Laws of rugby union

Some Rugby clubs were also early members of The Football Association, leaving after they left out rules for "running with the ball" and "hacking" when framing their code in 1863.

Players involved in the scrum stay bound to each other and the opposition until it is finished and the rest, except the scrum-half, must be positioned at least five metres back.

Players form two parallel lines perpendicular to the sideline and the team that did not put the ball out throws it straight down the middle.

The early rules of football were determined by pupils before the game, with the legality of carrying or running with the ball often agreed shortly before commencement.

The Football Association intended to frame a universal code of laws in 1863, but several newspapers published the 1848 Cambridge rules before they were finalised.

They decided not to include those rules in their release, causing a number of rugby clubs to break away from the Football Association.

Scotland, Ireland and Wales formed the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) in 1886, with the RFU joining in 1890.

Historically, no points at all were awarded for a try, the reward being to "try" to score a goal (to kick the ball over the cross bar and between the posts).

Important changes included: no gain in ground if the ball is kicked directly into touch after it has been moved back into the 22 by the kicking team; the offside lines for backs moved five metres from the scrum; allowing mauls to be legally pulled down and players to enter with their head lower than their hips; no restrictions on the number of players in a line-out; and allowing pregripping and lifting.

The objective is to obtain more points than the opposition through scoring tries or kicking goals over 80 minutes of playing time, divided into two 40-minute halves.

[9] If either team feels that the pitch is unsafe, the referee must try to resolve the issues and must not start the match if any part of the ground is considered to be dangerous.

[14] The referee is responsible for ensuring the game is played according to the laws, keeping the time and recording the score.

In higher level matches a fourth official is appointed who can replace an assistant if needed and is usually responsible for allowing the substitutions to enter the playing field.

[23] The conversion attempt is taken from a spot perpendicular to where the try was scored[28] and must be completed within one minute from the time the player has indicated his intention to kick.

[31] The opposition have to retire back 10 metres (33 ft) (or to their goal line if it is closer) and stand still with their arms at their sides until after the ball is kicked.

[32] However, if a drop goal is attempted from a free kick it will not count unless the ball has been first touched by an opposition player, been made dead or a tackle has been completed.

[17] Drop-outs are used to restart play when the attacking team puts the ball into the oppositions in-goal and it is grounded by a defender or if it goes over the dead-ball or touch-in-goal line.

[35] The player holding the ball can travel in any direction, providing they do not use teammates to obstruct defenders from making a tackle.

[67] A scrum is used to restart play if the ball becomes unplayable at a tackle, ruck or line-out and it is not due to a player offending.

[60] An exception is if it forms directly after a player catches a kick during general play (not a kick-off or drop-out) on the full.

[60] If a defending player carries the ball into their own in-goal and grounds it or makes it dead, a scrum is awarded to the attacking team five metres out from the try-line.

[72] If a team makes a mistake when taking a kick-off or 22-metre drop-out, the opposition are given the option of either restarting play with a scrum or receiving the kick again.

[82][80] Once the referee is happy with the engagement, the scrum-half from the team awarded the fee throws the ball into the tunnel (gap) between the two front rows.

[94] The same rule applies if the ball is moved (passed, knocked, kicked or run) back inside the 22 by a player from the same team as the kicker.

[97] A line-out consists of at least two players from each team standing in two straight lines between five and fifteen metres from, and at right angles to, the scoring bay.

[100] Players not taking part in the line-out must stand back ten metres or on the goal line if that is closer.

[109] Foul play includes intentionally or repeatedly offending, throwing the ball into touch,[110] obstructing the opposition,[111] or misconduct.

[118] Players may be cautioned for foul or dangerous conduct, for persistent breaches of the same rule, or for deliberate infringement to prevent their opponents from gaining a decisive advantage.

The World Rugby enforced under 19 variations allow substituted players to replace anyone injured and if there are 22 in a team at least 6 must play in the front row.

[128] Free kicks are awarded to the opposition at the halfway if the ball does not travel ten metres, goes directly into touch or into the in-goal, or the kickers team are in front.

The "Laws of Football" by the Rugby Football Union , as they were published in a newspaper in 1871
Richard Lindon.
Early footballs with rubber bladders.
The ball is generally placed in a kicking tee when taking conversions or penalty shots at goal
Players must be behind the ball at a kick-off
A rugby tackle: tackles must be below the neck with the aim of impeding or grounding the player with the ball
A ruck is formed when at least one player from each team are on their feet and bound over the top of the ball.
The fewest players that can form a maul is three; the ball carrier, a defender and one of the ball carrier's teammates.
Diagram showing the relative body positions of the players in a Rugby union scrum.
A scrum showing the body positions of the forwards, as well as the position of both scrum-half and the referee.
The usual position of players at a line-out just after the ball has been thrown in.
Two locks from different teams being lifted by players when competing for the ball.
A referee signals a penalty by raising a straight arm on the non-offending team's side.
A yellow card indicates the player has committed a cautionable offence and must spend ten minutes out of the game. The player can not be replaced during this time.
A sevens scrum