What is Rugby League.

Rugby League is a sport that has its roots actually in football history although neither sport bear any resemblance to what we know them as today. Way back in the early days of the sport it was called football and this was played in schools, although each school seemed to have their own version of the rules. There where 2 versions of the game, the handling of the ball and the kicking game (19th century). These 2 versions later became know as the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union.

During 1895 rugby had lots of problems mainly brought about by the fact that there where lots of northern working class team who had great success much to the disgust of the gentry who ran the game There where many disputes relating to time off work to play, where pay was stopped and as there where more working class players they could not afford to lose any income due to the ban on 'compensation' that was previously given whilst playing rugby. This lead to the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union. Over the next fifteen years more than 200 clubs joined the Rugby revolution.

In 1906 the Northern Rugby Union made changes to its laws in order to make the game more attractive to spectators as they where totally dependant on income from the turnstiles to keep them going and by 1922 they had adopted the name "Rugby League" and it has been known as this ever since.

So what is the difference to the better know Rugby Union

A Rugby League team consists of 17 players, 13 of which are on the pitch at any one time and the remaining 4 are substitutes. Rugby league is played on a rectangular pitch and it is normally twice as long as it is wide. At each end of the pitch there is what is known as the 'in goal area' and this is where you score a try (worth 4 points) by placing the ball (spherical shaped) down under control at your opponents end. At the end of the playing area there is a H shaped set of goal posts which are used to score a field goal, penalty goal or conversion. A field goal or drop goal as more commonly known, is scored by a player kicking the ball over the bar between the 2 sticks, or between the top bit of the H shape the team is awarded 1 point for this.. A penalty goal can be scored if a member of the opposite team has committed an offence (more about these later) and the player is near enough to attempt a free kick at the sticks (H shape), if successful then the team is awarded 2 points. A conversion is when a team has scored a try by placing the ball in the in goal area, it does not have to be directly between the stick it can be any part of the area, and the designated kicker for the team has a shot, 2 points are awarded for this. This can either be easy or hard as the point where a player kicks from is in direct relation to where the ball was placed in the in goal area so ideally the nearer the stick the better as easier to kick.

As the game is played there is an attacking team, this is the team with the greater territorial advantage) and they have possession of the ball and a defending team who must stop a try being scored. In order to score points the attacking team must move the ball up the field by using a combination of kicking and passing of the ball, you are allowed to kick the ball in any direction but a pass must be made backwards. The attacking players also run head to head with the defence line in order either force back or break though this line.

The attacking team has 6 chances to attempt to score and these are measured by the number of tackles or the tackle count. Every time a player is tackled and brought to the ground the referee will shout held and the number of the set of six so that the players can keep up with where they are and adjust their tactics accordingly. Once the tackle count has reached 6 then the ball must be handed over to the opposing team where the last tackle took place and then they have a set of 6 tackles.

When a tackle has taken place there are rules in place as to where players must be before the next play of the ball. The defending team must be at least 10 meters away from the play of the ball, with the exception of 2 markers who also have to stand square on to the play of the ball. There is also a correct way to play the ball , the player who was tackled must pass the ball backwards through his legs and one foot must make contact with the top of the ball otherwise a penalty will be given for incorrect play of the ball.

Tactics

Attacking Tactics
The largest players on the team (usually the prop forwards, more about that later) generally try to move the ball up the field by using their size and strength to get past the oppositions defensive line or for the technical term, gain field position. Generally the big guys have no actual pace and cannot sprint with the ball.

Skilful forwards will attempt to pass the ball to another member of their team whilst drawing in the defensive line of the opposing team in order to try to create a gap for the next player to get through, this is known as an off-load. Extremely skilful players can read the play extremely well and manage to off-load the ball whilst they are being tackled but before the ball carrying arm has hit the ground as this would then be classed as tackle complete.

The attacking team will use a combination of plays utilising speed, kicking and passing in order to breakdown the defending teams line or reduce their effectiveness in order to create an opportunity to gain better field position or even score a try.

Kicking the ball is only normally used on the 5th tackle in order to get the ball as far up field as possible without going out of the boundaries of play or the in-goal area and the team who has just kicked, race down the pitch in order to start their defence process. The most common kicks are called a 'grubber kick' and this is where the ball is kicked along the ground between players legs with a hope that one of your team will get their 1st, there are some very skilled players about who are excellent at these. There is also the 'bomb' where ball is kicked high into the air and it is a race to see who can catch it 1st. Or the 'chip' where the ball is literally chipped just high enough over the defence line to clear it without being caught and generally the kicker or another player will be able to break through the defence in an attempt to catch the ball with the advantage of gained field position. The less common and more skilful kick is known as a 40 -20, this is where the kicker is behind the 40 meter line and has to kick the ball to over the 20 meter line and for the ball to bounce in play and then go out. This type of play would then result in a scrum.

Defensive Tactics

As expected the defensive team must stop the attacking team from gaining field position and scoring a try. Not all players will be in the 1st line of defence as some drop back to the rear of the field to defend against kicks and also if an attacking player breaks the 1st line then they have a chance to stop them.

A good defensive team will force the attacking team to make mistakes such as a bad pass (off-load) of the ball which can then lead to the defending team taking possession and gaining advantage in play.

The Referee

As you would expect it is the job of the referee to keep control of the game and make sure that everyone abides by the rules. The referee is also assisted by touch judges (similar to lines men in football) and they will watch to see if the ball goes out of play of if a player is running down the wing with the ball that no part of his body touches the white lines as this is also classed as being out of play. In addition to this at televised matches there is also a video referee who can play back any incident or check to see whether a try has been scored upon request of the referee. In these cases the decision is left in the hands of the video referee and his word is final.

Players

The players on the pitch have 2 different roles, forwards and backs with each player having their own designated number from 1 to 17.

Backs

Players who play in these positions are generally smaller, faster and lighter that the forwards and are likely to be the most creative players on the field. The will use set plays and their skills and speed to gain advantage for their team.

The 'full back' is normally a good catcher of the ball as he is the last line of defence and often has to catch a ball that has been kicked. The full back plays a similar roll to the half back (not quite the last line of defence, only halfway back, sounds daft I know). Both of these can be what is known as a playmaker meaning they are very good at reading the game.

The 'wingers' are normally the fastest players on the pitch and play on the far left and right hand side of the pitch.

The 'centre' one position in from the wing and usually combines power and ability to read the game as they try to create attacking opportunities, normally along with a winger the centres score many tries in a season.

The' scrum half' directs the game and is normally one of the smallest players on the pitch and works with the stand off to create plays.

The 'stand off' can be the most skilful player of the pitch and takes the majority of the kicks for their team.

Forwards

Front row forwards - prop and hooker

The 'prop' are normally the largest players on the pitch and normally weight over 15 stone or 100 kilos and their normal position is in the centre of the line. Running into one of these guys I would imagine would be like running into a brick wall.

The' hooker' normally defends and takes the role of 'dummy half'. The hooker is responsible to the defence in the middle of the field. When attacking the player becomes dummy half and sets the play and ensures that the ball is passed to the correct player and must be good at catching and passing.

Second row forwards

Must be faster that the front row forwards

The 'loose forward' usually the fittest player on the field and are generally ball runners.

Some if the offences that you will be awarded penalties for:

High tackle - anything where the swinging arm makes contact with the neck or face as this is dangerous play. A good tackle should be made either around the legs of the trunk of the body.

Incorrect play of the ball - not touched by a foot

Forward pass - ball is passed forwards instead of backwards

Holding down a player too long after tackle has been completed

Flop - A player has tackled another player and tackle has been deemed to be complete and another player flops on top very late.

Personal opinion

I love this game - it is extremely fast paces with on average a set of 6 tackles lasting less than a minute. Some my argue that the lesser game of Rugby Union is better but they have to stop at every play of the ball for a scrum (rest) .

Rugby league is now classed as a summer sport and the season runs from February to October with the 2 main highlights of the season being the Challenge cup final and the Grand final and on both of these occasions if does not matter whether you team have made the final as the day out is fantastic with a friendly atmosphere and good all round family fun.

Come on you Saints is all I have left to say, but where can we go next season I ask as we won everything this year.

Thks for the read, hope I got it all correct being a chick reviewing a mans sport. J.