Essay, Research Paper: Rugby Rules

The Object of the Game is that two teams of fifteen players each, observing fair play according to the Laws and a sporting spirit, should by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding the ball score as many points as possible, the team scoring the greater number of points to be the winner of the match. The Laws of the Game are complete and contain all that is necessary to enable the game to be played correctly and fairly. Nevertheless, in a complex game where so many diverse situations can arise, the Board finds it necessary to instruct all concerned as to the meaning and effect of some of the Laws, and to add emphasis to duties which the Laws place on the referee. This is all the more necessary because lack of uniformity in referees' decisions is bad for the game.
These instructions and Notes are, therefore, issued by the International Rugby Football Board so that all concerned in every country may follow a consistent and uniform practice.
DEFINITIONS
Beyond or Behind or In Front of any position implies "with both feet," except when unsuited to the context.
Dead means that the ball is for the time being out of play. This occurs when the referee blows his whistle to indicate a stoppage of play or when an attempt to convert a try is unsuccessful.
Defending Team means the team in whose half of the ground the stoppage of play occurs and the opponents of the defending team are referred to as "the Attacking Team."
Kick A kick is made by propelling the ball with the leg or foot (except the heel), from knee to toe inclusive. If the player is
holding the ball, he must propel it out of his hands, or if it is on the ground, he must propel it a visible distance.
Drop Kick A drop kick is made by letting the ball fall from the hand (or hands) to the ground and kicking it at the first rebound as it rises.
Place Kick A place kick is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed on the ground for that purpose.
Punt A punt is made by letting the ball fall from the hand (or hands) and kicking it before it touches the ground .
Mark The mark is the place at which a free kick or penalty kick is awarded.
Union means the controlling body under whose jurisdiction the match is played and in the case of an International Match it means the International Rugby Football Board or a Committee there of.
A match shall be played by not more than fifteen players in each team.
(2) When a Union authorizes matches to be played with fewer than fifteen players, the Laws of the Game shall apply except that there will be no fewer than three players in a scrummage at all times.
(3) Replacement of players shall be allowed in recognized trial matches as determined by the Union having jurisdiction over the match.
(4) In all other matches, a player may be replaced only on account of injury and subject to the following conditions:
(a) Not more than four players in each team may be replaced.
(b) A player who has been permanently replaced must NOT resume playing in the match.
A match is started by a kick-off, after which any player who is on-side, and provided he does so in accordance with these Laws may at any time: catch or pick up the ball and run with it, pass, throw or knock the ball to another player, kick or otherwise propel the ball, tackle, push or shoulder an opponent holding the ball, fall on the ball, take part in scrummage, ruck, maul or line-out ground the ball In-goal.
Try A try is scored by first grounding the ball In the opponents' In-goal. A try shall be awarded if one would probably have been scored but for foul play by the opposing team.
Goal A goal is scored by kicking the ball over the opponents' crossbar and between the goal posts from the field-of-play by any place kick or drop kick, except a kick-off, drop-out or free kick, without touching the ground or any player of the kicker's team. A goal is scored if the ball has crossed the bar not with standing a prior offense of the opposing team.
A goal is scored if the ball has crossed the bar, even though it may have been blown backwards afterwards, and whether it has touched the crossbar or either goal post or not. A goal may be awarded if the ball is illegally touched by any player of the opposing team and if the referee considers that a goal would otherwise probably have been scored.
The scoring values are as follows:
A try......................................... 5 points
A goal scored after a try..................... 2 points
A goal from a penalty kick.................... 3 points
A dropped goal otherwise obtained but not from a free kick or after a scrum taken in lieu of a free kick...................... 3 points


BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. John Ashton, www.uidaho.edu/clubs/mensrugby/RugbyRoot/rugbyrules.html
2. Davis Anton, Rules and Points of Rugby, 1986