Rugby union

Rugby union is a close-contact team sport played worldwide.

It is a game of physical skill and intense teamwork. Two teams face off on a rectangular field called a pitch.

The players use an oval-shaped ball to score. At each end of the pitch, there are H-shaped goalposts. Most matches feature two teams of 15 players each.

This sport brings people together across different ages and sizes. In 2023, more than 10 million people played the game globally. Out of these, 8.4 million were officially registered players.

To play the game, players must run with the ball in their hands. They use various movements to advance toward the opposition's goal. One specific mechanism is the scrum.

In a scrum, players from both teams push together in a tight group. This allows them to compete for possession of the ball. Other players might use tackles to stop an opponent from running. The game requires both strength and speed to succeed. Players must navigate the pitch while managing constant physical contact.

Rugby union has several distinct forms and levels of competition. The most common version is the 15-player game. However, there is also Rugby Sevens, which is a faster version. Sevens was added to the Olympic Games in 2016. There are also many different international and club competitions. In Europe, teams compete in the Six Nations Championship. In the Southern Hemisphere, they play The Rugby Championship.

Professional leagues also exist, such as the Top 14 in France. These different levels allow players to progress from local clubs to global stages.

The history of rugby is tied to many ancient ball games. Romans played a game called harpastum. Medieval Irishmen played caid using an inflated bladder. Welsh players used a wooden ball called cnapan. Modern rugby union specifically began at Rugby School in England. Students there wrote the first formal rules in 1845.

In 1863, the Football Association (FA) formed to set universal rules. However, the FA banned running with the ball and hacking. Hacking is the act of kicking an opponent in the shins. Because they disagreed, the Blackheath Club left the FA. This led to the permanent split between association football and rugby.

In 1871, the Rugby Football Union was formed to govern the sport.

That same year, the first international match took place. It was played between Scotland and England in Edinburgh. Scotland won that match by one goal and one try to one goal. For a long time, rugby union was an amateur sport. This meant players were not paid for their time. In 1895, a split occurred over player reimbursements, creating rugby league. It was not until 1995 that rugby union became professional. This change allowed players to be paid at the highest levels.

Major tournaments define the modern era of the sport. The Rugby World Cup is the premier event. It began in 1987 and is held every four years. New Zealand won the first tournament.

The Women's Rugby World Cup began in 1991. The United States won that inaugural title.

International tours also have a long history. In 1888, a New Zealand team toured Europe and played 107 matches. These early tours helped spread the game to the Southern Hemisphere. Today, World Rugby governs the sport with 116 full members.

Rugby union connects many different cultures and nations. Many countries consider it their national sport. These include Fiji, Georgia, Madagascar, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales. The sport has expanded into Japan, Korea, and South America. It also has a growing presence in the United States and Canada. This global reach is seen in transnational club competitions. For example, the United Rugby Championship includes teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. This creates a massive, interconnected system of players and fans.