Rugby football Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom . It is seen most prominently in two current sports , rugby league and rugby union . " See " comparison of rugby league and rugby union . History . Rugby football developed from a version of football played at Rugby School and was one of several versions of football played at English public schools during the 19th century . Forms . There are two distinctively different forms of rugby – rugby union and rugby league . The basic rules of the game are the same , getting the ball over the line for a try . The rules for each of the forms , however are different . Global status of rugby codes . Rugby union is both a professional and amateur game , and is dominated by the first tier unions : Argentina , Australia , England , France , Ireland , Italy , New Zealand , Scotland , South Africa and Wales . Second and third tier unions include Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Fiji , Georgia , Japan , Mexico , Namibia , Peru , Portugal , Romania , Russia , Samoa , Spain , Tonga , the United States , Uruguay and Venezuela . Rugby Union is administered by the International Rugby Board ( IRB ) , whose headquarters are located in Dublin , Ireland . It is the national sport in New Zealand , South Africa , Wales , Fiji , Samoa , Tonga and Madagascar , and is the most popular form of rugby globally , with the seven - a - side version of the game , known as Rugby sevens , having been admitted into the programme of the Olympic Games from Rio de Janeiro in 2016 onwards . There was a possibility sevens would be a demonstration sport at the 2012 London Olympics but many sports including sevens were dropped . In Canada and the United States , rugby union evolved into gridiron football . During the late 1800s ( and even the early 1900s ) , the two forms of the game were very similar ( to the point where the United States was able to win the gold medal for rugby union at the 1924 Summer Olympics ) , numerous rule changes have differentiated the gridiron - based game from its rugby counterpart . Among unique features of the North American game are the separation of play into downs instead of releasing the ball immediately upon tackling , the allowance for one forward pass from behind the site of the last tackle on each down , the evolution of hard plastic equipment ( particularly the football helmet and shoulder pads ) , a smaller and pointier ball that is favorable to being passed but makes drop kick s impractical , a generally smaller and narrower field measured in customary units instead of metric ( in some variants of the American game a field can be as short as 50 yards between end zones ) , and a distinctive field ( shaped like a gridiron , from which the code ' s nickname is derived ) with lines marked in five - yard intervals . Rugby league is also both a professional and amateur game , administered on a global level by the Rugby League International Federation . In addition to amateur and semi - professional competitions in the United States , Russia , Lebanon , Serbia , Europe and Australasia , there are two major professional competitions — the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League . International Rugby League is dominated by Australia , England and New Zealand . Other nations from the South Pacific and Europe also play in the Pacific Cup and European Cup respectively . Laws . Distinctive features common to both rugby codes include the oval ball and the ban on throwing the ball forward , so that players can gain ground only by running with the ball or by kicking it . As the sport of rugby league moved further away from its union counterpart , rule changes were implemented with the aim of making a faster - paced and more try - orientated game . The main differences between the two games , besides league having teams of 13 players and union of 15 , involve the tackle and its aftermath : Set pieces of the union code include the " scrum " , in which packs of opposing players push against each other for possession , and the " line - out " , in which parallel lines of players from each team , arranged perpendicular to the touch - line , attempt to catch the ball thrown from touch . A rule has been added to line - outs which allows the jumper to be pulled down once a players ' s feet are on the ground . In the league code , the scrum still exists , but with greatly reduced importance as it involves fewer players and is rarely contested . Set pieces are generally started from the play - the - ball situation . Many of the rugby league positions have similar names and requirements to rugby union positions , but there are no flankers in rugby league . Culture . Home countries . In England , rugby union is widely regarded as an " establishment " sport , played mostly by members of the upper and middle classes . For example , many students at public school s and grammar school s play rugby union . In contrast , rugby league has traditionally been seen as a working class pursuit . An exception to this stereotype is evident in the neighboring countries of England and Wales . In England rugby union is associated with the public school system . In Wales , rugby is associated with small village teams which consisted of coal miners and other industrial workers playing on their days off . In Ireland , and in particular Leinster , rugby union is also associated with private education and the " D4 " stereotype , and this image of the spoilt , ignorant , wealthy rugby - playing jock inspired the best - selling Ross O ' Carroll Kelly novels . In Australia support for both codes is concentrated in New South Wales , Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory . The same perceived class barrier as exists between the two games in England also occurs in these states , fostered by rugby union ' s prominence and support at schools . Exceptions to the above include New Zealand ( although league is still considered to be a lower class game by many , or a game for ' westies ' referring to lower class western suburbs of Auckland and more recently the poorer southern Auckland where the game is popular ) , Wales , France except Paris , Cornwall , Gloucestershire , Somerset , the Borders region of Scotland , County Limerick in Ireland ( see Munster ) , and the Pacific Islands , where rugby union is popular in working class communities . Nevertheless , Rugby League is perceived as the game of the working - class people in northern England , and in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland . In the United Kingdom , rugby union fans sometimes use the term " rugger " as an alternative name for the sport , ( see Oxford ' - er ' ) . New Zealanders refer to rugby in general as " footy " or " football " , rugby union simply as either " rugby " or " union " and to rugby league as " rugby league " or " league " . In the U . S . , people who play rugby are sometimes called " ruggers " , a term little used elsewhere except facetiously . Those considered to be heavily involved with the rugby union lifestyle — including heavy drinking and striped jumpers — sometimes identify as “ rugger buggers ” . Internationally . In France , rugby is widely played and has a strong tradition in the Basque , Occitan , and Catalan people areas along the border regions between Spain and France . It rivals the popularity of Association Football . The game is very popular in South Africa among both blacks and whites , having been introduced by English - speaking settlers in the 19th century . British colonists also brought the game with them to Australia and New Zealand , where the game is widely played . It has spread thence to much of Polynesia , having particularly strong followings in Fiji , Samoa , and Tonga . Rugby ball . In rugby union , the International Rugby Board the size and shape of the ball under Law 2 ( also known as Law E . R . B ) ; an official rugby union ball is oval and made of four panels , has a length in - line of 280 – 300 millimetres , a circumference ( end to end ) of 740 – 770 millimetres , and a circumference ( in width ) of 580 – 620 millimetres . It is made of leather or suitable synthetic material , and may be treated to make it water resistant and easier to grip . The rugby ball may not weigh more than 460 grams or less than 410 and has an air pressure of 65 . 71 – 68 . 75 kilopascals , or 0 . 67 – 0 . 70 kilograms per square centimetre , or 9 . 5 – 10 . 0 lbs per square inch . Spare balls are allowed under the condition that players or teams do not seek an advantage by changing the ball . Smaller sized balls may also be used in games between younger players . Much larger versions of traditional balls are also available for purchase , but these are mainly for their novelty attraction . World Cups . The Rugby World Cup is held every four years , the first event was held in New Zealand and Australia in 1987 . It is an international tournament that is organized by the International Rugby Board . The event is played in the union format and features the top 20 teams around the world . The current world champions are New Zealand . The next world cup is to be held in 2015 in England and Wales . The Rugby League World Cup will be held every four years from 2013 , the first event was held in France in 1954 . It is an international tournament that is organized by the Rugby League International Federation . The event is played in the league format and features the top 14 teams around the world . The current world champions are New Zealand . The next world cup is to be held in 2013 in England , Wales , France and Ireland . Rugby shirt . Rugby shirts were formerly made of cotton but are now made of a cotton and polyester mix . This material has the advantage of not absorbing as much water or mud as cotton alone . The rugby jerseys are slightly different depending on the type of rugby game played . The shirts worn by rugby league players commonly have a large " V " around the neck . The players in rugby union wear jerseys with a more traditional design , sometimes completely white ( Cahors Rugby in France ) . The number of the player and his or her surname are placed on the upper back of the jersey ( often name above number , with the number being significantly larger and more central ) , and the logo of the team on the upper left chest . Rugby betting . With the popularity of rugby over the years , many betting establishments have made it possible for viewers of the game to place wagers on games . The various types of wagers that can be placed on games vary , however the main types of bets that can be placed are as follows : Like most team sports , both forms of rugby are vulnerable to match fixing , particularily bets involving easily manipulated outcomes , such as conceeding penalties and first point scorer . A recent example being a deliberate infringement by Ryan Tandy in order for the first points scored to be a penalty goal in a 2010 NRL match . The attempt backfired when instead of taking a shot at goal , a try was scored .