New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-07
RUGBY AS A GAME
HOW 1T is PLAYED.
Interest in Match Betreen
Canadian Teams.

Much interest Is being shown In the pro-
posed game Of Rugby football. IN its Ca
madam manifestation. to be played here on
Saturday. partly because OF the present
agitation concerning the rules of American
college football. Rugby is not new to this
country. The University OF Pennsylvania
has played II here several times In the last
few years and shown adaptability to the
English game. but the two crack Canadian
teams which play a decidedly modified
form OF Rugby. will furnish a better line
for comparison.
As matter OF fact. the growth and de-
velopment OF American college football
from Rugby origin is only one proof OF
the changes 10 which the game has been
subjected Even in Great Britain the
Northern Union plays a style OF football
entirely different to that prevailing IN
Scotland Wales Ireland and the southern
counties in England.
In New Zealand systematic play. with
well developed attack and an organized de-
fence. has been evolved. and there is a ten
dency away from the old English game
and toward the American evolution. Some
say the changes are due 10 climate. and
that racial tendencies Induced by environ
ment are bound to leave their stamp on
any game. citing the case Of baseball and
cricket as an example.
Fifteen men play on a side In English
Rugby. Points are scored as In the Ameri
can game. by touchdowns. known as
tries" goals from touchdowns. with the
privilege of a free kick; goals made by free
kicks after a fair catch. and drop kicks
from the field. made by a man who has
run into position in front OF the posts.
beautiful play wholly unknown in the
American game. Such a goal counts four
points, try three points and a goal
from try" two points
The Rugby fifteen is divided into a pack
OF eight forwards. two halfbacks four
three-quarterbacks and a fullback. whose
sole duty. as a rule. is 70 guard his goal
Every man in front OF the one actually
running with the ball or holding 1t IS Off
side and can take no part in the play. He
is not allowed to block of any opposing
player or TO receive pass.
The game begins. as here, with kick
OF. and the player catching the ball at
tempts. as here. 10 run IL back as far as
may be- When he Is brought down. tackled.
or "collared." as the English term D. a
serum" is formed The eight forwards
line up IN two rows Of three men. with
two at the back. arms over shoulders and
heads down The ball is placed between
their feet by the referee and a halfback OF
each side hovers at each side waiting for
the ball TO emerge.
A powerful set OF forwards. using their
feet well. can get that ball back into their
side of the scrimmage and so push the
play down the field. driving back the op-
posing pack by sheer weight Then the
ball is showed out to a waiting halfback.
and he. seizing IL. passes it before he can
be tackled. to the nearest Of the four wait
ing three-quarterbacks. who dash OF down
the field. passing the ball back and forth as
tacklers threaten them. IL a man sees
himself about 10 be tackled and cannot
make pass he may punt the ball. a high
kick, rather than a long one, being in
favor. lie has the privilege OF recovering
that ball II he can before II touches the
ground.
II a ball Is carried or kicked out OF
bounds II is put in play by being thrown
out The forwards line up. man covering
man. straight out from the side line. and
at right angles from IL. Behind them the
backs are lined. and the halfback throws
the ball in. the throw going TO the side not
in possession of the ball when II went out
of bounds
Tackling in the English game is exceed
ingly hard, and there is no limitation as
in the American game, In which a tackle
below the knee is foul. A flying tackle
about the ankles has brought many a man
down so hard that injury has resulted
There have been some fatal accidents too.
and IN this respect there is little 20 choose
between il and the American college game
or any strenuous sport.