Zealand]], [[Rugby union in Samoa|Samoa]], [[Rugby union in Tonga|Tonga]], and [[Rugby union in Wales|Wales]].

International matches have taken place since 1871 when the first game was played between Scotland and England at [[Raeburn Place]] in [[Edinburgh]]. The [[Rugby World Cup]], first held in 1987, is held every four years. The [[Six Nations Championship]] in Europe and [[The Rugby Championship]] in the Southern Hemisphere are other important international competitions that are held annually.

The [[Women's Rugby World Cup]], first held in 1991, and the [[United States women's national rugby union team|United States]] won their inaugural title. There is also the [[Women's Six Nations Championship]] which is held annually alongside the men's counterpart.

National club and provincial competitions include the [[Premiership Rugby|Premiership]] in England, the [[Top 14]] in France, the [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|Bunnings NPC]] in New Zealand, the [[Japan Rugby League One|League One]] in Japan and the [[Currie Cup]] in South Africa. Other transnational club competitions include the [[United Rugby Championship]] of club teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales, [[European Rugby Champions Cup]] in Europe, and [[Super Rugby]] in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
{{TOC limit}}

==History==
{{Main|History of rugby union}}Primitive forms of football included [[harpastum]], played by the Romans, where two opposing teams competed to throw a large ball into an opposition net, fighting for possession of the ball. Medieval Irishmen played [[caid (sport)|caid]], carrying an inflated bladder and using arched trees as goals. The Welsh played an inter-parish game using a wooden ball called [[cnapan]]. Frenchmen played ''[[la soule]]'' and Georgians played ''[[lelo burti]]''. "Football" as a game was well established by 1803 at [[Rugby School]] and by the 1830s, "running in" with the ball in hand was allowed but subject to hacking and "collaring".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Richards |first=Huw |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-VhvJML6xa4C&q=rugby+origin |title=A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union |date=30 September 2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-1-78057-328-1 |pages=Chapter one |language=en}}</ref>{{wikisource|Laws of Football as played at Rugby School}}[[File:Rugby School 850.jpg|thumb|Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire, with a rugby football pitch in the foreground|alt=A wide shot of an old English school with a central tower, with a sports pitch in the foreground.]]Former Rugby School student [[Albert Pell]] is credited with having formed the first "football" team while a student at [[Cambridge University]].<ref name="Marshall13">{{Harvnb|Marshall|Jordon|1951|p=13}}</ref> Major private schools each used different rules during this early period, with former pupils from Rugby and [[Eton College|Eton]] attempting to carry their preferred rules through to their universities.<ref name="Marshall13-14">{{Harvnb|Marshall|Jordon|1951|pp=13–14}}</ref> A significant event in the early development of rugby football was the production of a written set of rules at Rugby School in 1845,<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-25946757 |title=Six ways the town of Rugby helped change the world |date=1 February 2014 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=4 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304074207/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-25946757 |url-status=live}}</ref> followed by the [[Cambridge Rules]] that were drawn up in 1848.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/originsofrugby.htm |title=Early Laws |website=rugbyfootballhistory.com |access-date=6 February 2010 |archive-date=2 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002095902/https://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/originsofrugby.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Formed in 1863, the national governing body [[The Football Association]] (FA) began codifying a set of universal football rules. These new rules specifically banned players from running with the ball in hand and also disallowed [[Hacking (rugby)|hacking]] (kicking players in the shins), both of which were legal and common tactics under the Rugby School's rules of the sport. In protest at the imposition of the new rules, the [[Blackheath F.C.|Blackheath Club]] left the FA<ref name="Godwin10">{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/the-game/global-growth.html |title=History of Football – The Global Growth |work=[[FIFA]]| access-date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512172056/https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/the-game/global-growth.html |archive-date=12 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> followed by several other clubs that also favoured the "Rugby Rules". Although these clubs decided to ban hacking soon afterwards, the split was permanent, and [[Laws of the Game (association football)|the FA's codified rules]] became known as "[[association football]]" whilst the clubs that had favoured the Rugby Rules formed the [[Rugby Football Union]] in 1871,<ref name="Godwin10"/> and their code became known as "[[rugby football]]".

In 1895, there was [[History of rugby league#The schism in England|a major schism within rugby football]] in England in which numerous clubs from Northern England resigned from the RFU over the issue of reimbursing players for time lost from their workplaces. The split highlighted the social and class divisions in the sport in England. Although the rules of the game were not a factor in the split, the breakaway teams subsequently adopted some rule changes and this became the separate code of "[[rugby league]]". The RFU's code thereafter took on the name "rugby union" to differentiate it from rugby league,<ref>{{cite book|title=Rugby's great split: class, culture and the origins of rugby league football|author=Tony Collins|pages=87–120|chapter=Schism 1893–1895|edition=2nd|publisher=Routlage|year=2006|isbn=0-415-39616-6}}</ref> but both versions of the sport are known simply as "rugby" throughout most of the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Short History of Civilization IV |work=Five Epochs of Civilization: Chapter 7 (2000) |url=http://worldhistorysite.com/civilization4.html |publisher=worldhistorysite.com |first=William |last=McGaughey |access-date=26 September 2011 |archive-date=12 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512190553/http://worldhistorysite.com/civilization4.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===First internationals===
The [[1871 England versus Scotland rugby union match|first rugby football international]] was played on 27 March 1871 between [[Scottish Rugby Union|Scotland]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]] in [[Edinburgh]]. Scotland won the game by one goal and one try to one goal.<ref name="Godwin10"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/timeline1870s.htm|title=Historical Rugby Milestones 1870s|website=rugbyfootballhistory.com|access-date=22 March 2015|archive-date=13 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113065814/https://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/timeline1870s.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> By 1881 both [[Ireland]] and [[Wales]] had representative teams and in 1883 the first international competition, the [[Six Nations Championship|Home Nations Championship]] had begun. 1883 is also the year of the first [[rugby sevens]] tournament, the [[Melrose Sevens]],<ref name="Godwin12">{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=12}}</ref> which is still held annually.

Two important overseas tours took place in 1888: a [[1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia|British Isles]] team visited Australia and New Zealand—although a private venture, it laid the foundations for future [[British and Irish Lions]] tours;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/5023.php |title=1888 Australia & New Zealand |publisher=The British and Irish Lions |access-date=13 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607033526/http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/5023.php |archive-date=7 June 2011}}</ref> and the [[1888–89 New Zealand Native football team]] brought the first overseas team to British spectators.<ref>{{cite book |title=Forerunners of the All Blacks |last=Ryan |first=Greg |publisher=Canterbury University Press |year=1993 |location=Christchurch, New Zealand|isbn=0-908812-30-2|page=44}}</ref>
[[File:King George V presents a cup to the captain of the winning New Zealand Services Rugby Team, London.jpeg|thumb|left|[[James Ryan (rugby union player born 1887)|James Ryan]], captain of the New Zealand Army team, receiving the Kings Cup from George V|alt=A black and white photo of a rugby field in which three men in military uniform, one of whom is King George V, present a silver trophy to a rugby player dressed in black kit. Behind in a line are the rest of the team.]]

During the early history of rugby union, a time before commercial air travel, teams from different continents rarely met. The first two notable tours both took place in 1888{{mdash}}the British Isles team touring New Zealand and Australia,<ref name="Lions history">{{cite news |url=http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/potted_history.php |title=The History |publisher=The British and Irish Lions |access-date=24 September 2011 |archive-date=22 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722073223/http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/potted_history.php |url-status=live}}</ref> followed by the New Zealand team touring Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2027752.html |title=IRB Hall of Fame Welcomes Five Inductees |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=23 November 2008 |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824065112/http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2027752.html |archive-date=24 August 2010}}</ref> Traditionally the most prestigious tours were the Southern Hemisphere countries of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa making a tour of a Northern Hemisphere, and the return tours made by a joint British and Irish team.<ref>{{Harvnb|Griffiths|1987|p=ix}} "In the first century of rugby union's history the IRB only recognised matches with international status if both teams in a match came from a small pool of countries: Australia, British Lions, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales."</ref> Tours would last for months, due to long traveling times and the number of games undertaken; the 1888 New Zealand team began their tour in Hawkes Bay in June and did not complete their schedule until August 1889, having played 107 rugby matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-new-zealand-natives-rugby-tour/nz-natives-rugby-tour |title=Natives' Rugby Tour, 1888-89 |publisher=Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=28 December 2024 |archive-date=20 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520005827/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-new-zealand-natives-rugby-tour/nz-natives-rugby-tour |url-status=live}}</ref> Touring international sides would play Test matches against international opponents, including national, club and county sides in the case of Northern Hemisphere rugby, or provincial/state sides in the case of Southern Hemisphere rugby.<ref name="Lions history"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/page/78377.html |title=Take a trip down memory lane courtesy of our historian John Griffiths |publisher=espnscrum.com |date=23 November 2008 |access-date=6 October 2011 |archive-date=27 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227112241/http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/page/78377.html |url-status=dead}} "1 October: The original Wallabies beat a strong Gloucestershire XV 16–0 at Kingsholm, 2 October: The Invincible Second All Blacks have their toughest tour assignment when they are considered lucky to scrape home 13–10 against a star-studded Newport XV, 2 October: Argentina serve notice of their rapidly rising rugby stock by beating a Cardiff side captained by Gerald Davies."</ref>

Between 1905 and 1908, all three major Southern Hemisphere rugby countries sent their first touring teams to the Northern Hemisphere: [[The Original All Blacks|New Zealand]] in 1905, followed by [[1906–07 South Africa rugby union tour|South Africa]] in 1906 and [[1908–09 Australia rugby union tour of Britain|Australia]] in 1908. All three teams brought new styles of play, fitness levels and tactics,<ref name="Godwin, p18">{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=18}}</ref> and were far more successful than critics had expected.<ref>{{Harvnb|Thomas|Rowe|1954|p=27}} "When they arrived in this country [Britain] they were regarded as an unknown quantity, but it was not anticipated that they would give the stronger British teams a great deal of opposition. The result of the very first match against Devon was regarded as a foregone conclusion by most British followers."</ref>

The New Zealand 1905 touring team performed a [[Ka Mate|haka]] before each match, leading Welsh Rugby Union administrator [[Tom Williams (rugby union, born 1859)|Tom Williams]] to suggest that Wales player [[Teddy Morgan]] lead the crowd in singing the Welsh national anthem, ''[[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]]'', as a response. After Morgan began singing, the crowd joined in: the first time a national anthem was sung at the start of a sporting event.<ref>{{cite web|title=The anthem in more recent years|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/anthem/pages/anthem-today.shtml|access-date=3 December 2010|publisher=[[BBC Cymru Wales]]|date=1 December 2008|work=[[BBC Cymru Wales|BBC Cymru Wales history]]|archive-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629144706/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/anthem/pages/anthem-today.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Although the United States national anthem, "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]", was first sung before baseball games in the mid-19th century, it did not become the official national anthem until 1931. In addition, the song's pregame use did not become customary until the 1920s.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/6957582/the-history-national-anthem-sports-espn-magazine |title=The song remains the same |first1=Luke |last1=Cyphers |first2=Ethan |last2=Trex |magazine=[[ESPN The Magazine]] |date=8 September 2011 |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref>}} In 1905 France played England in its first international match.<ref name="Godwin, p18"/>

Rugby union was included as an event in the Olympic Games four times during the early 20th century. No international rugby games and union-sponsored club matches were played during the First World War, but competitions continued through service teams such as the [[New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919|New Zealand Army team]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=19}}</ref> During the Second World War no international matches were played by most countries, though Italy, Germany and Romania played a limited number of games,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/italy/rugby/match/19590.html |title=Italy Tour – Bucharest, 14 April 1940: Romania 3–0 Italy (FT) |work=ESPNscrum |access-date=12 November 2019 |archive-date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112160141/http://en.espn.co.uk/italy/rugby/match/19590.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/italy/rugby/match/19591.html |title=Italy Tour – Stuttgart, 5 May 1940: Germany (0) 0–4 (4) Italy (FT) |work=ESPNscrum |access-date=12 November 2019 |archive-date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112160144/http://en.espn.co.uk/italy/rugby/match/19591.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/italy/rugby/match/19592.html |title=Romania Tour – Milan, 2 May 1942: Italy (8) 22–3 (0) Romania (FT) |work=ESPNscrum |access-date=12 November 2019 |archive-date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112160140/http://en.espn.co.uk/italy/rugby/match/19592.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Cambridge University R.U.F.C.|Cambridge]] and [[Oxford University RFC|Oxford]] continued their annual [[The Varsity Match|University Match]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=22}}</ref>

The first officially sanctioned international rugby sevens tournament took place in 1973 at Murrayfield, one of Scotland's biggest stadiums, as part of the [[Scottish Rugby Union]] centenary celebrations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rugby in the Olympics: Future |url=http://www.irb.com/rugbyandtheolympics/future.html |work=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=18 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810065813/http://www.irb.com/rugbyandtheolympics/future.html |archive-date=10 August 2011}}</ref>

===World Cup and professionalism===
In 1987, the first Rugby World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand, and the inaugural winners were New Zealand. The first World Cup Sevens tournament was held at Murrayfield in 1993. Rugby Sevens was introduced into the [[Commonwealth Rugby Sevens Championships|Commonwealth Games]] in 1998 and was added to the Olympic Games of 2016.<ref name="I.O.C. Decision"/> Both men and women's Sevens took place at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.<ref name="Tokyo2020.org">{{cite web | title=Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sports: Rugby | url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/sport/olympic/rugby-sevens/ | access-date=25 June 2019 | archive-date=18 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918080212/https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/sport/olympic/rugby-sevens/ | url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rugby union was an amateur sport until the IRB declared the game "open" in August 1995 (shortly after the completion of the 1995 World Cup), removing restrictions on payments to players.<ref name=Stubbs3>{{Harvnb|Stubbs|2009|p=118}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History of the RFU |url=http://www.rfu.com/AboutTheRFU/History.aspx |work=[[Rugby Football Union|RFU]] |access-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422210444/http://www.rfu.com/AboutTheRFU/History.aspx |archive-date=22 April 2010 }}</ref> However, the pre-1995 period of rugby union was marked by frequent accusations of "[[shamateurism]]",<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Ontario: The Shamateurs|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,804253,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203090354/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,804253,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2011|magazine=TIME |date=29 September 1947|access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref> including an investigation in Britain by a House of Commons Select committee in early 1995.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/amateur-status-attacked-by-mps-1611641.html?CMP=ILC-refresh |title=Amateur status attacked by MPs&nbsp;— Sport&nbsp;— The Independent |first=John |last=Rentoul |work=The Independent |date=17 March 1995 |publisher=[[Independent News & Media|INM]] |location=London |issn=0951-9467 |oclc=185201487 |access-date=19 November 2011 |archive-date=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225004646/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/amateur-status-attacked-by-mps-1611641.html?CMP=ILC-refresh |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History of Rugby Union|url=http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/history_of_rugby_union.html|access-date=6 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406194223/http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/history_of_rugby_union.html|archive-date=6 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the introduction of professionalism trans-national club competitions were started, with the [[Heineken Cup]] in the Northern Hemisphere and [[Super Rugby]] in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref name="historymain">{{cite web | url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/37_74.php | title=European Rugby Cup: History | publisher=ERC | access-date=21 March 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208134810/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/37_74.php | archive-date=8 February 2007 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Gaynor">{{cite news|title=Union's off-field game a real winner|date=21 April 2001|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|first=Bryan|last=Gaynor|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/unions-off-field-game-a-real-winner/5RFGNY2XPRWHE6A3XYBUE57SRI/|access-date=14 August 2011|archive-date=1 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601001150/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[The Rugby Championship|Tri Nations]], an annual international tournament involving Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, kicked off in 1996.<ref name="Gaynor"/> In [[2012 Rugby Championship|2012]], this competition was extended to include [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]], a country whose impressive performances in international games (especially finishing in third place in the 2007 Rugby World Cup) was deemed to merit inclusion in the competition. As a result of the expansion to four teams, the tournament was renamed The Rugby Championship.<ref name="The Rugby Championship to replace Tri Nations">{{cite web | title="The Rugby Championship" to replace Tri Nations | work=rugby.com.au | url=http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1516/ArticleID/4906/Default.aspx | access-date=29 April 2014 | archive-date=8 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308043143/http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/news/newsarticle/tabid/1516/articleid/4906/default.aspx | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Teams and positions==
{{Main|Rugby union positions}}
[[File:Rugby Union Formation.svg|thumb|A standard rugby union team formation illustrating each of the positions and their respective numbers]]
Each team starts the match with 15 players on the field and typically seven or eight substitutes but this varies at amateur level.<ref name="Law3">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |work=[[World Rugby]] |title=Law 3 Number of Players |access-date=28 September 2015 |page=33 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> The 15 players on the field are divided into eight [[Rugby union positions#Forwards|forwards]] (two more than in [[rugby league]]) and seven [[Rugby union positions#Backs|backs]].<ref name="IRB BGRU 6">{{cite web|url=https://passport.worldrugby.org/beginners_guide/downloads/Beginners_Guide_2015_EN.pdf|work=[[World Rugby]] |title=A Beginner's Guide to Rugby Union |page=6|access-date=28 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406001547/https://passport.worldrugby.org/beginners_guide/downloads/Beginners_Guide_2015_EN.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are typically significantly more forwards on the bench than backs with, for example, South Africa having a 7–1 split in favour of forwards in their August 2023 match against New Zealand in Twickenham. A 6-2 or 5–3 split is more common.

===Forwards===
The main responsibilities of the forward players are to gain and retain possession of the ball. Forwards play a vital role in tackling and rucking opposing players.<ref name="talkrugby">{{cite web |url=https://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/rugby_union_positions.html |title=Rugby Union Positions |publisher=talkrugbyunion.co.uk |access-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406195335/http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/rugby_union_positions.html |archive-date=6 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Players in these positions are generally bigger and stronger and take part in the [[Scrum (rugby)|scrum]] and line-out.<ref name="talkrugby"/> The forwards are often collectively referred to as the 'pack', especially when in the scrum formation.<ref name="Glossary">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/13710817/rugby-glossary|work=ESPN Scrum|title=Rugby Glossary|access-date=13 August 2011|archive-date=21 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221091715/http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/page/97263.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Front row====
The front row consists of three players: two [[Rugby union positions#Prop|props]] (the loosehead prop and the tighthead prop) and the [[Rugby union positions#Hooker|hooker]]. The role of the two props is to support the hooker during scrums, to provide support for the jumpers during line-outs and to provide strength and power in rucks and mauls. The third position in the front row is the hooker. The hooker is a key position in attacking and defensive play and is responsible for winning the ball in the scrum. Hookers normally throw the ball in at line-outs.<ref name="IRB BGRU 6"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rugbycoaching.net/rugby-coaching/rugby-positions-explained/|title=Rugby Positions Explained|date=27 September 2011|publisher=Rugby Coaching|access-date=30 September 2012|archive-date=3 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403230706/http://rugbycoaching.net/rugby-coaching/rugby-positions-explained/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Second row====
The second row consists of two [[Rugby union positions#Locks|locks]] or lock forwards. Locks are usually the tallest players in the team and specialise as line-out jumpers.<ref name="IRB BGRU 6"/> The main role of the lock in line-outs is to make a standing jump, often supported by the other forwards, to either collect the thrown ball or ensure the ball comes down on their side. Locks also have an important role in the scrum, binding directly behind the three front row players and providing forward drive.<ref name="IRB BGRU 6"/>
[[File:Chabal Rugby Racing vs Stade Toulousain 311009.jpg|thumb|left|[[Sébastien Chabal]] (far left) in number eight position before<br />entering the scrum|alt=Facing right a group of seven men, in blue and white hooped jerseys, bind together and crouch to form a scrum. The eighth player stands behind them observing the off-picture opposition.]]

====Back row====
The back row, not to be confused with 'Backs', is the third and final row of the forward positions, who are often referred to as the loose forwards.<ref name="Glossary"/> The three positions in the back row are the two [[Rugby union positions#Flanker|flankers]] and the [[Rugby union positions#Number eight|number 8]]. The two flanker positions, known as the blindside flanker and openside flanker, are the final row in the scrum. They are usually the most mobile forwards in the game. Their main role is to win possession through 'turn overs'.<ref name="IRB BGRU 6"/> The number 8 packs down between the two locks at the back of the scrum. The role of the number 8 in the scrum is to control the ball after it has been heeled back from the front of the pack, and the position provides a link between the forwards and backs during attacking phases.<ref name="IRB BGRU 7">{{cite web|url=https://passport.worldrugby.org/beginners_guide/downloads/Beginners_Guide_2015_EN.pdf|work=[[World Rugby]] |title=A Beginner's Guide to Rugby Union |page=7|access-date=28 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406001547/https://passport.worldrugby.org/beginners_guide/downloads/Beginners_Guide_2015_EN.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Backs===
The role of the backs is to create and convert point-scoring opportunities. They are generally smaller, faster and more agile than the forwards.<ref name="talkrugby"/> Another distinction between the backs and the forwards is that the backs are expected to have superior kicking and ball-handling skills, especially the fly-half, scrum-half, and full-back.<ref name="talkrugby"/>

====Half-backs====
The half-backs consist of two positions, the [[Rugby union positions#Scrum-half|scrum-half]] and the [[Rugby union positions#Fly-half|fly-half]], also known in the Southern Hemisphere as half-back and first five-eighth respectively. The fly-half is crucial to a team's game plan, orchestrating the team's performance.<ref name="IRB BGRU 7"/> They are usually the first to receive the ball from the scrum-half following a breakdown, lineout, or scrum, and need to be decisive with what actions to take and be effective at communicating with the outside backs.<ref name="IRB BGRU 7"/> Many fly-halves are also their team's goal kickers. The scrum-half is the link between the forwards and the backs.<ref name="IRB BGRU 7"/> They receive the ball from the lineout and remove the ball from the back of the scrum, usually passing it to the fly-half.<ref name="IRB BGRU 8">{{cite web|url=https://passport.worldrugby.org/beginners_guide/downloads/Beginners_Guide_2015_EN.pdf|work=[[World Rugby]] |title=A Beginner's Guide to Rugby Union |page=8|access-date=28 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406001547/https://passport.worldrugby.org/beginners_guide/downloads/Beginners_Guide_2015_EN.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> They also feed the scrum and sometimes have to act as a fourth loose forward.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bompa|Claro|2008|p=62}}</ref>

====Three-quarters====
There are four three quarter positions: two [[Rugby union positions#Centre|centres]] (inside and outside) and two [[Rugby union positions#Wing|wings]] (left and right). In the Southern Hemisphere, the inside centre is commonly referred to as the second five-eighth, while the outside centre is simply known as the centre. The centres will attempt to tackle attacking players; whilst in attack, they should employ speed and strength to breach opposition defences.<ref name="IRB BGRU 7"/> The wings are generally positioned on the outside of the backline. Their primary function is to finish off moves and score tries.<ref>{{Harvnb|Brown|Guthrie|Growden|2010}}</ref> Wings are usually the fastest players in the team and are elusive runners who use their speed to avoid tackles.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scottish rugby welcomes back Lomu|date=7 January 2006|first=David|last=Ferguson|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/superteams/Scottish-rugby-welcomes-back-Lomu.2740238.jp|newspaper=The Scotsman|access-date=1 September 2011|archive-date=16 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616020648/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/scottish-rugby-welcomes-back-lomu-1-687348|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Full-back====
The [[Rugby union positions#Full-back|full-back]] is normally positioned several metres behind the back line. They often field opposition kicks and are usually the last line of defence should an opponent break through the back line.<ref name="IRB BGRU 7"/> Two of the most important attributes of a good full-back are dependable catching skills and a good kicking game.<ref name = "MacDonald">{{cite book|title=Rugger Practice and Tactics&nbsp;– A Manual of Rugby Football Technique |first=H. F. |last=MacDonald|year=1938|page=97}}</ref>

==Laws and gameplay==
{{Main|Rugby union laws|Rugby union gameplay}}

===Scoring===
{{See also|History of rugby union#Scoring}}
Rugby union is played between two teams&nbsp;– the one that scores more points wins the game. Points can be scored in several ways: a [[Try (rugby)|try]], scored by grounding the ball in the in-goal area (between the goal line and the dead-ball line), is worth 5 points and a subsequent conversion kick scores 2 points; a successful [[Penalty (rugby)|penalty kick]] or a [[drop goal]] each score 3 points.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |work=[[World Rugby]] |title=Law 9 Method of Scoring |access-date=28 September 2015 |pages=62–65 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> The values of each of these scoring methods have been changed over the years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/scoring.htm |title=Scoring through the ages |work=rugbyfootballhistory.com |access-date=16 August 2011 |archive-date=15 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115071254/http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/scoring.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Playing field===
[[File:RugbyPitchMetricDetailed.svg|thumb|Diagram of a rugby union playing field showing the various marked lines and distances]]According to World Rugby's Laws of the Game,<ref>{{Cite web|last=worldrugby.org|title=Laws of the Game {{!}} World Rugby Laws|url=https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/home|access-date=2021-08-18|website=www.world.rugby|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814104424/https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/home|url-status=live}}</ref> a typical rugby ground, formally known as the "playing enclosure", is formed by two major zones:

* The "playing area", which includes the "field of play" and the two "in-goals", and
* The "perimeter area", a clear space, free of obstructions such as fences and other objects which could pose a danger to players and officials (but not including marker flags, which are typically of soft construction).

The referee (and their assistants) generally have full authority and responsibility for all players and other officials inside the playing enclosure. Fences or ropes (particularly at amateur clubs) are generally used to mark the extent of this area, although in modern stadia this may include the entire arena floor or other designated space.

The Laws, above all, require that the playing enclosure's surface be safe, whilst also permitting grass, sand, clay, snow or conforming artificial turf to be used; the surface would generally be uniform across both the playing area and perimeter area, although depending on how large the perimeter is, other surfaces such as dirt, artificial turf, etc. may be used outside of a "sliding" perimeter from the bounds of the playing area.

==== Playing area ====
For the most part, the "playing area" is where the majority of play occurs. The ball is generally considered live whilst in this area, so long as players do not infringe, with special rules applied to specific zones of the playing area.

The playing area consists of:

* The 'field of play", bounded by (but not including) the sidelines and goal-lines, and
* One "in-goal" area at each end of the field, each bounded by, but not including the extensions two parallel sidelines (known in this context as the "touch in-goal" lines) and the dead-ball line, and its other bound being the goal line (or "try line") which is included as part of the "in-goal" area.

===== Field of play =====
A typical "field of play" is generally 100 metres long by 68–70 metres wide for senior rugby, depending on the specific requirements of each ground. The Laws require the field of play to be between {{convert|94|and|100|m|yd|abbr=off}} long, with a width of between {{convert|68|and|70|m|yd|abbr=off}}.

As other football codes, such as association football and rugby league, have specified a preferred or standard 68 metre width, this is often used unless a ground has been specifically designed to accommodate a 70-metre rugby field. 100 metres is the typical length, with a line (see below) often marked at halfway with "50" on it, representing 50 metres from each goal line. The variations have been allowed in the Laws, possibly to accommodate older grounds (perhaps even pre-metrification when yards and feet were specified) and developing nations.

===== Other lines and markings =====
The field of play is divided by a solid "halfway" line, drawn perpendicular to the sidelines at their midpoint. A 0.5m line is marked perpendicular to the halfway lines at its midpoint, designating the spot where the kickoffs shall be taken. The areas between each goal line and the halfway line are known as "halves" as in other football codes.

A pair of solid lines are also drawn perpendicular to the sidelines, 22 metres (formerly 25 yards) from each end of the field of play and called the 22-metre lines, or "22"s. An area at each end, also known as the "22", is bounded by, but does not include, the sidelines, goal line and 22-metre line. In this area, a defensive player who cleanly catches a ball kicked by the other team, without the ball having already touched the ground after the kick, is entitled to claim a free kick, or "[[Mark (rugby)|mark]]". Additionally, if the ball is kicked into touch by a player who had at least one foot on or behind their own 22-metre line, the line-out formed at the spot where the ball crossed the touch-line instead of being taken in line with the spot from where it was kicked.<ref name="Touch19.1">{{cite web|url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/index.php?law=19.1&language=EN|title=19.1 Throw-in|publisher=laws.worldrugby.org|work=World Rugby Laws|accessdate=8 September 2017}}</ref>

Additional broken or dashed lines (of 5 metre dash lengths, according to the Laws<ref>{{Cite web |last=worldrugby.org |title=Laws of the Game {{!}} World Rugby Laws |url=https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/law/1 |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=www.world.rugby}}</ref>) are drawn in each half or on each side of, the field, each with specific purposes under the Laws:

* "10-metre" lines: Dashed lines 10 metres either side of, and parallel to, the halfway line, designating the minimum distance a receiving team must retreat when receiving a kick-off, and the minimum distance a kick-off must travel to be legal. Equivalent to the 40-metre lines in rugby league but generally marked differently.
* "5-metre" lines: Dashed lines 5 metres into the field of play, parallel to each goal line. Scrums can be packed no nearer to each goal line than this line, and referees will often penalise scrum and ruck infringements in this area more harshly as defending sides will often try to stifle the attacking side's breakdown play.
* "Tram tracks/tramlines": Unnamed in the Laws and sometimes also referred to, confusingly, as the "5-metre" and "15-metre" lines, these two pairs of dashed lines are drawn parallel to each sideline, 5 metres and 15 metres, respectively, into the field of play from the nearer sideline, terminating at each of their respective ends' 5-metre line (parallel and adjacent to the goal line). The area between these lines are where players must stand when contesting a lineout throw.
* Additionally, the area between the two perpendicular sets of "5-metre" lines (i.e. 5 metres from each sideline and 5 metres from each goal line) is designated the "scrum zone". Where an offence occurs outside this area and the non-infringing side wishes to pack a scrum, the mark of the scrum will be moved into the zone by the referee.

Generally, points where the dashed lines intersect other lines will be marked with a "T" or cross shape, although the extensions of dashed lines are generally not drawn within 5 metres of the goal lines or sidelines, to allow a clear demarcation of the field of play's boundaries.

The Laws require the playing area to be rectangular in shape, however variations may be permitted with the approval of relevant unions. A notable example is Chatswood Oval in Sydney, Australia, an elliptically shaped cricket ground which is the home of Gordon rugby club, that has curved dead-ball lines to maximise the available in-goal space.

Where multiple sports share a field (e.g. a rugby league and a rugby union club sharing one field), lines may be overlaid on top of each other, sometimes in different colours. However, particularly for television, rugby union line markings are generally painted white. Some exceptions include the Wallabies (Australia's national team) who often have yellow markings. Local clubs may use black, yellow, or other colours on grass, with other surfaces possibly requiring different marking techniques.

Unlike association football, where on-field advertising is strictly forbidden in the laws,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Field of play {{!}} IFAB|url=https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-field-of-play/#commercial-advertising|access-date=2021-08-18|website=www.theifab.com|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201025724/https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-field-of-play/#commercial-advertising|url-status=live}}</ref> World Rugby allows sponsors logos to be painted on the playing surface. This is another way in which clubs can make money in the professional era and is also often used by host nations, professional leagues and tournaments as additional revenue streams, particularly when games are broadcast. In recent years, augmented reality technology has been used to replace painting to protect the surface or save costs on painting fields, producing a similar effect for broadcast albeit sometimes with poorer results.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bledisloe Cup 2018: 'Annoying' on-field advertising causes major distraction for television viewers|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby/news/bledisloe-cup-wallabies-all-blacks-advertising-japan-world-cup/8x1jomcfxdha1iptpif43uvl6|access-date=2021-08-18|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=14 August 2021|language=en-au|archive-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818140755/https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby/news/bledisloe-cup-wallabies-all-blacks-advertising-japan-world-cup/8x1jomcfxdha1iptpif43uvl6|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== In-goal areas ====
The in-goal areas sit behind the goal lines, equivalent to American football's "end zones". The in-goal areas must be between {{convert|6|and|22|m|yd|abbr=off}} deep and cover the full width of the field. A ball grounded in this area by an attacking player will generally result in a try being awarded, unless there has been a previous infringement, or the player has gone out-of-bounds whilst in possession of the ball.

==== Perimeter area ====
The perimeter area is considered "out-of-bounds" for the ball and the players, normally resulting in the non-infringing team receiving possession of the ball at a restart. The perimeter area can be divided into two areas:

* "Touch": The perimeter area beyond the sidelines of the playing area, but between the goal lines.
* "Touch-in-goal": The perimeter areas behind each goal line outside of the playing area. Some may refer to a ball which crosses the dead-ball lines as "dead", rather than touch-in-goal.

For the purposes of determining if a ball is "out-of-bounds" (i.e. has left the playing area), the perimeter area extends indefinitely away from the playing area.

When a ball or player goes into touch, a lineout throw is generally awarded to the opposition at the spot on the sideline where they left the field. Exceptions include a kick out "on the full" (i.e. the ball did not land in the field-of-play before going into touch) in which case the lineout would still take place on the sideline but back in line with where the ball was kicked, or when a team takes a free kick from a [[Penalty card|penalty]] where they would retain the right to throw-in.

The perimeter area should be clear and free of obstructions and heavy, solid objects which could pose a danger to players for at least 5 metres from the playing area, according to the Laws. Players often leave the playing area whether accidentally or due to being forced off of the field, sometimes sliding or needing to slow down from a sprint. Many venues at elite levels leave larger spaces around the field to accommodate fitter and faster (or heavier) players. Fixed cameras on tripods and advertising hoardings are often the main culprits for injuring players in the perimeter area.

===== Flag posts =====
Also required in the perimeter area are a set of 14 flag posts, each with a minimum height of 1.2 metres, marking the intersections of certain lines or other nominated distances. These are generally a plastic pole on a spring loaded or otherwise soft base, sometimes with a flag on top, covered in foam padding. Others may be moulded plastic or disposable cardboard. At lower levels, these flags may not be used, but are still specified in the Laws. Flags are placed as follows:

* One flag post at each intersection of the touch-in-goal lines and the goal-lines (four flags total)
* One flag post at each intersection of the touch-in-goal lines and the dead-ball lines (four flags total)
* One flag post positioned 2 metres outside of both of the sidelines, in line with both of the 22-metre lines (four flags total)
* One flag post positioned 2 metres outside of both of the sidelines, in line with the halfway line (two flags total)

==== Goalposts ====
Rugby goalposts are H-shaped and are situated in the middle of the goal lines at each end of the field. They consist of two vertical poles (known as "uprights"), generally made of steel or other metal but sometimes wood or a plastic, {{convert|5.6|m|yd}} apart, connected by a horizontal "crossbar" {{convert|3|m|yd}} above the ground. The minimum height for posts' uprights is {{convert|3.4|m|yd}},<ref name="pitch and post dimensions">{{cite web|title=A Guide to Rugby Pitch Dimensions, Sizes and Markings: Everything you ever needed to know|url=https://www.harrodsport.com/advice-and-guides/rugby-pitch-dimensions-markings/|access-date=25 June 2019|archive-date=16 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816142026/https://www.harrodsport.com/advice-and-guides/rugby-pitch-dimensions-markings|url-status=live}}</ref> with taller posts generally seen. The bottom parts of each upright are generally wrapped in purpose-made padding to protect players from injury when coming into contact with the posts and creating another opportunity for sponsors. Until a Law change by World Rugby in 2020, it was possible for an attacking player to score a try by grounding the ball against the base of the upright as the padding was considered an extension of the goal line.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2020/05/12/world-rugby-alter-law-8-2a-try-against-posts/ | title=World Rugby alter Law 8.2(a): Try against posts | publisher=Americas Rugby News | date=12 May 2020 | access-date=21 March 2023 | archive-date=20 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320164719/https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2020/05/12/world-rugby-alter-law-8-2a-try-against-posts/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Match structure===
At the beginning of the game, the captains and the referee toss a coin to decide which team will kick off first. Play then starts with a dropkick, with the players chasing the ball into the opposition's territory, and the other side trying to retrieve the ball and advance it. The dropkick must make contact with the ground before being kicked. If the ball does not reach the opponent's {{convert|10|m|yd|adj=on|abbr=off}} line 10 meters away, the opposing team has two choices: to have the ball kicked off again, or to have a [[scrum (rugby union)|scrum]] at the centre of the half-way line.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |work=[[World Rugby]] |pages=85–91 |title=Law 13 Kick-off and Restart Kicks |access-date=28 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref>
If the player with the ball is tackled, frequently a [[Playing rugby union#Ruck|ruck]] will result.<ref name=Midgley>{{Cite book| last = Midgley| first = Ruth| title = The Official World Encyclopedia of Sports and Games| publisher=Diagram Group| year = 1979| location = London|page=394 | isbn = 0-7092-0153-2}}</ref>

Games are divided into 40-minute halves, with an [[Half-time|intermission]] of not more than 15 minutes in the middle.<ref name="IRBLaw5">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |title=Law 5: Time |work=[[World Rugby]] |pages=45–47 |access-date=27 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> The sides exchange ends of the field after the half-time break.<ref name="IRBLaw5"/> Stoppages for injury or to allow the referee to take disciplinary action do not count as part of the playing time, so that the elapsed time is usually longer than 80 minutes.<ref name="IRBLaw5"/> The referee is responsible for keeping time, even when—as in many professional tournaments—he is assisted by an official time-keeper.<ref name="IRBLaw5"/> If time expires while the ball is in play, the game continues until the ball is "dead", and only then will the referee blow the whistle to signal half-time or full-time; but if the referee awards a penalty or free-kick, the game continues.<ref name="IRBLaw5"/>

In the knockout stages of rugby competitions, most notably the [[Rugby World Cup]], two extra time periods of 10 minutes periods are played (with an interval of 5 minutes in between) if the game is tied after full-time. If scores are level after 100 minutes then the rules call for 20 minutes of sudden-death extra time to be played. If the sudden-death extra time period results in no scoring a kicking competition is used to determine the winner. However, no match in the history of the Rugby World Cup has ever gone past 100 minutes into a sudden-death extra time period.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/jwrt/rules/index.html |title=IRB Laws&nbsp;– Time |date=7 December 2013 |access-date=7 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325160709/http://www.irb.com/jwrt/rules/index.html |archive-date=25 March 2008 }}</ref>

===Passing and kicking===
{{multiple image
 | align = right

| image1 = 2009 Isaac Boss cropped.jpg
 | width1 = 130
 | alt1 = 
 | caption1 = A player about to<br />pass the ball

| image2 = Torneo de clasificación WRWC 2014 - Italia vs España - 86.jpg
 | width2 = 130
 | alt2 = 
 | caption2  = Kicking conversion after a try

| footer = 
}}

Forward passing (throwing the ball ahead to another player) is not allowed; the ball can be passed laterally or backwards.<ref name="irblaws12">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |title=Law 12 Knock-on or Throw Forward |publisher=[[World Rugby]] |access-date=28 September 2015 |pages=81–83 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> The ball tends to be moved forward in three ways—by kicking, by a player running with it or within a scrum or [[Playing rugby union#Maul|maul]]. Only the player with the ball may be tackled or rucked. A "knock-on" is committed when a player knocks the ball forward, and play is restarted with a scrum.<ref name="irblaws12"/>

Any player may kick the ball forward in an attempt to gain territory. When a player anywhere in the playing area kicks indirectly into [[Touch (rugby)|touch]] so that the ball first bounces in the field of play, the throw-in is taken where the ball went into touch.<ref name="WRlaw19">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |title=Law 19 Touch and Lineout |publisher=[[World Rugby]] |access-date=28 September 2015 |pages=117–137 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> If the player kicks directly into touch (i.e. without bouncing in-field first) from within one's own {{convert|22|m|yd|adj=on|abbr=off}} line, the lineout is taken by the opposition where the ball went into touch, but if the ball is kicked into touch directly by a player outside the {{convert|22|m|yd|adj=on|abbr=off}} line, the lineout is taken level to where the kick was taken.<ref name="WRlaw19"/>

===Breakdowns===
[[File:Schoolkids doing a rugby tackle.jpg|thumb|upright|A rugby tackle must be below the neck with the aim of impeding or grounding the player with the ball.|alt=A child running away from camera in green and black hooped rugby jersey is being tackled around the hips and legs by another child in opposition kit.]]
The aim of the defending side is to stop the player with the ball, by tackling them, and either bringing them to ground (which is frequently followed by a ruck) or contesting for possession with the ball-carrier on their feet (a maul). A ruck or maul is called a breakdown, and each is governed by a specific law.

'''Tackling'''

A player may tackle an opposing player who has the ball by holding them while bringing them to ground. Tacklers cannot tackle above the shoulder (the neck and head are out of bounds),<ref name="10.4e">{{cite web |url=http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=10 |title=Law 10 Foul play |page=10.4(e) |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=26 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022230153/http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=10 |archive-date=22 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the tackler has to attempt to wrap their arms around the player being tackled to complete the tackle. It is illegal to push, shoulder-charge, or to trip a player using feet or legs, but hands may be used (this being referred to as a tap-tackle or [[Ankle tap|ankle-tap]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=10 |title=Law 10 Foul play |page=10.4(d) |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209111927/http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=10 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=10 |title=Law 10 Foul play |page=10.4(g) |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209111927/http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=10 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Tacklers may not tackle an opponent who has jumped to catch a ball until the player has landed.<ref name="10.4e"/>

'''Rucking and Mauling'''

Mauls occur after a player with the ball has come into contact with an opponent but the handler remains on his feet; once any combination of at least three players have bound themselves a maul has been set.<ref name="Glossary"/> A ruck is similar to the maul, but in this case the ball has gone to ground with at least three attacking players binding themselves on the ground in an attempt to secure the ball.<ref name="Glossary"/>

===Set pieces===
[[File:Ireland vs Georgia, Rugby World Cup 2007 line up.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] and [[Georgia national rugby union team|Georgia]] contesting a line-out in the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]]|alt=Two rows of opposing players, green to the fore, white behind, each aiding a jumping player from their team by lifting him towards an off-picture ball travelling overhead]]

====Lineout====
{{Main|Line-out (rugby union)}}

When the ball leaves the side of the field, a [[line-out (rugby union)|line-out]] is awarded against the team which last touched the ball.<ref name="irblaws19">{{cite web |url=http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=19 |title=Law 19 Touch and Lineout |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209104345/http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=19 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Forward players from each team line up a metre apart, perpendicular to the touchline and between {{cvt|5|and|15|m|yd}} from the touchline.<ref name="irblaws19"/> The ball is thrown from the touchline down the centre of the lines of forwards by a player (usually the [[hooker (rugby union)|hooker]]) from the team that did not play the ball into touch.<ref name="irblaws19"/> The exception to this is when the ball went out from a penalty, in which case the side who gained the penalty throws the ball in.<ref name="irblaws19"/>

Both sides compete for the ball and players may lift their teammates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=19 |title=Law 19 Touch and Lineout |page=19.10 |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209104345/http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=19 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A jumping player cannot be tackled until they stand and only shoulder-to-shoulder contact is allowed; deliberate infringement of this law is dangerous play, and results in a penalty kick.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=19 |title=Law 19 Touch and Lineout |page=19.8(p) |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209104345/http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?law=19 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

====Scrum====
{{Main|Scrum (rugby union)}}

[[File:Scrum-1.JPG|thumb|A [[scrum (rugby)|scrum]] between New Zealand's [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]] and Australia's [[Brumbies]]|alt=Two opposing formations of eight men, in white and black to the left, red and black to the right, push against each other in a crouched position; behind them stands another player and the referee]]
A scrum is a way of restarting the game safely and fairly after a minor infringement.<ref name="WRlaw20">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |title=Law 20 Scrum |work=[[World Rugby]] |access-date=28 September 2015 |pages=138–150 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> It is awarded when the ball has been knocked or passed forward, if a player takes the ball over their own try line and puts the ball down, when a player is accidentally [[Offside (rugby)#Rugby union|offside]] or when the ball is trapped in a ruck or maul with no realistic chance of being retrieved. A team may also opt for a scrum if awarded a penalty.<ref name="WRlaw20"/>

A scrum is formed by the eight forwards from each team crouching down and binding together in three rows, before interlocking with the opposing team.<ref name="WRlaw20"/> For each team, the front row consists of two props (loosehead and tighthead) either side of the hooker.<ref name="WRlaw20"/> The two props are typically amongst the strongest players on the team. The second row consists of two locks and the two flankers. Behind the second row is the number 8. This formation is known as the 3–4–1 formation.<ref name="FormingScrum">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rules_and_equipment/4205334.stm |title=Forming a scrum |work=BBC Sport |access-date=13 August 2011 |date=14 September 2005 |archive-date=2 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502215551/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rules_and_equipment/4205334.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Once a scrum is formed the scrum-half from the team awarded the ''feed'' rolls the ball into the gap between the two front-rows known as the ''tunnel''.<ref name="WRlaw20"/> The two hookers then compete for possession by hooking the ball backwards with their feet, while each pack tries to push the opposing pack backwards to help gain possession.<ref name="WRlaw20"/> The side that wins possession can either keep the ball under their feet while driving the opposition back, in order to gain ground, or transfer the ball to the back of the scrum where it can be picked up by the number 8 or by the scrum-half.<ref name="WRlaw20"/>

===Officials and offences===
{{Main|Rugby union match officials|Laws of rugby union}}

[[File:Touch_judge.jpg|thumb|upright|Touch judge with flag]]
There are three match officials: a referee, and two assistant referees. The referees are commonly addressed as "Sir".<ref name="WRLaw6">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |title=Law 6: Match officials |work=[[World Rugby]] |access-date=28 September 2015 |pages=48–57 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> The latter, formerly known as touch judges, had the primary function of indicating when the ball had gone into "touch"; their role has been expanded and they are now expected to assist the referee in a number of areas, such as watching for foul play and checking offside lines.<ref name="WRLaw6"/> In addition, for matches in high level competitions, there is often a [[Rugby union match officials#Television match official (TMO)|television match official]] (TMO; popularly called the "video referee"), to assist with certain decisions, linked up to the referee by radio.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-refereeing-protocol-rules-over-common-sense-2242369.html |title=Peter Bills: Refereeing protocol rules over common sense |work=The Independent |first=Peter |last=Bills |access-date=15 March 2011 |date=15 March 2011 |archive-date=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225004638/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-refereeing-protocol-rules-over-common-sense-2242369.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The referees have a system of hand signals to indicate their decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coachingrugby.com/OpenPagesContent.do?requestType1=currentIssues/&requestType2=lawsSignals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060511235739/http://www.coachingrugby.com/OpenPagesContent.do?requestType1=currentIssues%2F&requestType2=lawsSignals |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 May 2006 |title=Referee Signals |work=coachingrugby.com |access-date=24 September 2011}}</ref>

Common offences include tackling above the shoulders, collapsing a [[Scrum (rugby union)|scrum]], ruck or maul, not releasing the ball when on the ground, or being offside.<ref name="WRLaw10">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |title=Law 10: Foul Play |work=[[World Rugby]] |pages=66–74 |access-date=28 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> The non-offending team has a number of options when awarded a penalty: a "tap" kick, when the ball is kicked a very short distance from hand, allowing the kicker to regather the ball and run with it; a punt, when the ball is kicked a long distance from hand, for field position; a place-kick, when the kicker will attempt to score a goal; or a scrum.<ref name="WRLaw10"/> Players may be sent off (signalled by a [[Red card (sports)|red card]]) or temporarily suspended ("sin-binned") for ten minutes ([[Yellow card (sport)|yellow card]]) for foul play or repeated infringements, and may not be replaced.<ref name="WRLaw10"/>

Occasionally, infringements are not caught by the referee during the match and these may be "cited" by the [[citing commissioner]] after the match and have punishments (usually suspension for a number of weeks) imposed on the infringing player.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/heinekencup/rules/index.php |title=European Club Rugby: Key Tournament Rules |work=ercrugby.com |access-date=24 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127191851/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/heinekencup/rules/index.php |archive-date=27 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Replacements and substitutions===
During the match, players may be replaced (for injury) or substituted (for tactical reasons).<ref name="Law3"/> A player who has been replaced may not rejoin play unless he was temporarily replaced to have bleeding controlled; a player who has been substituted may return temporarily, to replace a player who has a blood injury or has suffered a concussion, or permanently, if he is replacing a front-row forward.<ref name="Law3"/> In international matches, eight replacements are allowed; in domestic or cross-border tournaments, at the discretion of the responsible national union(s), the number of replacements may be nominated to a maximum of eight, of whom three must be sufficiently trained and experienced to provide cover for the three front row positions.<ref name="Law3"/><ref name="Uncontested">{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2033086.html#irb+acts+uncontested+scrums |title=IRB acts on uncontested scrums |publisher=[[World Rugby|International Rugby Board]] |date=19 August 2009 |access-date=23 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822203000/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2033086.html |archive-date=22 August 2009 }}</ref>

Prior to 2016, all substitutions, no matter the cause, counted against the limit during a match. In 2016, [[World Rugby]] changed the law so that substitutions made to replace a player deemed unable to continue due to foul play by the opposition would no longer count against the match limit. This change was introduced in January of that year in the Southern Hemisphere and June in the Northern Hemisphere.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15885158/world-rugby-introduces-new-rules-stop-simulation |title=World Rugby introduces new rules to stop simulation |publisher=[[ESPN (UK)]] |date=1 June 2016 |access-date=4 June 2016 |archive-date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605034908/http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15885158/world-rugby-introduces-new-rules-stop-simulation |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Equipment==
{{Main|Rugby union equipment}}

The most basic items of equipment for a game of rugby union are the ball itself, a [[rugby shirt]] (also known as a "jersey"), [[rugby shorts]], socks, and [[Football boot#Different styles for different surfaces|boots]]. The [[rugby ball]] is oval in shape (technically a [[prolate spheroid]]), and is made up of four panels.<ref name="WRLaw2">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |title=Law 2 The Ball |pages=31–32 |publisher=[[World Rugby]] |access-date=28 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> The ball was historically made of leather, but in the modern era most games use a ball made from a synthetic material. World Rugby lays out specific dimensions for the ball, {{cvt|280|-|300|mm|in}} in length, {{cvt|740|-|770|mm|in}} in circumference of length and {{cvt|580|-|620|mm|in}} in circumference of width.<ref name="WRLaw2"/> Rugby boots have soles with studs to allow grip on the turf of the pitch. The studs may be either metal or plastic but must not have any sharp edges or ridges.<ref name="WRLaw4">{{cite web |url=http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |title=Law 4 Players' clothing |pages=41–44 |publisher=[[World Rugby]] |access-date=28 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025124/http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref>

Protective equipment is optional and strictly regulated. The most common items are [[mouthguard]]s, which are worn by almost all players, and are compulsory in some rugby-playing nations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coachingtoolbox.co.nz/rugbysmart/protective-equipment/ |title=Protect Your Assets: Mouthguards |access-date=23 September 2011 |publisher=coaching toolbox.co.nz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208034203/http://www.coachingtoolbox.co.nz/rugbysmart/protective-equipment/ |archive-date=8 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other protective items that are permitted include [[scrum cap|headgear]]; thin (not more than 10&nbsp;mm thick), non-rigid shoulder pads and [[shin guard]]s, which are worn underneath socks.<ref name="WRLaw4"/> Bandages or tape can be worn to support or protect injuries; some players wear tape around the head to protect the ears in scrums and rucks. Female players may also wear chest pads.<ref name="WRLaw4"/> Although not worn for protection, some types of fingerless mitts are allowed to aid grip.<ref name="WRLaw4"/>

It is the responsibility of the match officials to check players' clothing and equipment before a game to ensure that it conforms to the laws of the game.<ref name="WRLaw4"/>

==Governing bodies==
{{See also|World Rugby|Timeline of foundation of national rugby unions}}
[[File:World Rugby member unions and associates.svg|thumb|upright=1.6|
'''Member and Associated Unions'''
{{legend|#008000|Member Union}}
{{legend|#00FF00|Associated Union}}
]]
The international governing body of rugby union (and associated games such as sevens) is World Rugby.<ref name="IRB Organisation"/> The World Rugby headquarters are in [[Dublin]], Ireland.<ref name="IRB Organisation"/> World Rugby, founded in 1886, governs the sport worldwide and publishes the game's laws and [[IRB World Rankings|rankings]].<ref name="IRB Organisation"/> As of February 2014, World Rugby (then known as the IRB, for International Rugby Board) recorded 119 unions in its membership, 101 full members and 18 associate member countries.<ref name="6.6m"/> According to World Rugby, rugby union is played by men and women in over 100 countries.<ref name="IRB Organisation"/> World Rugby controls the [[Rugby World Cup]],<ref name="IRB Organisation"/> the [[Women's Rugby World Cup]],<ref>{{cite web|work=rwcwomens.com |title=IRB Women's Rugby World Cup |url=http://www.rwcwomens.com/ |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903054021/http://www.rwcwomens.com/ |archive-date=3 September 2011 }}</ref> [[Rugby World Cup Sevens]],<ref>{{cite web|work=stuff.co.nz|title=Russia to host 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/sevens/5634035/Russia-to-host-2013-Rugby-World-Cup-Sevens|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912160033/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/sevens/5634035/Russia-to-host-2013-Rugby-World-Cup-Sevens|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2012|access-date=24 September 2011|date=15 September 2011}}</ref> [[World Rugby Sevens Series|HSBC Sevens Series]],<ref>{{cite web|work=irbsevens.com |title=Rules |url=http://www.irbsevens.com/seriesinfo/rules.html |access-date=27 February 2014 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212061043/http://www.irbsevens.com/seriesinfo/rules.html |archive-date=12 December 2013 }}</ref> [[World Rugby Women's Sevens Series|HSBC Women's Sevens Series]],<ref>{{cite web | publisher=World Rugby | title=Women's Sevens World Series News | url=http://www.worldrugby.org/womens-sevens-series | access-date=20 November 2014 | archive-date=1 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001222054/http://www.worldrugby.org/womens-sevens-series | url-status=live }}</ref> [[World Rugby Under 20 Championship|World Under 20 Championship]],<ref>{{cite web|work=IRB.com |title=Chile to host IRB Junior World Trophy |url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2000098.html |access-date=24 September 2011 |date=31 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518111417/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2000098.html |archive-date=18 May 2011 }}</ref> [[World Rugby Under 20 Trophy|World Under 20 Trophy]],<ref>{{cite web|work=IRB.com |title=IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy |url=http://www.irb.com/jwrt/rules/index.html |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918071956/http://www.irb.com/jwrt/rules/index.html |archive-date=18 September 2011 }}</ref> [[World Rugby Nations Cup (2006–2019)|Nations Cup]]<ref>{{cite web|work=IRB.com |title=Nations Cup |url=http://www.irb.com/nationscup/news/index.html |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824035936/http://www.irb.com/nationscup/news/index.html |archive-date=24 August 2011 }}</ref> and the [[Pacific Nations Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|work=IRB.com |title=Pacific Nations Cup |url=http://www.irb.com/pacificnationscup/index.html |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902103431/http://www.irb.com/pacificnationscup/index.html |archive-date=2 September 2011 }}</ref> World Rugby holds votes to decide where each of these events are to be held, except in the case of the Sevens World Series for men and women, for which World Rugby contracts with several national unions to hold individual events.

Six regional associations, which are members of World Rugby, form the next level of administration; these are:
* [[Rugby Africa]], formerly Confederation of African Rugby (CAR)<ref>{{cite web|work=IRB.com |title=African Rugby unveils blueprint for growth |url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2041287.html |date=24 December 2010 |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113151724/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2041287.html |archive-date=13 January 2011 }}</ref>
* [[Asia Rugby]], formerly Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU)<ref>{{cite web|work=IRB.com |title=HSBC extends commitment to Asian rugby |url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2041344.html |date=19 January 2011 |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016042833/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2041344.html |archive-date=16 October 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Rugby Americas North]], formerly North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dubai7slive.com/ |title=Dubai 7s Rugby |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705070810/http://dubai7slive.com/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
* [[Rugby Europe]], previously Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur&nbsp;– Association Européenne de Rugby (FIRA-AER)<ref name="FIRA">{{cite web | work=fira-aer-rugby.com | title=FIRA-AER History | url=http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/article-28.htm | access-date=24 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427115039/http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/article-28.htm | archive-date=27 April 2013 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Oceania Rugby]], formerly Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU)<ref>{{cite web | work=oceaniarugby.com | title=FORU Mission | url=http://oceaniarugby.com/home.html | access-date=24 September 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004102301/http://oceaniarugby.com/home.html | archive-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Sudamérica Rugby]], formerly Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby (''South American Rugby Confederation'', or CONSUR)<ref>{{cite web | work=consur.org | title=Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby (CONSUR) | url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.consur.org/&ei=O6h9Tv-5IKaR0AWPv9AC&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dconsur%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D623%26prmd%3Dimvns | access-date=24 September 2011 | archive-date=28 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728105118/https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.consur.org%2F&ei=O6h9Tv-5IKaR0AWPv9AC&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q7gEwAA&prev=%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dconsur%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D623%26prmd%3Dimvns | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[SANZAAR]] (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby) is a joint venture of the [[South African Rugby Union]], [[New Zealand Rugby]], [[Rugby Australia]] and the [[Argentine Rugby Union]] (UAR) that operates [[Super Rugby]] and [[The Rugby Championship]] (formerly the Tri Nations before the entry of Argentina).<ref>{{cite web | work=rugbyweek.com | title=SANZAAR Boss Peters defends TriNations timing | url=http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=31407 | access-date=24 September 2011 | date=4 August 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326201127/http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=31407 | archive-date=26 March 2012}}</ref> Although UAR initially had no representation on the former SANZAR board, it was granted input into the organisation's issues, especially with regard to The Rugby Championship,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allblacks.com/news/18009/SANZAR-remains-intact |title=SANZAR remains intact |first=James |last=Mortimer |work=[[New Zealand Rugby Union|AllBlacks.com]] |date=9 November 2011 |access-date=10 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227101127/http://www.allblacks.com/news/18009/SANZAR-remains-intact |archive-date=27 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and became a full SANZAAR member in 2016 (when the country entered Super Rugby).

National unions oversee rugby union within individual countries and are affiliated to World Rugby. Since 2016, the World Rugby Council has 40 seats. A total of 11 unions—the eight foundation unions of [[Rugby Football Union|England]], [[Scottish Rugby Union|Scotland]], [[Irish Rugby Union|Ireland]], [[Welsh Rugby Union|Wales]], Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and [[French Rugby Federation|France]], plus Argentina, {{runion|Canada}} and {{runion|Italy}}—have two seats each. In addition, the six regional associations have two seats each. Four more unions—{{runion|Georgia}}, {{runion|Japan}}, {{runion|Romania}} and the [[USA Rugby|USA]]—have one seat each. Finally, the chairman and vice chairman, who usually come from one of the eight foundation unions (although the current vice chairman, [[Agustín Pichot]], is with the non-foundation Argentine union) have one vote each.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usarugby.org/2015/11/usa-rugby-reaction-to-world-rugby-governance-reform/ |title=USA Rugby Reaction to World Rugby Governance Reform |last=Sero |first=Nick |date=10 November 2015 |website=usarugby.org |access-date=11 May 2016 |archive-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120062421/https://www.usarugby.org/2015/11/usa-rugby-reaction-to-world-rugby-governance-reform/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="IRB Organisation">{{cite web|work=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |title=IRB Organisation |url=http://www.irb.com/aboutirb/organisation/index.html |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922095704/http://www.irb.com/aboutirb/organisation/index.html |archive-date=22 September 2011 }}</ref>

==Global reach==
{{See also|List of rugby union playing countries}}
[[File:Walers Japan Rugby World Cup 2007 09 20 supporters1.jpg|thumb|Japanese and Welsh rugby fans in [[Cardiff]], Wales, September 2007|alt=A group of thirteen supporters pose together, nine standing in back row, four seated at front, some wearing rugby jerseys and others sporting traditional Japanese costumes and Japanese flags.]]
The earliest countries to adopt rugby union were [[Rugby union in England|England]], the country of inception, and the other three Home Nations, [[Rugby union in Scotland|Scotland]], [[Rugby union in Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Rugby union in Wales|Wales]]. The spread of rugby union as a global sport has its roots in the exporting of the game by British expatriates, military personnel, and overseas university students. The first rugby club in [[Rugby union in France|France]] was formed by British residents in Le Havre in 1872, while the next year [[Rugby union in Argentina|Argentina]] recorded its first game: 'Banks' v 'City' in Buenos Aires.<ref name="Godwin11">{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=11}}</ref> In turn, French and Argentine travellers, particularly students, spread the Game beyond the British Empire, forming roots in particular in Italy, Romania, Uruguay and Chile.

Eight countries have adopted rugby union as their de facto [[national sport]]; they are [[Fiji]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4272324.stm |title=Fire and flair: Fijian rugby |work=BBC Sport |first=Sean |last=Davies |date=13 October 2005 |access-date=17 August 2011 |archive-date=30 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230173331/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4272324.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Rugby union in Georgia|Georgia]], [[Rugby union in Madagascar|Madagascar]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/jwrt/news/newsid=2042633.html |title=Scene set for an exciting Junior Trophy |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |date=13 May 2011 |access-date=17 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518181350/http://www.irb.com/jwrt/news/newsid=2042633.html |archive-date=18 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/feb/11/six-nations-second-division-european-rugby|title=There is far more to savour in European rugby union than just the Six Nations|date=11 February 2014|access-date=28 September 2015|work=The Guardian|author=Kitson, Robert|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813044350/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/feb/11/six-nations-second-division-european-rugby|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fbstreams.me/stream/rugby|title=Rugby Live Stream|date=23 December 2017|access-date=24 December 2017|archive-date=24 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101154/https://www.fbstreams.me/stream/rugby|url-status=live}}</ref> New Zealand,<ref>{{cite journal|url= |title=The New Zealand Rugby Injury and Performance Project: II. Previous injury experience of a rugby-playing cohort |publisher=British Medical Journal |year=1994|author1=Gerrard, D. F. |author2=Waller, A. E. |author3=Bird, Y. N. |journal=British Journal of Sports Medicine |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=229–33 |doi=10.1136/bjsm.28.4.229 |pmid=7894952 |pmc=1332081 |issn = 0306-3674 }}</ref> [[Samoa]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/team_pages/samoa/3079758.stm |title=Sititi targets pool's big fish |work=BBC Sport |date=26 September 2003 |access-date=17 August 2011 |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221030034/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/team_pages/samoa/3079758.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Rugby union in Tonga|Tonga]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzte.govt.nz/latest-events/Rugby-World-Cup-2011/Documents/Country%20brief%20-%20Tonga.pdf |title=Exporter Guide: Tonga |publisher=New Zealand Trade and Enterprise |year=2010 |access-date=17 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928064142/http://www.nzte.govt.nz/latest-events/Rugby-World-Cup-2011/Documents/Country%20brief%20-%20Tonga.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref> Wales and South Africa.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor1-first=John |editor1-last=Davies|editor1-link=John Davies (historian) |editor2-first=Nigel |editor2-last=Jenkins |editor2-link=Nigel Jenkins |editor3-first=Menna |editor3-last=Baines|editor4-first=Peredur I. |editor4-last=Lynch|editor4-link=Peredur Lynch |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Wales|The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales]] |year=2008 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff|page=782 |title=Rugby Union |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ZEUAQAAIAAJ&q=%22large+popular+following%22 |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6}}</ref>

===Oceania===
A rugby club was formed in Sydney, [[New South Wales]], [[Rugby union in Australia|Australia]] in 1864; while the sport was said to have been introduced to [[Rugby union in New Zealand|New Zealand]] by [[Charles John Monro|Charles Monro]] in 1870, who played rugby while a student at [[Christ's College (Finchley)|Christ's College, Finchley]].<ref name="Godwin10"/>

Several island nations have embraced the sport of rugby. Rugby was first played in [[Rugby union in Fiji|Fiji]] {{Circa|1884}} by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at [[Ba (town)|Ba]] on Viti Levu island.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=74}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/5392022.stm | title=Fire and flair: Fijian rugby | work=BBC Sport | first=Sean | last=Davies | date=29 September 2006 | access-date=20 September 2011 | archive-date=9 February 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209154425/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/5392022.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Fiji then sent their first overseas team to [[Rugby union in Samoa|Samoa]] in 1924, who in turn set up their own [[Lakapi Samoa|union]] in 1924.<ref>{{Harvnb|Jones|Golesworthy|1976|p=10}}</ref> Along with [[Rugby union in Tonga|Tonga]], other countries to have national rugby teams in Oceania include [[Rugby union in the Cook Islands|the Cook Islands]], [[Rugby union in Niue|Niue]], [[Rugby union in Papua New Guinea|Papua New Guinea]] and [[Rugby union in Solomon Islands|Solomon Islands]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oceaniarugby.com/member_unions/foru_member_union_american_samoa.html | title=Member Unions | work=oceaniarugby.com | access-date=1 October 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331061452/http://www.oceaniarugby.com/member_unions/foru_member_union_american_samoa.html | archive-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>

===North America and Caribbean===
{{See also|Rugby Americas North}}
In North America, a club formed in Montreal in 1868, [[Rugby union in Canada|Canada]]'s first club. The city of Montreal also played its part in the introduction of the sport in the [[Rugby union in the United States|United States]], when students of [[McGill University]] played against a team from [[Harvard University]] in 1874.<ref name="Godwin10"/><ref name="Godwin11"/> The two variants of gridiron football — [[Canadian football]] and, to a lesser extent, [[American football]] — were once considered forms of [[rugby football]], but the introduction of the legal [[forward pass]] severed the conceptual link between the old world rugby codes and new world gridiron codes, and they are seldom now referred to as forms of rugby football. One lasting element of the link, the governing body of Canadian football, [[Football Canada#1880–1955, Canadian Rugby Union|Football Canada]], was known as the Canadian Rugby Union (CRU) as late as 1967, more than fifty years after the sport parted ways with the established rules of rugby union. The [[Grey Cup]], the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of the professional [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL), was originally awarded to the champion of the CRU. The two strongest leagues in the CRU, the [[Interprovincial Rugby Football Union]] in [[Eastern Canada]] and the [[Western Interprovincial Football Union]] in [[Western Canada]], evolved into the present day CFL.

Although the exact date of arrival of [[rugby union in Trinidad and Tobago]] is unknown, their first club Northern RFC was formed in 1923, a national team was playing by 1927 and due to a cancelled tour to [[British Guiana]] in 1933, switched their venue to [[Rugby union in Barbados|Barbados]]; introducing rugby to the island.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=160}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=43}}</ref> Other Atlantic countries to play rugby union include [[Rugby union in Jamaica|Jamaica]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000064/index.html |title=Jamaica |work=[[World Rugby|IRB]] |access-date=6 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928002800/http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000064/index.html |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref> and [[Rugby union in Bermuda|Bermuda]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000040/index.html |title=Bermuda |work=[[World Rugby|IRB]] |access-date=6 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915192248/http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000040/index.html |archive-date=15 September 2011 }}</ref>

[[College rugby|Rugby union]] is the fastest growing [[college sport]] and sport in general in the US.<ref name="urlU.S Rugby Scholarships - U.S. Sports Scholarships"/><ref name="urlRugby: Fastest growing sport in the U.S. also one of the oldest - Global Sport Matters"/><ref name="urlWhere Is Rugby the Most Popular Among Students: Comparison of US and UK Student Leagues {{!}} Love Rugby League"/>

[[Major League Rugby]] is the top professional rugby union competition in the US and Canada. One American professional team, [[American Raptors]], formerly the MLR Glendale and Colorado Raptors, plays in the broadly South American [[Super Rugby Americas]] competition.

===Europe===
[[File:Germany vs Belgium rugby match.jpg|thumb|[[Rugby union in Germany|Germany]] playing [[Belgium national rugby union team|Belgium]] in a World Cup qualifier, April 2006]]
The growth of rugby union in [[Europe]] outside the 6 Nations countries in terms of playing numbers, [[attendance]]s, and viewership has been sporadic. Historically, British and Irish home teams played the Southern Hemisphere teams of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as France. The rest of Europe were left to play amongst themselves. During a period when it had been isolated by the British and Irish Unions, France, lacking international competition, became the only European team from the top tier to regularly play the other European countries; mainly [[Rugby union in Belgium|Belgium]], the [[Rugby union in the Netherlands|Netherlands]], [[Rugby union in Germany|Germany]], [[Rugby union in Spain|Spain]], [[Rugby union in Romania|Romania]], [[Rugby union in Poland|Poland]], [[Rugby union in Italy|Italy]] and [[Rugby union in Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovakia]].<ref name="FIRA"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Dine |first=Philip |title=French Rugby Football |year=2001 |pages=79–94|publisher=Berg |location=Oxford |isbn=1-85973-327-1}}</ref> In 1934, instigated by the [[French Rugby Federation]], FIRA (Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur) was formed to organise rugby union outside the authority of the IRFB.<ref name="FIRA"/> The founding members were {{runion|ITA}}, {{runion|ROM}}, {{runion|NLD}}, {{runion|POR}}, {{runion|CSK}}, and {{runion|SWE}}.

Four European teams have had, at different times, notable success; the most successful, [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]], joined the [[Five Nations Championship]] in 2000 as its sixth member, and while it remains the weakest of the [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]], it has recorded numerous wins over all its 6N rivals with the exception of England, as well as defeating South Africa, Australia and Argentina in official matches. Before Italy's ascension, Romania enjoyed a period of success as their teams, backed by a supportive Communist government, regularly challenged the major European nations. The fall of Communism in Romania led to an era of steep decline from which Romania has yet to fully emerge, but it remains one of the most prominent of the second level European teams. Georgia, in the Caucasus, rose to prominence in the early 21st century; the traditional national game [[Lelo burti|lelo]] bore strong similarities to rugby union, meaning the country was naturally attracted to the sport upon independence, and the Georgians are now regarded as the top European nation below the traditional Six Nations, and even possibly on a par with Italy. Having qualified for the [[2023 Rugby World Cup]] through the final repechage, [[Portugal national rugby union team|Portugal]] had a startlingly successful tournament, holding Georgia to an 18–18 draw, and performing strongly against Tier One sides Wales and Australia before an historic victory over eventual quarter-finalists [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]]. Portugal demonstrated significant fan support during the tournament.

Other European rugby playing nations of note include [[Rugby union in Russia|Russia]], whose first officially recorded match is marked by an encounter between [[Dynamo Moscow]] and the [[Moscow Institute of Physical Education]] in 1933.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=148}}</ref> [[Rugby union in Spain]], often associated with the Basque and Catalan regions near the French border, is also relatively strong in this context, having twice missed out on World Cup qualification by rule breaches having gained the points required, and hosting several large crowds for [[European Rugby Champions Cup|European Professional Rugby Cup]] matches.

In 1999, FIRA agreed to place itself under the auspices of the IRB, transforming itself into a strictly European organising body. Accordingly, it changed its name to FIRA–AER (Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur – Association Européenne de Rugby). It adopted its current name of [[Rugby Europe]] in 2014.

===South America===
[[File:URBA Finals.jpg|thumb|upright|Argentine teams [[Asociación Alumni|Alumni]] and [[Hindú Club|Hindú]] playing the [[Torneo de la URBA]] final match, 2007]]

Although [[Argentina]] is the best-known rugby playing nation in [[South America]], founding the [[Argentine Rugby Union]] in 1899,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8362870.stm | title=Puma power: Argentinian rugby | work=BBC Sport | first=Sean | last=Davies | date=16 November 2009 | access-date=24 September 2011 | archive-date=22 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022145839/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8362870.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> several other countries on the continent have a long history. Rugby had been played in [[Rugby union in Brazil|Brazil]] since the end of the 19th century, but the game was played regularly only from 1926, when São Paulo beat Santos in an inter-city match.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=48}}</ref> It took [[Rugby union in Uruguay|Uruguay]] several aborted attempts to adapt to rugby, led mainly by the efforts of the [[Montevideo Cricket Club]]; these efforts succeeded in 1951 with the formation of a national league and four clubs.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=166}}</ref> Other South American countries that formed a rugby union include [[Rugby union in Chile|Chile]] (1948),<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=58}}</ref> and [[Rugby union in Paraguay|Paraguay]] (1968).<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=127}}</ref>

[[Súper Liga Americana de Rugby|Super Rugby Americas]] is the professional Rugby union competition in [[South America]].

===Asia===
{{Main|Rugby union in Asia}}

Many Asian countries have a tradition of playing rugby dating from the British Empire. [[Rugby union in India|India]] began playing rugby in the early 1870s, the [[Calcutta Football Club]] forming in 1873. However, with the departure of a local British army regiment, interest in rugby diminished in the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Calcutta-Cup/|title=The History of the Calcutta Cup|access-date=28 November 2015|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208052332/http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Calcutta-Cup/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1878, The Calcutta Football Club was disbanded, and rugby in India faltered.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=92}}</ref> [[Rugby union in Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]] claims to have founded their union in 1878, and although little official information from the period is available, the team won the All-India cup in Madras in 1920.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=152}}</ref> The first recorded match in [[Rugby union in Malaysia|Malaysia]] was in 1892, but the first confirmation of rugby is the existence of the HMS Malaya Cup which was first presented in 1922 and is still awarded to the winners of the Malay sevens.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|pp=112–113}}</ref>

Rugby union was introduced to [[Rugby union in Japan|Japan]] in 1899 by two Cambridge students: [[Ginnosuke Tanaka]] and [[Edward Bramwell Clarke]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=105}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6157863.stm | title=Eastern Promise: Japanese rugby | work=BBC Sport | first=Sean | last=Davies | date=12 February 2007 | access-date=20 September 2011 | archive-date=1 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301014743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6157863.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> The Japan RFU was founded in 1926 and its place in rugby history was cemented when Japan hosted the [[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019 World Cup]].<ref name="2015 bid">{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8170488.stm | title=England will host 2015 World Cup | work=BBC Sport | date=28 July 2009 | access-date=7 February 2010 | archive-date=12 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112124727/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8170488.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> It was the first country outside the Commonwealth, Ireland and France to host the event, and was viewed by the IRB as an opportunity for rugby union to extend its reach,<ref name="2015 bid"/> particularly in Asia. Other Asian playing countries of note include [[Rugby union in Singapore|Singapore]], [[Rugby union in South Korea|South Korea]], [[Rugby union in China|China]] and [[Rugby union in the Philippines|The Philippines]], while the former British colony of [[Rugby union in Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] is notable within rugby for its development of the rugby sevens game, especially the [[Hong Kong Sevens]] tournament which was founded in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2042721.html |title=HSBC join Cathay as Hong Kong Sevens sponsors |work=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |date=18 May 2011 |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611204444/http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2042721.html |archive-date=11 June 2011 }}</ref>

Rugby in the Middle East and the Gulf States began in the 1950s, with clubs formed by British and French Services stationed in the region after the Second World War.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=42}}</ref> When these servicemen left, the clubs and teams were kept alive by young professionals, mostly Europeans, working in these countries. The official union of [[Rugby union in Oman|Oman]] was formed in 1971.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=126}}</ref> [[Rugby union in Bahrain|Bahrain]] founded its union a year later, while in 1975 the [[Dubai Sevens]], the Gulf's leading rugby tournament, was created. Rugby remains a minority sport in the region with [[Rugby union in Israel|Israel]] and the [[Rugby union in United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates]], as of 2019, being the only member unions from the Middle East to be included in the [[IRB World Rankings]].<ref name="Full rankings">{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/rankings/full.html |title=IRB World Rankings |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=18 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810042746/http://www.irb.com/rankings/full.html |archive-date=10 August 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:f5f4f1d0734f015b98b66d455884a9e0.jpg|thumb|[[Ivory Coast]] before their [[2011 Rugby World Cup&nbsp;– Africa qualification|2011 World Cup qualifier]] vs. Zambia, 21 July 2008|alt=A close-up shot of the Ivory Coast players, in their country's orange jerseys, entering the field from the dressing room tunnel]]

===Africa===
In 1875, rugby was introduced to [[Rugby union in South Africa|South Africa]] by British soldiers garrisoned in Cape Town.<ref name="Godwin11"/> The game spread quickly across the country, displacing [[Winchester College football]] as the sport of choice in South Africa and spreading to nearby [[Zimbabwe]]. South African settlers also brought the game with them to Namibia and competed against British administrators in [[British East Africa]]. During the late 19th and early 20th century, the sport in Africa was spread by settlers and colonials who often adopted a "whites-only" policy to playing the game. This resulted in rugby being viewed as a [[bourgeois]] sport by the indigenous people with limited appeal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wesclark.com/rrr/kenya_rugby.html |title=A Review of Kenyan Rugby |publisher=wesclark.com |first=Michael Mundia |last=Kamau |access-date=19 August 2011 |archive-date=22 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222001453/http://wesclark.com/rrr/kenya_rugby.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, enclaves of black participation developed notably in the [[Eastern Cape]] and in [[Harare]]. The earliest countries to see the playing of competitive rugby include South Africa, and neighbouring [[Rugby union in Rhodesia|Rhodesia]] (modern-day Zimbabwe), which formed the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union in 1895 and became a regular stop for touring British and New Zealand sides.<ref>{{Harvnb|Godwin|Rhys|1981|p=15}}</ref>

In more recent times, the sport has been embraced by several African nations. In the early 21st century Madagascar has experienced crowds of 40,000 at national matches,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4471650.stm |title=Madagascar rugby inspires new passion |work=BBC Sport |first=Tim |last=Cocks |date=26 November 2005 |access-date=19 August 2011 |archive-date=12 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412012328/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4471650.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> while Namibia, whose history of rugby can be dated from 1915, have qualified for the final stages of the World Cup seven times since 1999.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sport |first=BBC |date=10 July 2022 |title=Namibia qualify for 2023 Rugby World Cup with 36-0 win over Kenya |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/62117060 |url-status=live |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710221838/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/62117060 |archive-date=10 July 2022 }}</ref> Other African nations to be represented in the World Rugby Rankings as Member Unions include [[Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire|Côte d'Ivoire]], [[Rugby union in Kenya|Kenya]], [[Rugby union in Uganda|Uganda]] and [[Rugby union in Zambia|Zambia]].<ref name="Full rankings"/> South Africa and Kenya are among the 15 "core teams" that participate in every event of the men's [[World Rugby Sevens Series]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/destination/edition=9/news/newsid=2048923.html#teams+announced+gold+coast+kick |title=Teams announced for Gold Coast kickoff |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=8 September 2011 |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011152812/http://irbsevens.com/destination/edition=9/news/newsid=2048923.html |archive-date=11 October 2011 }}</ref>

==Women's rugby union==
{{Main|Women's rugby union}}

[[File:Women's Rugby Mark.jpg|thumb|left|US women's rugby:<br />NC Hustlers vs. Midwest II|alt=A female player in yellow and green kit and wearing a white scrum cap, jumps to collect a ball while supported by teammates.]]
Records of women's rugby football date from the late 19th century, with the first documented source being [[Emily Valentine]]'s writings, in which she states that she set up a rugby team in [[Portora Royal School]] in Enniskillen, Ireland in 1887.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/19918.php |title=Emily Valentine: First Lady of Irish And World Rugby|work=IrishRugby.ie |date=20 January 2010 |access-date=8 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303014220/http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/19918.php |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Although there are reports of early women's matches in New Zealand and France, one of the first notable games to prove primary evidence was the 1917 war-time encounter between Cardiff Ladies and Newport Ladies; a photo of which shows the Cardiff team before the match at the [[Cardiff Arms Park]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Davies |first=D. E. |title=Cardiff Rugby Club, History and Statistics 1876–1975 |year=1975 |publisher=The Starling Press |location=Risca|pages=70–71 |isbn=0-9504421-0-0}}</ref> Since the 1980s, the game has grown in popularity among female athletes, and by 2010, according to [[World Rugby]], women's rugby was being played in over 100 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxscorenews.com/great-potential-for-womens-rugby-in-japan-p15433-128.htm |title=Great potential for Women's Rugby in Japan |website=Boxscore World Sportswire |author=IRB |author-link=International Rugby Board |date=22 February 2011 |access-date=8 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308220207/http://boxscorenews.com/great-potential-for-womens-rugby-in-japan-p15433-128.htm |archive-date=8 March 2020 }}</ref>

The English-based Women's Rugby Football Union (WRFU), responsible for women's rugby in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, was founded in 1983, and is the oldest formally organised national governing body for women's rugby. This was replaced in 1994 by the [[Rugby Football Union for Women]] (RFUW) in England with each of the other Home Nations governing their own countries.<ref name="Women's Rugby">{{cite web |url=http://www.rwcwomens.com/history/index.html |title=Women's Rugby World Cup history |work=[[World Rugby|IRB]] |access-date=5 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903054707/http://www.rwcwomens.com/history/index.html |archive-date=3 September 2011}}</ref>

The premier international competition in rugby union for women is the [[Women's Rugby World Cup]], first held in 1991; from 1994 through 2014, it was held every four years.<ref name="Women's Rugby"/> After the 2014 event, the tournament was brought forward a year to 2017 to avoid clashing with other sporting cycles, in particular the [[Rugby World Cup Sevens]] competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/39370 |title=Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Tender Process Opens |date=28 November 2014 |website=rugbyworldcup.com |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309095135/https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/39370 |archive-date=9 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Women's Rugby World Cup returned to a four-year cycle after 2017, with future competitions to be held in the middle year of the men's World Cup cycle.

==Major international competitions==<!-- This section is linked from [[BBC Radio Five Live]] -->
{{Further|List of rugby union competitions}}

===Rugby World Cup===

{{main|Rugby World Cup}}

[[File:Coupe du monde rugby - tour Eiffel.JPG|thumb|upright=0.85|A giant rugby ball suspended from the [[Eiffel Tower]] to commemorate France's hosting of the [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 World Cup]]|alt=An avenue of trees leads to a large iron lattice tower, in which an oversized rugby ball hangs within the lower sections.]]

The most important competition in rugby union is the [[Rugby World Cup]], a men's tournament that has taken place every four years since the inaugural event in 1987. [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] are the reigning champions, having defeated New Zealand 11–12 in the final of the [[2023 Rugby World Cup]] in France.<ref name="Rugby World Cup France 2023">{{cite web| title= NEW ZEALAND 11-12 SOUTH AFRICA: SPRINGBOKS CLAIM RECORD FOURTH WORLD CUP WITH NARROW WIN OVER 14-MAN ALL BLACKS| url= https://www.eurosport.com/rugby/world-cup/2023/new-zealand-v-south-africa-rugby-world-cup-final-live_sto9855397/story.shtml}}</ref> South Africa has the highest number of World Cup wins: 4 (1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023). [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] won the title three times (1987, 2011 and 2015), Australia have won twice (1991 and 1999), and England once (2003). England is the only team from the Northern Hemisphere to have won the Rugby World Cup.<ref name="rugby world cup">{{cite web |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup-2019/rugby-world-cup-winners-96759 |title=Rugby World Cup Winners |date=2 November 2019 |first=Sam |last=Tremlett |work=[[Rugby World]] |access-date=5 November 2019 |archive-date=5 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105095453/https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup-2019/rugby-world-cup-winners-96759 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Rugby World Cup has continued to grow since its inception in 1987. The first tournament, in which 16 teams competed for the title, was broadcast to 17 countries with an accumulated total of 230&nbsp;million television viewers. Ticket sales during the pool stages and finals of the same tournament was less than a million. The [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 World Cup]] was contested by 94 countries with ticket sales of 3,850,000 over the pool and final stage. The accumulated television audience for the event, then broadcast to 200 countries, was a claimed 4.2&nbsp;billion.<ref name="IRB2010">{{cite web |url=http://www.irb.com/mm/document/newsmedia/mediazone/02/04/21/65/2042165_pdf.pdf |title=IRB Year in Review 2010 |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |page=74 |year=2010 |access-date=25 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103163846/http://www.irb.com/mm/document/newsmedia/mediazone/02/04/21/65/2042165_pdf.pdf |archive-date=3 November 2011}}</ref>

The 2019 Rugby World Cup took place in Japan between 20 September and 2 November. It was the ninth edition and the first time the tournament has been held in Asia.<ref name="Rugby World Cup Japan 2019">{{cite web| title= Hosting the First Rugby World Cup in Asia| url= https://www.japan.go.jp/tomodachi/2017/summer2017/hosting_the_first_rugby_world_cup.html/| access-date= 25 June 2019| archive-date= 12 August 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170812004254/http://www.japan.go.jp/tomodachi/2017/summer2017/hosting_the_first_rugby_world_cup.html| url-status= live}}</ref>

===Regional tournaments===
[[File:Griffins RFC Kotka 1.jpg|thumb|Griffins RFC Kotka, the rugby union team from [[Kotka]], [[Finland]], playing in the Rugby-7 Tournament in 2013]]
Major international competitions are the [[Six Nations Championship]] and [[The Rugby Championship]], held in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/trophys.htm |title=Rugby Trophys |publisher=rugbyfootballhistory.com |access-date=4 October 2011 |archive-date=28 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328191134/http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/trophies.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Six Nations is an annual competition involving the European teams {{nrut|England}}, {{nrut|France}}, {{nrut|Ireland}}, {{nrut|Italy}}, {{nrut|Scotland}} and {{nrut|Wales}}.<ref name="SixNations">{{cite web |url=http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/championship/history.php |title=Six Nations Championship: History |publisher=rbs6nations.com |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108124324/https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/championship/history.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Each country plays the other five once. Following the first internationals between England and Scotland, Ireland and Wales began competing in the 1880s, forming the ''Home International Championships''.<ref name="SixNations"/> France joined the tournament in the 1900s; in 1910, the term ''Five Nations'' first appeared.<ref name="SixNations"/> However, the [[Home Nations]] (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) excluded France in 1931 amid a run of poor results, allegations of professionalism and concerns over on-field violence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-2012/rugby/page/87742.html |title=Six Nations Championship |publisher=ESPN Scrum.com |access-date=19 August 2011 |archive-date=6 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206075654/http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-2012/rugby/page/87742.html |url-status=live }}</ref> France then rejoined in 1939–1940, though World War II halted proceedings for a further eight years.<ref name="SixNations"/> France has played in all the tournaments since WWII, the first of which was played in 1947.<ref name="SixNations"/> In 2000, Italy became the sixth nation in the contest and Rome's [[Stadio Olimpico]] has replaced [[Stadio Flaminio]] as the venue for their home games since 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/1633.php |title=Stadio Flaminio |publisher=rbs6nations.com |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121012536/http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/1633.php |archive-date=21 November 2008 }}</ref>

The Rugby Championship is the Southern Hemisphere's annual international series for that region's top national teams. From its inception in 1996 through 2011, it was known as the Tri Nations, as it featured the hemisphere's traditional powers of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.<ref name="TriNations History">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyweek.com/fournations/history.asp |title=TriNations Rugby |publisher=RugbyWeek.com |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019065904/http://www.rugbyweek.com/fournations/history.asp |archive-date=19 October 2011}}</ref> These teams have dominated world rankings in recent years, and many considered the Tri Nations to be the toughest competition in international rugby.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Boks-face-aerial-bombardment-20100630 |title=NZ expect aerial bombardment |publisher=sport24.co.za |first=J.J. |last=Harmse |date=30 June 2010 |access-date=18 August 2011 |archive-date=18 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518133035/http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Boks-face-aerial-bombardment-20100630 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | date = 26 August 2010 | title = Preview: South Africa v Australia | work = Planet Rugby | publisher = 365 Media | url = http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_6340553,00.html | access-date = 27 August 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100830132624/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_6340553,00.html | archive-date = 30 August 2010}}</ref> The Tri Nations was initially played on a home and away basis with the three nations playing each other twice.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Nauright |first1=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=htTHDwAAQBAJ&dq=Rugby+Tri+Nations+was+initially+played+on+a+home+and+away+basis&pg=PT124 |title=Routledge Handbook of Global Sport |last2=Zipp |first2=Sarah |date=2020-01-03 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-50047-6 |language=en |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629051923/https://books.google.com/books?id=htTHDwAAQBAJ&dq=Rugby+Tri+Nations+was+initially+played+on+a+home+and+away+basis&pg=PT124 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, a new system was introduced where each nation plays the others three times, though in 2007 and 2011 the teams played each other only twice, as both were World Cup years.<ref name="TriNations History"/> Since Argentina's strong performances in the 2007 World Cup,<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/09/14/rugby.argentina.tri.nations/index.html|title = Argentina invited to join Tri-Nations series|publisher = CNN|date = 14 September 2009|access-date = 18 August 2011|archive-date = 25 October 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121025120641/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/09/14/rugby.argentina.tri.nations/index.html|url-status = live}}</ref> after the 2009 Tri Nations tournament, [[SANZAAR|SANZAR]] (South Africa, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) invited the [[Argentine Rugby Union]] (UAR) to join an expanded Four Nations tournament in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2033716.html#irb+welcomes+argentina+four+nations+invite |title=IRB welcomes Argentina Four Nations Invite |publisher=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |date=14 September 2009 |access-date=4 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826090032/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2033716.html |archive-date=26 August 2011 }}</ref> The competition has been officially rechristened as The Rugby Championship beginning with the 2012 edition. The competition reverted to the Tri Nations' original home-and-away format, but now involving four teams. In World Cup years, an abbreviated tournament is held in which each team plays the others only once. In 2020, the "Tri Nations" format was temporarily revived due to the withdrawal of South Africa owing to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Green light for 2020 Tri-Nations">{{Cite press release|publisher=SANZAAR|date=16 October 2020|title=Green light for 2020 Tri-Nations|url=https://super.rugby/therugbychampionship/news/green-light-for-2020-tri-nations/}}</ref>

===Rugby within multi-sport events===
{{See also|Rugby union at the Summer Olympics|Rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games|Rugby union at the Asian Games}}
Rugby union was played at the Olympic Games in [[Rugby union at the 1900 Summer Olympics|1900]], [[Rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics|1908]], [[Rugby union at the 1920 Summer Olympics|1920]] and [[Rugby union at the 1924 Summer Olympics|1924]].<ref name="Rugby in the Olympics">{{cite news|url=http://www.irb.com/rugbyandtheolympics/history.html |title=Rugby in the Olympics: History |work=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |access-date=16 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810064813/http://www.irb.com/rugbyandtheolympics/history.html |archive-date=10 August 2011 }}</ref> As per Olympic rules, the nations of Scotland, Wales and England were not allowed to play separately as they are not sovereign states. In 1900, France won the gold, beating Great Britain 27 points to 8 and defeating Germany 27 points to 17.<ref name="Rugby in the Olympics"/> In 1908, Australia defeated Great Britain, claiming the gold medal, the score being 32 points to three.<ref name="Rugby in the Olympics"/> In 1920, the United States, fielding a team with many players new to the sport of rugby, upset France in a shock win, eight points to zero. In 1924, the United States again defeated France 17 to 3, becoming the only team to win gold twice in the sport.<ref name="Rugby in the Olympics"/>

In 2009, the [[International Olympic Committee]] voted with a majority of 81 to 8 that rugby union be reinstated as an Olympic sport in at least the [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016]] and [[2020 Summer Olympics|2020]] games, but in the sevens, 4-day tournament format.<ref name="I.O.C. Decision">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/sports/14sports.html |title=I.O.C. Decision Draws Cheers and Complaints From Athletes |work=The New York Times |first=Jeff |last=Klein |date=13 August 2009 |access-date=13 August 2009 |archive-date=27 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827082843/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/sports/14sports.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/news/6281166/Rugby-sevens-and-golf-ratified-for-2016-Olympics-in-Rio-de-Janeiro.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012120458/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/news/6281166/Rugby-sevens-and-golf-ratified-for-2016-Olympics-in-Rio-de-Janeiro.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2009 |title=Rugby sevens and golf ratified for 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro |first=Paul |last=Kelso| newspaper=The Telegraph|date=9 October 2009 |access-date=5 November 2010}}</ref> This is something the rugby world has aspired to for a long time and [[Bernard Lapasset]], president of the International Rugby Board, said the Olympic gold medal would be considered to be "the pinnacle of our sport" (Rugby Sevens).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/8292584.stm |title=Golf & rugby voted into Olympics |work=BBC News |date=19 October 2009 |access-date=6 February 2010 |archive-date=8 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308100128/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/8292584.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Rugby sevens has been played at the [[Commonwealth Rugby Sevens Championships|Commonwealth Games]] since the [[1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Games]] in Kuala Lumpur.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9031959.stm |title=Commonwealth Games 2010: Form guide&nbsp;– rugby sevens |work=BBC Sport |date=27 September 2010 |access-date=17 September 2011 |archive-date=9 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909005136/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9031959.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The most gold medal holders are [[New Zealand national rugby sevens team|New Zealand]] who have won the competition on four successive occasions until South Africa beat them in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9084566.stm |title=Commonwealth Games: NZ win sevens as England miss medal |work=BBC Sport |date=12 October 2010 |access-date=17 September 2011 |archive-date=9 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909005118/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9084566.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Rugby union has also been an [[Asian Games]] event since the [[1998 Asian Games|1998 games]] in Bangkok, Thailand. In the 1998 and 2002 editions of the games, both the usual fifteen-a-side variety and rugby sevens were played, but from 2006 onwards, only rugby sevens was retained. In 2010, the women's rugby sevens event was introduced. The event is likely to remain a permanent fixture of the Asian Games due to elevation of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport from the 2016 Olympics onwards.

===Women's international rugby===
{{Main|Women's international rugby union}}

Women's international rugby union began in 1982, with a match between [[France women's national rugby union team|France]] and the [[Netherlands women's national rugby union team|Netherlands]] played in [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://rugbyrelics.com/museum/exhibitions/NR125/14.htm |title=Women's Rugby |work=Rugby Relics |access-date=18 August 2011 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021042901/http://rugbyrelics.com/Museum/exhibitions/NR125/14.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2009 over six hundred women's internationals have been played by over forty different nations.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/119928-womans-rugby-beautiful-side-of-brutal-game |title=Women's Rugby: Beautiful Side of a Brtual Game |work=Bleacher Report |first=Giorgi |last=Dolidze |date=5 February 2009 |access-date=25 September 2011 |archive-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522004335/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/119928-womans-rugby-beautiful-side-of-brutal-game |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first [[Women's Rugby World Cup]] was held in Wales [[1991 Women's Rugby World Cup|in 1991]] and was won by the [[United States women's national rugby union team|United States]].<ref name="Women's Rugby"/> The second tournament took place in [[1994 Women's Rugby World Cup|1994]], and from that time through 2014 was held every four years. The New Zealand Women's team then won four straight World Cups ([[1998 Women's Rugby World Cup|1998]], [[2002 Women's Rugby World Cup|2002]], [[2006 Women's Rugby World Cup|2006]], [[2010 Women's Rugby World Cup|2010]])<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nz2011.govt.nz/news/february-2011/rugbys-prized-trophies-going-on-tour |title=Rugby's prized trophies going on tour |work=New Zealand 2011 |date=6 February 2011 |access-date=26 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223141230/http://www.nz2011.govt.nz/news/february-2011/rugbys-prized-trophies-going-on-tour |archive-date=23 December 2011 }}</ref> before [[England women's national rugby union team|England]] won in [[2014 Women's Rugby World Cup|2014]]. Following the 2014 event, World Rugby moved the next edition of the event to [[2017 Women's Rugby World Cup|2017]], with a new four-year cycle from that point forward.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.worldrugby.org/news/70650 |title=Ireland to host Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 |publisher=World Rugby |date=13 May 2015 |access-date=30 March 2017}}</ref> New Zealand are the current World Cup holders.

As well as the Women's Rugby World Cup, there are also other regular tournaments (including a [[Women's Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]]) run in parallel to the men's competition. The Women's Six Nations, first played in [[1996 Women's Home Nations Championship|1996]] has been dominated by England, who have won the tournament on 14 occasions, including a run of seven consecutive wins from [[2006 Women's Six Nations Championship|2006]] to [[2012 Women's Six Nations Championship|2012]]. However, since then, England have won only in [[2017 Women's Six Nations Championship|2017]]; reigning champion France have won in each even-numbered year (2014, 2016, 2018) whilst [[Ireland women's national rugby union team|Ireland]] won in 2013 and 2015.

== Professional rugby union ==
Rugby union has been professionalised since 1995. Professionalism has brought mixed results, with grassroots participation falling and financial struggles in the professional arena.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kitson |first=Robert |date=25 August 2020 |title=Twenty-five years of professionalism: skill levels rise but at what cost? |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/aug/25/twenty-five-years-professionalism-skill-levels-rugby-union |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825160054/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/aug/25/twenty-five-years-professionalism-skill-levels-rugby-union |archive-date=Aug 25, 2023 }}</ref> The following table shows professional and semi-professional rugby union competitions.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Professional rugby competitions
! Competition
! Teams
! Countries
! Average <br /> Attendance
|-
| [[Super Rugby Pacific]]
| 11{{efn|group=pr|Super Rugby peaked at 18 teams in 2016 and 2017, but reverted to 15 in 2018 with the loss of two teams from South Africa and one from Australia.}}
| New Zealand&nbsp;(5), Australia&nbsp;(4), Fiji (1), Pacific Islands (1)
| 14,436 (2017)<ref>{{cite web |title=Answers to dwindling Super crowds in NZ may offer clues for Australia |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/answers-to-dwindling-super-crowds-in-nz-may-offer-clues-for-australia-20200112-p53qqw.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=12 January 2020 |access-date=15 December 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[PREM Rugby]]
| 10
| [[Rugby Football Union|England]]
| 15,358 (2023–24)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mairs |first1=Gavin |title=Snigger all you like but rugby union can learn plenty from rugby league |work=The Telegraph |date=23 December 2024 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/12/23/rugby-union-learn-to-live-within-means-from-rugby-league/ |access-date=27 December 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|-
| [[Japan Rugby League One]]
| 12
| [[Japan Rugby Football Union|Japan]]
|  14,952 (2020)<ref name="urlRecord attendance numbers for Japanese Top League">{{cite web |url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/record-attendance-top-league/ |title=Record attendance numbers for Japanese Top League |date=13 January 2020 |access-date=28 July 2020 |archive-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224145207/https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/record-attendance-top-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Top 14]]
| 14
| France
|  14,841 (2022–2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 14 attendance records broken this season, according to league |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/france-countries/top-14-attendance-records-broken-this-season-according-to-league-154367 |website=Rugby World |date=2 June 2023 |access-date=15 December 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Currie Cup]]
| 8
| [[South African Rugby Union|South Africa]]
|
|-
| [[United Rugby Championship]]
| 16
| Ireland&nbsp;(4), Wales&nbsp;(4), Scotland&nbsp;(2), Italy&nbsp;(2), South&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;(4){{efn|group=pr|The two South African teams that were dropped from Super Rugby after its 2017 season joined the renamed Pro14 for the 2017–18 season.}}
| 10,809 (2022–23)<ref name="final_stormers">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-27 |title=DHL Stormers just short in Vodacom URC Grand Final |url=https://thestormers.com/dhl-stormers-just-short-in-vodacom-urc-grand-final/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=The Stormers}}{{failed verification|date=January 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|National Provincial Championship]]
| 14
| New Zealand
|
|-
| [[Pro D2]]
| 16
| France
|
|-
| [[RFU Championship]]
| 12
| [[Rugby Football Union|England]]
|
|-
| [[Major League Rugby]]
| 11
| [[USA Rugby|United States]]
| 
|-
| [[Didi 10]]
| 10
| [[Georgian Rugby Union|Georgia]]
|
|-
| [[Russian Rugby Championship]]
| 8
| [[Rugby Union of Russia|Russia]]
| 
|-
| [[Liga Națională de Rugby]]
| 6
| [[Romanian Rugby Federation|Romania]]
| 
|-
| [[Super Rugby Americas]]
| 7
| Argentina&nbsp;(2), Uruguay&nbsp;(1), Brazil&nbsp;(1), Chile&nbsp;(1), Paraguay&nbsp;(1)
| 
|-
|}

{{notelist|group=pr}}

==Variants==
{{Main|Rugby sevens|Rugby tens|Touch rugby|Tag rugby|Mini rugby}}

[[File:Spielszene BK.jpg|thumb|[[Beach rugby]] match|alt=Two teams of players, one in yellow the other in blue, play a form of rugby on a sunlit beach; the central yellow player runs forward, towards the right of picture, clutching the ball with one hand, close to his chest.]]

Rugby union has spawned several variants of the full-contact, 15-a-side game. The two most common differences in adapted versions are fewer players and reduced player contact.

The oldest variant is [[rugby sevens]] (sometimes 7s or VIIs), a fast-paced game which originated in [[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]], Scotland in 1883. In rugby sevens, there are only seven players per side, and each half is normally seven minutes. Major tournaments include the [[Hong Kong Sevens]] and [[Dubai Sevens]], both held in areas not normally associated with the highest levels of the 15-a-side game.

A more recent variant of the sport is [[rugby tens]] (10s or Xs), a Malaysian invention with ten players per side.<ref name=Completerugby1>{{Harvnb|Bath|1997|p=71}}</ref>

[[Touch rugby]], in which "tackles" are made by simply touching the ball carrier with two hands, is popular both as a training game and more formally as a mixed sex version of the sport played by both children and adults.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/getting-a-kick-out-of-touch/story-e6frep5o-1225699224845 |title=Touch rugby league growing in Brisbane |first=Karl |last=deKroo |work=The Courier-Mail |date=11 April 2009 |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-date=24 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424114329/http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/getting-a-kick-out-of-touch/story-e6frep5o-1225699224845 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rfu.com/TheGame/~/link.aspx?_id=A4A528E2CC22410390D89AE5E46D1EF9&_z=z |title=Touch Rugby |work=[[Rugby Football Union|RFU]] |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919021954/https://www.rfu.com/TheGame/%7E/link.aspx?_id=A4A528E2CC22410390D89AE5E46D1EF9&_z=z |archive-date=19 September 2011}}</ref>

Several variants have been created to introduce the sport to children with a less physical contact.<ref name="IRB BGRU 14">{{cite web|url=https://passport.worldrugby.org/beginners_guide/downloads/Beginners_Guide_2015_EN.pdf |work=[[World Rugby]] |title=A Beginner's Guide to Rugby Union |pages=14–15|access-date=28 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406001547/https://passport.worldrugby.org/beginners_guide/downloads/Beginners_Guide_2015_EN.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Mini rugby]] is a version aimed at fostering the sport in children.<ref name="Mini Rugby">{{cite web |url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/downloads/REGULATIONS_Mini_Rugby_2012_to_2015(1).pdf |title=Mini and Leprechaun Rugby |work=irishrugby.ie |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302225356/http://www.irishrugby.ie/downloads/REGULATIONS_Mini_Rugby_2012_to_2015(1).pdf |archive-date=2 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Rutherford1>{{cite book |last=Rutherford |first=Don |title=The Complete Book of Mini Rugby |publisher=Partridge |year=1993 |location=London |page=2 |isbn=1-85225-196-4 }}</ref> It is played with only eight players and on a smaller pitch.<ref name="Mini Rugby"/>

[[Tag Rugby]] is a version in which the players wear a belt with two tags attached by velcro, the removal of either counting as a 'tackle'. Tag Rugby also varies in that kicking the ball is not allowed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfu.com/TheGame/FormsOfRugby/Tag.aspx |title=Tag Rugby |work=[[Rugby Football Union|RFU]] |date=11 April 2009 |access-date=23 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810133935/http://www.rfu.com/TheGame/FormsOfRugby/Tag.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2011 }}</ref> Similar to Tag Rugby, [[American Flag Rugby]], (AFR), is a mixed gender, non-contact imitation of rugby union designed for American children entering grades K-9.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.americanflagrugby.com/about-afr.php |title=About AFR |work=americanflagrugby.com |access-date=18 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817210310/http://www.americanflagrugby.com/about-afr.php |archive-date=17 August 2011 }}</ref> Both American Flag Rugby and Mini Rugby differ from Tag Rugby in that they introduce more advanced elements of rugby union as the participants age.<ref name="Mini Rugby"/>

Ten man rugby is a style of play in rugby union in which the team uses the power of its forwards to dominate possession, [[Scrum (rugby)|scrums]] and [[line-out (rugby union)|line-out]]s, and the kicking ability of its fly-half to attain position. The four [[three-quarter back]]s and the full back are not usually used in attack; if they are, this is usually restricted to the inside centre on the [[crash ball]], and chasing kicks, especially [[Bomb (kick)|garryowens]]. Ten man rugby is a very conservative style of play, and not particularly entertaining for the spectator, but can be effective if a team has a strong pack and a good 10, and perhaps less effective backs. The term "ten man rugby" is somewhat derogatory, though most teams will employ these tactics to a degree, especially in foul weather, but usually not exclusively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wesclark.com/rrr/rugby_phrase_guide.html|title=Rugby Union/Rugby League Phrase Guide v4.6|access-date=8 June 2005|archive-date=9 April 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050409085241/http://www.wesclark.com/rrr/rugby_phrase_guide.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/allanmassie/Allan-Massie-Andrew-misses-target.5886900.jp |title=Allan Massie: Andrew misses target by putting boot in laws - The Scotsman |website=thescotsman.scotsman.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604232304/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/allanmassie/Allan-Massie-Andrew-misses-target.5886900.jp |archive-date=2011-06-04}}</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article6141624.ece The Times]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2008/0310/player_rating_ireland.html |title=RT Sport: Six Nations - Player Ratings |website=[[RTÉ.ie]] |accessdate=2010-03-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605171110/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2008/0310/player_rating_ireland.html |archivedate=2011-06-05 }}</ref>

Other less formal variants include [[beach rugby]] and [[snow rugby]].<ref name="IRB BGRU 14"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/news/newsid=2026163.html |work=[[International Rugby Board|IRB]] |title=Rugby X-treme hits the Andes |first=Frankie |last=Deges |date=15 July 2008 |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726135403/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/news/newsid=2026163.html |archive-date=26 July 2010 }}</ref>

==Influence on other sports==
{{See also|History of American football|Comparison of American football and rugby union|Origins of Australian rules football|Comparison of rugby league and rugby union|History of rugby league|Rugby football}}

[[File:Tom Wills 1857.jpg|thumb|When codifying [[Australian rules football]] in 1859, [[Tom Wills]] drew inspiration from an early version of rugby he learnt at Rugby School.]]
[[Rugby league]] was formed after the Northern Union broke from the Rugby Football Union in a disagreement over payment to players. It went on to change its laws and became a [[football code]] in its own right. The two sports continue to influence each other to this day.

[[American football]]<ref name=Completerugby2>{{Harvnb|Bath|1997|p=77}}</ref><ref name=Stubbs>{{Harvnb|Stubbs|2009|p=115}}</ref> and [[Canadian football]]<ref name=CanFitba1>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia Canadiana|volume = 8|editor=John Everett Robbins| year=1972 |publisher=Grolier of Canada|location=Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal |page=110 |isbn=0-7172-1601-2}}</ref> are derived from early forms of rugby football.<ref name=CanFitba1/>

[[Australian rules football]] was influenced by [[rugby football]] and [[English public school football games|other games originating in English public schools]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Collins |first=Tony |editor-first=Stephen |editor-last=Wagg |title=Myths and Milestones in the History of Sport |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2011 |pages=8–31 |chapter=Chapter 1: National Myths, Imperial Pasts and the Origins of Australian Rules Football |isbn=978-0-230-24125-1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Blainey|first=Geoffrey|title=A Game of Our Own: The Origins of Australian Football|publisher=Black Inc.|year=2010|pages=244–278|isbn=978-1-86395-347-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=de Moore|first=Greg|title=Tom Wills: His Spectacular Rise and Tragic Fall|publisher=Allen & Unwin|year=2008|pages=17–47|isbn=978-1-74175-499-5}}</ref>

[[James Naismith]] took aspects of many sports including rugby to invent [[basketball]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1027613/index.htm |last=Wolff |first=Alexander |title=The Olden Rules |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=25 November 2002 |access-date=18 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604031625/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1027613/index.htm |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}</ref> The most obvious contribution is the [[jump ball]]'s similarity to the line-out as well as the underhand shooting style that dominated the early years of the sport. Naismith played rugby at [[McGill University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naismithmuseum.com/main.php?action=cms.JamesNaismith |title=Biography of James Naismith |work=naismithmuseum.com |access-date=27 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914215653/http://www.naismithmuseum.com/main.php?action=cms.JamesNaismith |archive-date=14 September 2013 }}</ref>

[[Swedish football (code)|Swedish football]] was a code whose rules were a mix of [[Laws of the Game (association football)|Association]] and [[Rugby football|Rugby football rules]].<ref name="jönsson203">{{cite book |last=Jönsson |first=Åke |title=Fotboll: hur världens största sport växte fram |year=2006 |publisher=Historiska media |location=Lund |isbn=91-85377-48-1 |page=203}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&u=https://svenskfotboll.se/svensk-fotboll/historia/svff-1904/&ei=p8V9TtHEKKSP0AXUvPUB&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB0Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsvff:s%2Btillkomst%2B1904%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb%26prmd%3Dimvns |title=SvFF:s tillkomst 1904 |work=svenskfotboll.se |access-date=24 September 2011 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728105105/https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&u=https%3A%2F%2Fsvenskfotboll.se%2Fsvensk-fotboll%2Fhistoria%2Fsvff-1904%2F&ei=p8V9TtHEKKSP0AXUvPUB&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB0Q7gEwAA&prev=%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dsvff%3As%2Btillkomst%2B1904%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft%3Aen-gb%26prmd%3Dimvns |url-status=live }}</ref>

Rugby lends its name to [[wheelchair rugby]], a full-contact sport which contains elements of rugby such as crossing a try line with the ball to score.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iwrf.com/?page=about_our_sport |title=Introduction to Wheelchair Rugby |work=iwrf.com |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-date=19 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919010124/http://www.iwrf.com/?page=about_our_sport |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Statistics and records==
{{See also|List of top rugby union players by international caps|List of top scoring international rugby union players}}

According to a 2023 report by the Centre for the International Business of Sport, over ten million people play rugby union or one of its variants organised by the IRB.<ref name="Stripes">{{cite web |url=http://www.stripes.com/military-life/they-re-game-rugby-team-willing-to-play-all-takers-1.146065 |title=They're game: Rugby team willing to play all takers |first=Seth |last=Robson |publisher=stripes.com |date=8 July 2011 |access-date=25 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814172158/http://www.stripes.com/military-life/they-re-game-rugby-team-willing-to-play-all-takers-1.146065 |archive-date=14 August 2011}}</ref> This is a significant increase since the previous report in 2011.<ref name="Global Rugby">{{cite web |url=http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/NewsMedia/MediaZone/02/04/22/88/2042288_PDF.pdf |title=Economic Impact Report on Global Rugby; Part III: Strategic and Emerging Markets |publisher=Centre for the International Business of Sport, [[Coventry University]] |first=Simon |last=Chadwick |date=5 April 2011 |access-date=25 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626220118/http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/NewsMedia/MediaZone/02/04/22/88/2042288_PDF.pdf |archive-date=26 June 2011}}</ref> The report also claimed that since 2011 participation has grown by 33 per cent in Africa, 28 per cent in South America and 18 per cent in Asia and North America.<ref name="Global Rugby"/> In 2023 the IRB published a breakdown of the total number of players worldwide by national unions. It recorded a total of 10.9&nbsp;million players globally, of those, 8.4&nbsp;million were registered members playing for a club affiliated to their country's union.<ref name="6.6m" /> The 2016 World Rugby Year in Review reported 8.5&nbsp;million players, of which 3.2&nbsp;million were registered union players and 1.9&nbsp;million were registered club players; 22% of all players were female.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://publications.worldrugby.org/yearinreview2016/en/45-1 |title=Year in Review 2016 |work=[[World Rugby]] |page=45 |access-date=2 May 2017 |archive-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707131158/http://publications.worldrugby.org/yearinreview2016/en/45-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The most capped international player from the [[List of international rugby union teams#Tier 1|tier 1 nations]] is Welsh captain [[Alun Wyn Jones]] who has played over 150 internationals.
While the top scoring tier 1 international player is New Zealand's [[Dan Carter]], who has amassed 1442 points during his career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=points;template=results;type=player |title=Statsguru/Test matches/Player records |publisher=ESPN Scrum.com |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811234407/http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1%3Bfilter%3Dadvanced%3Borderby%3Dpoints%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dplayer |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2010 [[Rugby union in Lithuania|Lithuania]] which is a second tier rugby nation, broke the record of consecutive international wins for second tier rugby nations. In 2016, the All Blacks of New Zealand set the new record 18 consecutive test wins among tier 1 rugby nations, bettering their previous consecutive run of 17.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/oct/22/new-zealand-make-history-beat-australia-all-blacks-18-consecutive-wins |title=New Zealand sink Australia to make history with 18th consecutive Test win |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 October 2016 |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424222719/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/news/newsid=2036957.html |archive-date=24 April 2010 }}</ref> This record was equalled by England on 11 March 2017 with a win over Scotland at Twickenham.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39223528|title=Six Nations 2017: England 61–21 Scotland|date=11 March 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 March 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311231731/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39223528|url-status=live}}</ref> The highest scoring international match between two recognised unions was Hong Kong's 164–13 victory over Singapore on 27 October 1994.<ref name="record wins">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbydata.com/centuries |title=Games where 100 or more points were scored by a team |publisher=rugbydata.com |access-date=27 September 2011 |archive-date=25 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325101231/http://www.rugbydata.com/centuries |url-status=dead }}</ref> While the largest winning margin of 152 points is held by two countries, Japan (a 155–3 win over Chinese Taipei) and Argentina (152–0 over Paraguay) both in 2002.<ref name="record wins"/>

The record attendance for a rugby union game was set on 15 July 2000 in which New Zealand defeated Australia 39–35 in a Bledisloe Cup game at [[Stadium Australia]] in [[Sydney]] before 109,874 fans.<ref name="highest_attendance">{{cite web|title=Records: Highest attendance|url=http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/team/highest_attendance.html?id=1;type=class|access-date=14 May 2016|work=ESPN|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120011210/http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/team/highest_attendance.html?id=1;type=class|url-status=live}}</ref> The record attendance for a match in Europe of 104,000 (at the time a world record) was set on 1 March 1975 when [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] defeated [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] 12–10 at [[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]] in [[Edinburgh]] during the [[1975 Five Nations Championship]].<ref name="highest_attendance"/> This crowd however is an estimate and contemporaneous newspaper accounts list a crowd of 80,000 only. The record attendance for a domestic club match is 99,124, set when [[Racing 92]] defeated [[RC Toulonnais|Toulon]] in the [[2015–16 Top 14 season#Final|2016 Top 14 final]] on 24 June at [[Camp Nou]] in [[Barcelona]]. The match had been moved from its normal site of [[Stade de France]] near Paris due to scheduling conflicts with France's hosting of [[UEFA Euro 2016]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/En-battant-toulon-le-racing-92-est-sacre-champion-de-france/698977 |title=En battant Toulon, le Racing 92 est sacré champion de France |trans-title=By beating Toulon, Racing 92 is champion of France |first=Romain |last=Bergogne |newspaper=[[L'Équipe]] |language=fr |date=24 June 2016 |access-date=25 June 2016 |archive-date=27 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627003523/http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/En-battant-toulon-le-racing-92-est-sacre-champion-de-france/698977 |url-status=live }}</ref> The record attendance for a regular season club fixture is 83,761, set when [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]] played [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] at [[Wembley Stadium]] during a [[Premiership Rugby|Premiership]] game in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saracens 19-24 Harlequins |url=https://www.wembleystadium.com/events/10s/2012/saracens-19-24-harlequins |publisher=Wembley |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

==In culture==
<!-- The following section is for notable artists who have explored rugby or for works centred on the sport of rugby union. It is not intended for casual mentions of rugby in popular culture or trivial facts such as the Friends episode ''The One with all the Rugby''.-->
[[File:Henri Rousseau - The Football Players.jpg|thumb|Henri Rousseau&nbsp;– ''The Football Players'' (1908)|alt=An oil painting of four moustached men, two wearing orange and white striped jerseys and shorts, the other two wearing blue and white striped jerseys and shorts, contesting a rugby ball within an avenue of trees.]]
Thomas Hughes's 1857 novel ''[[Tom Brown's Schooldays]]'', set at [[Rugby School]], includes a rugby football match, also portrayed in the 1940s film of the same name. James Joyce mentions Irish team [[Bective Rangers]] in several of his works, including ''[[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]]'' (1922) and ''[[Finnegans Wake]]'' (1939), while his 1916 semi-autobiographical work ''[[A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man]]'' has an account of Ireland international [[James Magee (sportsman, born 1872)|James Magee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bectiverangers.com/content/view/197/5 |title=Bective Rangers&nbsp;– James Joyce |work=bectiverangers.com |location=UK |access-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726215801/http://www.bectiverangers.com/content/view/197/5/ |archive-date=26 July 2011 }}</ref> Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in his 1924 Sherlock Holmes tale ''[[The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire]]'', mentions that Dr Watson played rugby for Blackheath.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/vampires/classicstory/sussexvampire_p1.shtml |title=The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire |date=September 2005 |work=BBC |location=UK |access-date=28 August 2011 |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811092631/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/vampires/classicstory/sussexvampire_p1.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Henri Rousseau]]'s 1908 work ''Joueurs de football'' shows two pairs of rugby players competing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/show-full/piece/?search=The%20Football%20Players&page=&f=Title&object=60.1583 |title=Henri Rousseau |first=Cornelia |last=Lauf |work=guggenheim.org |access-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429080822/http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/show-full/piece/?search=The%20Football%20Players&page=&f=Title&object=60.1583 |archive-date=29 April 2011}}</ref> Other French artists to have represented the sport in their works include [[Albert Gleizes]]' {{Lang|fr|Les Joueurs de football}} (1912), [[Robert Delaunay]]'s {{Lang|fr|Football. L'Équipe de Cardiff}} (1916) and [[André Lhote]]'s {{Lang|fr|Partie de Rugby}} (1917).<ref>{{cite book |last=Dine |first=Philip |title=French Rugby Football |year=2001 |page=19|publisher=Berg |location=Oxford |isbn=1-85973-327-1}}</ref> The [[Art competitions at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Gold Medal for Art]] at the Amsterdam Olympics was won by Luxembourg's [[Jean Jacoby]] for his work ''Rugby''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://olympic-museum.de/art/1928.htm |title=Art Competitions |work=olympic-museum.de |access-date=6 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501132439/http://www.olympic-museum.de/art/1928.htm |archive-date=1 May 2008}}</ref>

In film, Ealing Studios' 1949 comedy ''[[A Run for Your Money]]'' and the 1979 BBC Wales television film ''[[Grand Slam (1978 film)|Grand Slam]]'' both centre on fans attending a match.<ref>{{cite book |last=Berry|first=David|title=Wales and Cinema, The First Hundred Years |year=1996 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |page=215 |isbn=0-7083-1370-1}}</ref> Films that explore the sport in more detail include independent production ''[[Old Scores]]'' (1991) and ''[[Forever Strong]]'' (2008). ''[[Invictus (film)|Invictus]]'' (2009), based on [[John Carlin (journalist)|John Carlin]]'s book ''Playing the Enemy'', explores the events of the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]] and [[Nelson Mandela]]'s attempt to use the sport to connect South Africa's people post-[[apartheid]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/portal/2007/10/19/ftmandela119.xml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604133332/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/portal/2007/10/19/ftmandela119.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2012|title=How Nelson Mandela won the rugby World Cup |access-date=28 August 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=19 October 2007 | first=John | last=Carlin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8406647.stm |title=South Africa 'rugby unity': Fact and fiction |date=11 December 2009 |work=BBC News |location=UK |access-date=28 August 2011 |first=Pumza |last=Fihlani |archive-date=10 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210171602/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8406647.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In public art and sculpture, there are many works dedicated to the sport. There is a {{convert|27|ft}} bronze statue of a rugby line-out by pop artist [[Gerald Laing]] at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/richmondnews/8196778.Iconic_sculpture_of_rugby_line_out_unveiled/ |title=RFU unveils iconic bronze of rugby line-out by sculptor Gerald Laing |date=2 June 2010 |work=yourlocalguardian.co.uk |location=UK |access-date=28 August 2011 |first=Joanna |last=Kilvington |archive-date=27 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727003326/http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/richmondnews/8196778.Iconic_sculpture_of_rugby_line_out_unveiled/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and one of rugby administrator Sir [[Tasker Watkins]] at the [[Millennium Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8360513.stm |title=Statue of Sir Tasker is unveiled |date=15 November 2009 |work=BBC News |location=UK |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-date=4 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904013324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/8360513.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Rugby players to have been honoured with statues include [[Gareth Edwards (rugby union)|Gareth Edwards]] in Cardiff and [[Danie Craven]] in Stellenbosch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugby365.com/schools/craven/2504760.htm |title=Craven of Craven Week |date=27 June 2010 |work=rugby365.com |access-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719053209/http://www.rugby365.com/schools/craven/2504760.htm |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
{{Wikinews category|Rugby}}
* [[Experimental law variations]]
* [[International Rugby Hall of Fame]], now merged with the former IRB Hall of Fame
* [[International rugby union eligibility rules]]
* [[International rugby union player records]]
* [[International rugby union team records]]
* [[List of international rugby union teams]]
* [[List of oldest rugby union competitions]]
* [[List of rugby union terms]]
* [[World Rugby Hall of Fame]], a merger of the IRB and International Rugby Halls of Fame
* [[Concussions in rugby union]]
* [[List of rugby union stadiums by capacity]]
* [[History of the English rugby union system]]
* [[History of the England national rugby union team]]

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

===Footnotes===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
'''Printed sources'''
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia Canadiana vol. 8|year=1972 |publisher=Grolier of Canada|location=Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal|isbn=0-7172-1601-2}}
* {{Cite book | editor-last = Bath | editor-first = Richard | year = 1997 | title = Complete Book of Rugby | publisher=Seven Oaks Ltd | isbn = 1-86200-013-1}}
* {{cite book|title=Rugby: Steps to Success|first1=Tony|last1=Biscombe |first2= Peter|last2=Drewett|year=2009|publisher=Human Kinetics}}
* {{cite book|title=Periodization in Rugby|first1=Tudor|last1=Bompa |first2= Frederick|last2=Claro|year=2008|publisher=Meyer and Meyer Sport}}
* {{cite book|title=Rugby For Dummies|first1=Mathew|last1=Brown|first2=Patrick|last2=Guthrie|first3=Greg|last3=Growden|year=2010|publisher=John Wiley and Sons}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Godwin |first1=Terry |last2=Rhys |first2=Chris |title=The Guinness Book of Rugby Facts & Feats |year=1981 |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |location=Enfield|isbn=0-85112-214-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Griffiths |first=John|title=The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records |year=1987 |publisher=Phoenix House |location=London |isbn=0-460-07003-7}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Jones | first1 = John R | last2 = Golesworthy | first2 = Maurice | date = 1976 | title = Encyclopedia of Rugby Union Football | publisher = Robert Hale | location = London | isbn = 0-7091-5394-5 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofr0000jone }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Marshall |first1=Howard |last2= Jordon |first2=J.P. |title=Oxford v Cambridge, The Story of the University Rugby Match |year=1951 |publisher=Clerke & Cockeran|location=London }}
* {{Cite book| last = Midgley| first = Ruth| title = The Official World Encyclopedia of Sports and Games| publisher=Diagram Group| year = 1979| location = London| isbn = 0-7092-0153-2}}
* {{Cite book| last = Richards| first = Huw| title = A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union| publisher = [[Mainstream Publishing]]| year = 2007| location = Edinburgh| url = https://archive.org/details/gameforhooligans0000rich| isbn = 978-1-84596-255-5| url-access = registration}}
* {{Cite book| last = Stubbs| first = Ray| title = The Sports Book| publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]| year = 2009| isbn = 978-1-4053-3697-0 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=J.B.G. |last2= Rowe |first2=Harding|title=On Tour |year=1954 |publisher=Anchor Press Ltd.|location=Essex }}
{{refend}}

'''Electronic sources'''
* {{cite web | url=http://www.irb.com/lawregulations/laws/index.html | title=Laws of Rugby Union | publisher=IRB | year=2010 | access-date=16 January 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518105529/http://www.irb.com/lawregulations/laws/index.html | archive-date=18 May 2011}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.irb.com/lawregulations/regulations/index.html | title=IRB Regulations | publisher=IRB | access-date=16 January 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103091436/http://www.irb.com/lawregulations/regulations/index.html | archive-date=3 January 2013}}
* [http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/94071.html Scrum.com Rugby guide]

==External links==
<!-- Please discuss on the article talk page before adding any further links here -->
{{Commons category}}
{{Sister project links}}
* [https://www.world.rugby/ International Rugby Board]&nbsp;– official site of the sport's governing body
* [http://www.rugbydata.com Rugby Data]&nbsp;– rugby union statistics
* [https://www.planetrugby.com/ Planet Rugby]&nbsp;– news, fixtures, match reports, etc.
* [https://www.espn.com/rugby/ ESPN Rugby]&nbsp;– news, match reports and statistics database

{{Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship}}
{{Rugby football}}
{{international rugby union}}
{{Top-level rugby union club competitions}}
{{Women's rugby union}}
{{Football codes}}
{{Team Sport}}
{{Authority control}}

<!-- interwiki kept as it is a section -->

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rugby Union}}
[[Category:Rugby union| ]]
[[Category:Ball games]]
[[Category:Former Summer Olympic sports]]
[[Category:Sports originating in England]]
[[Category:Team sports]]
[[Category:Rugby football variants]]
[[Category:Turf sports]]
[[Category:Grass field surfaces]]