The Rules of the Scrum | iSport.com The Rules of the Scrum The Rules of the Scrum The Scrum is arguably rugby’s most recognizable structure — sixteen of the biggest players on both teams lock together and form a human hurricane into which the ball gets rolled. Although the scrum appears to be an en masse shoving match between both sides, the play is actually governed by a detailed set of rules. This guide identifies and explains that set of rules. Scrum Formation The rugby laws for scrumming come into play before the actual scrum even starts, dictating which players are allowed in the scrum and how those players are to be arranged: Who: Only forwards may participate in the scrum: The props (#1 & 3), hooker (#2), locks (#4 & 5), flankers (#6 & 7) and eight man (#8). How: The forwards are arranged in three rows: Props and hooker in the first, the locks and flankers in the second, and eight man in the third.

The exception: The one backs player allowed (and required) to participate in the scrum is the appropriately-titled “ scrum half .” While technically a back position, the scrum half also plays an important role in the scrumming process: He inserts and removes the ball from the scrum. When involved in a scrum, the collective group of forwards is referred to as the pack . When both packs come together, the head of each front row forward is sandwiched between two opposing players’ heads (as illustrated above). This alternating structure ensures that each pack’s strength and power is spread evenly across both front rows, giving both sides an equal opportunity at winning the scrum. If one of the forwards is in the sin bin or has been sent off, that player’s team is permitted to participate in scrums with less than a full pack, though they do so at a disadvantage. What’s worse, the opposing team may continue to use an eight-man pack in scrums. However, there must be at least five forwards in a pack for a scrum to take place. In the instance that a team is unable to field five forwards, the opposing team is awarded a free kick any time a scrum would otherwise occur.

Standing approximately one meter apart, both packs bind together in the following manner: The hooker stands at the spot where the scrum takes place with his arms elevated. The props bind on to both sides of the hooker. The locks bind on to each other, then bind on to the prop in front of them. The flankers bind on to their respective locks from the side. The eight man binds on to both locks from behind. Each forward in the pack must be bound on to at least one teammate and link at least one arm. However, several players — the locks, eight man, and hooker — use both arms, and are bound to more than one player. Scrum Procedure Once both packs are bound together, they line up across from one another. At this point, they are ready to initiate the scrum, which happens via the scrum cadence : Crouch: Both sets of front row players lower themselves into a pre-scrum position that allows them to deliver a hit when they come together — bent over at the waist, feet at least shoulder-width apart, back straight, and hips lower than the shoulders. Touch: The props on each side reach out and tap the prop across from them.

This shows the referee that the distance between both packs is sufficient. Pause: Both sides hold still and prepare for the collision. Engage: The packs collide, and the scrum officially starts. Though both sides are expected to (and should) deliver a big hit on “engage,” neither side is allowed to drive forward until the ball has entered the scrum. Feeding the Ball After the packs come together, the scrumhalf from the team that possessed the ball prior to the scrum "feeds" it into the tunnel . This is done by rolling it along the ground in between both packs. The referee watches and ensures that the feed is straight, not angled towards that scrum half’s team. Once it’s rolled in, the hookers from both sides try to secure possession of the ball by rolling it to the back of their respective packs with one foot — it’s a penalty for any player in a scrum to have both feet off the ground. At this point the packs can drive against each other, each side trying to force the other away from the ball. The Drive Once the ball has been fed into the tunnel and both sides begin pushing against the other, both sets of front row forwards try to keep the scrum up and mobile.

If the scrum collapses and players go to the ground, the referee will halt the game and reset the scrum. However, if he deems one of the front row forwards guilty of collapsing the scrum , the other team will be awarded a penalty from that spot. Dissolving the Scrum After the ball is fed into the tunnel and the packs begin to drive, the scrum half follows the ball to whichever side it ends up on: The offensive scrum half (from the team that secured the ball) must have at least one foot on his team’s side of the field. If he stands completely in the other team’s half of the field, he is offsides. Similarly, the defensive scrum half may also follow the ball. However, he must stay completely behind the ball, with both feet in his team’s half of the field. Hot Tip: Two Choices Though the scrum half usually picks up the ball from a scrum, the laws of the game permit the eight man to disengage from the scrum and play the ball. However, the ball must be firmly established under him to do so — he can’t reach into the scrum and grab it.

Once the ball reaches the eight man, the scrum half picks it up and makes a play. However, as soon as the offensive scrum half picks up the ball from the ground (not just touches it), the defensive scrum half can make a play for the ball as well. Ultimately, the offensive scrum half has to act quickly. As soon as the ball leaves the ground, the scrum is over and the forwards can disengage. Except for the offensive eight man, no player in the scrum may unbind until this happens. Doing so is not only a penalty, it could also potentially cause the scrum to collapse and seriously injure another player. A Structured Battle Scrums are a physical contest between the two packs, but it is by no means a free-for-all. There are laws that govern every aspect of the scrum from start to finish, and consequences for breaking those rules. Fortunately, those stipulations don’t overburden the scrum — they remain entertaining to fans and players alike.

Share this Guide: Rugby History | 1900 ; removed from programme in 1928 ; Rugby Sevens reinstated 2016 Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. [2] One of the two codes of rugby football , it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball with a maximum length and width of 30 centimetres (12 in) and 62 centimetres (24 in) respectfully. It is played on a field up to 100 metres (330 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) wide with H-shaped goal posts on each goal line. William Webb Ellis is often credited with the invention of running with the ball in hand in 1823 at Rugby School when he allegedly caught the ball while playing football and ran towards the opposition goal. However, the evidence for the story is doubtful.

In 1845, the first football laws were written by Rugby School pupils; other significant events in the early development of rugby include the Blackheath Club ‘s decision to leave the Football Association in 1863 and the split between rugby union and rugby league in 1895. Historically an amateur sport, in 1995 the International Rugby Board (IRB) removed restrictions on payments to players, making the game openly professional at the highest level for the first time. The IRB has been the governing body for rugby union since its formation in 1886. The spread of rugby union grew from the Home Nations of Great Britain and Ireland, and was absorbed by many of the countries associated with the British Empire. Early exponents of the sport included Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Countries that have adopted rugby union as their de facto national sport include Fiji, Georgia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Wales. Rugby union is played in over 100 countries across six continents and as of November 2010 118 unions were members of the IRB.

The Rugby World Cup , first held in 1987, takes place every four years, with the winner of the tournament receiving the Webb Ellis Cup . The Six Nations Championship in Europe and The Rugby Championship in the Southern Hemisphere (the latter replacing the Tri Nations) are major international competitions held annually. Major domestic competitions include the Top 14 in France, the English Premiership in England, the Currie Cup in South Africa, and the ITM Cup in New Zealand. Other transnational competitions include the Celtic League , originally involving Irish, Scottish and Welsh teams and now Italian teams as well; Super Rugby (previously Super 12 and Super 14), involving South African, Australian and New Zealand teams; and the Heineken Cup , involving the top European teams from their respective domestic competitions. History Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire , with a rugby football pitch in the foreground The origin of rugby football is reputed to be an incident during a game of English school football at Rugby School in 1823 when William Webb-Ellis is said to have picked up the ball and run with it.

[3] Although the evidence for the story is doubtful, [4] it was immortalised at the school with a plaque unveiled in 1895. [5] Despite the anecdotal nature of the sport’s origin, the Rugby World Cup trophy is named after him. Rugby football stems from the form of game played at Rugby School, which former pupils then brought to university; Old Rugbeian Albert Pell , a student at Cambridge , is credited with having formed the first ‘football’ team. [6] During this early period different schools used different rules, with former pupils from Rugby and Eton attempting to carry their preferred rules through to their universities. [7] Significant events in the early development of rugby football were the production of the first set of written football laws at Rugby School in 1845, [8] which was followed by the ‘ Cambridge Rules ‘ drawn up in 1848. [9] Other important events include the Blackheath Club’s decision to leave the Football Association in 1863 [10] [11] and the formation of the Rugby Football Union in 1871.

[10] The code was originally known as “rugby football”; it was not until after the schism in England in 1895, which resulted in the separate code of rugby league , that the sport took on the name “rugby union” to differentiate it from the league game. [12] Despite the sport’s full name of rugby union, it is known simply as rugby throughout most of the world. [13] [14] The first rugby football international took place on 27 March 1871, played between England and Scotland. [10] By 1881 both Ireland and Wales had representative teams, and in 1883 the first international competition, the Home Nations Championship had begun. 1883 was also the year the first rugby sevens tournament at Melrose , the Melrose Sevens , [15] which is still held annually. Five years later two important overseas tours took place; a British Isles team visited Australia and New Zealand—although a private venture, it laid the foundations for future British and Irish Lions tours; [16] and the 1888 New Zealand Native team brought the first overseas team to British spectators.

[17] James Ryan , captain of the New Zealand Army team, receiving the Kings Cup from George V Between 1905 and 1908, all three major Southern Hemisphere rugby countries sent their first touring teams to the Northern Hemisphere: New Zealand in 1905, followed by South Africa in 1906 and then Australia in 1908. All three teams brought new styles of play, fitness levels and tactics, [18] and were far more successful than critics had expected. [19] The New Zealand 1905 touring team performed a haka before each match, leading Welsh Rugby Union administrator Tom Williams to suggest that Wales player Teddy Morgan lead the crowd in singing the Welsh National Anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau , as a response. After Morgan began singing, the crowd joined in: the first time a national anthem was sung at the start of a sporting event. [20] In 1905 France played England in its first international match. [18] No international rugby games and union-sponsored club matches were played during the First World War, but competitions continued through service teams such as the New Zealand Army team .

[21] During the Second World War no international matches played by most countries though Italy, Germany and Romania played a limited number of games, [22] [23] [24] and Cambridge and Oxford continued their annual University Match . [25] Rugby union was included as an event in the Olympic Games four times during the early 1900s. In 1973 the first officially sanctioned international sevens tournament took place at Murrayfield, one of Scotland’s biggest stadiums, as part of the Scottish Rugby Union centenary celebrations. [26] In 1987 the first Rugby World Cup was held in New Zealand and Australia, and the inaugural winners were New Zealand. The first World Cup Sevens tournament was held at Murrayfield in 1993. Rugby Sevens was introduced into the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and is due to be added to the Olympic Games by 2016. [27] Rugby union was an amateur sport until the IRB declared the game ‘open’ in 1995, removing restrictions on payments to players.

[28] [29] However, the pre-1995 period of rugby union was marked by frequent accusations of “ shamateurism “, [30] including an investigation in Britain by a House of Commons Select committee. [31] [32] Following the introduction of professionalism trans-national club competitions were started, with the Heineken Cup in the Northern Hemisphere and Super Rugby in the Southern Hemisphere. [33] [34] The Tri-nations , an annual international tournament involving South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, kicked off in 1996. [34] Teams and team structures Main article: Rugby union positions A normal rugby union team formation illustrating each of the positions and their respective numbers. Each team starts the match with 15 players on the field. [35] Players in a team are divided into eight forwards (two more than in rugby league ) and seven backs . [36] Forwards The main responsibilities of the forward players are to gain and retain possession of the ball. [37] Players in these positions are generally bigger and stronger and take part in the scrum and lineout.

[37] The forwards are often collectively referred to as the ‘pack’, especially when in the scrum formation. [38] Front row The front row consists of three players, two props; the loosehead prop and the tighthead prop, and the hooker. The role of the two props are to support the hooker during scrums, to provide support for the jumpers during lineouts and to provide strength and power in rucks and mauls. [36] The third position in the front row is the hooker. [36] The hooker is a key position in attacking and defensive play and is responsible for winning the ball in the scrum. [36] Hookers normally throw the ball in at lineouts. [36] Second row The second row consists of two locks or lock forwards. Locks are usually the tallest players in the team, and specialise as lineout jumpers. [36] The main role of the lock in lineouts is to make a standing jump, often supported by the other forwards, to either collect the thrown ball or ensure the ball comes down on their side.

Locks also have an important role in the scrum, binding directly behind the three front row players and providing forward drive. [36] Sébastien Chabal (far left) in number eight position before entering the scrum Back row The back row, not to be confused with ‘Backs’, is the third and final row of the forward positions, they are often referred to as the loose forwards. [38] The three positions in the back row are made up of two flankers and the number 8. The two flanker positions, called the blindside flanker and openside flanker, are the final row in the scrum. Their main role is to win possession through ‘turn overs’. [36] The number 8 packs down between the two flankers at the back of the scrum. His role in the scrum is to control the ball after it has been heeled back from the front of the pack and the position provides a link between the forwards and backs during attacking phases. [39] Backs The role of the backs is to create and convert point-scoring opportunities, they are generally smaller but faster and more agile than the forwards.

[37] Another distinction between the two positions is that the backs are expected to have superior kicking skills, especially in the positions of fly-half and full-back. [37] Half-backs The half-backs consist of two positions, the scrum-half/half-back and the fly-half/First Five-Eighth. The fly-half is crucial to a team’s game plan, orchestrating the teams performance. [39] They are usually the first to receive the ball from the scrum-half following a breakdown, lineout or scrum and need to be decisive with what actions to take and be effective at communicating with the outside backs. [39] Many fly-halfs are also their team’s goal kickers. The scrum-half is the link between the forwards and the backs. [39] They receive the ball from the lineout and remove the ball from the back of the scrum, usually passing it to the fly-half. [40] They also feed the scrum and sometimes have to act as a fourth loose forward. [41] Three quarters There are four three quarter positions, the inside centre/Second Five-Eighth, outside centre and left and right wings.

Like the fly-half they generally possess a good kicking game and are good at reading the play and directing the attack. The centres will attempt to tackle attacking players; whilst in attack they should employ speed and strength to breach opposition defences. [39] The wings are generally positioned on the outside of the backline. Their primary function is to finish off moves and score tries. [42] Wings are usually the fastest players in the team and are either elusive runners, or more commonly in the modern era, big, strong and able to break tackles. [43] Fullbacks The fullback normally positions himself several metres behind the back line. He fields any opposition kicks and is often the last line of defence should an opponent break through the back line. [39] Two of the most important attributes of a good fullback are dependable catching skills and a good kicking game. [44] Laws Diagram of a rugby union playing field showing the different marked lines and distances. Scoring Rugby union is played between two teams – the one that scores more points wins the game.

Points can be scored in several ways: a try , scored by grounding the ball in the in-goal area (between the goal line and the dead ball line), is worth 5 points and a subsequent conversion kick scores 2 points; a successful penalty kick or a drop goal each score 3 points. [45] The values of each of these scoring methods have been changed over the years. [46] Playing field The field of play on a rugby pitch is as near as possible to a maximum of 144m long by 70m wide. [47] In actual gameplay there should be a maximum of 100m between the two trylines, with anywhere between 10 and 22m behind each try line to serve as the in-goal area. [47] There are several lines crossing it, notably the half way line and the “twenty two,” which is 22m from the goal line. [47] Rugby goalposts are H-shaped, and consist of two poles, 5.6m apart, connected by a horizontal crossbar 3m above the ground. [48] The original pitch dimensions were in imperial units , but have since been converted to the metric system .

[49] [50] Match structure At the beginning of the game, the captains and the referee toss a coin to decide which team will kick off first. Play then starts with a drop kick, with the players chasing the ball into the opposition’s territory, and the other side trying to retrieve the ball and advance it. If the player with the ball is tackled, frequently a ruck will result. [51] Games are divided into 40-minute halves, with a break in the middle. [52] The sides exchange ends of the field after the half-time break. [52] Stoppages for injury or to allow the referee to take disciplinary action do not count as part of the playing time, so that the elapsed time is usually longer than 80 minutes. [52] The referee is responsible for keeping time, even when—as in many professional tournaments—he is assisted by an official time-keeper. [52] If time expires while the ball is in play, the game continues until the ball is “dead”, and only then will the referee blow the whistle to signal half-time or full-time; but if the referee awards a penalty or free-kick, the game continues.

[53] Passing and kicking Forward passing (throwing the ball ahead to another player) is not allowed; the ball can be passed laterally or backwards. [54] The ball tends to be moved forward in three ways — by kicking, by a player running with it or within a scrum or maul . Only the player with the ball may be tackled or rucked. When a ball is knocked forward by a player with his/her arms, a “knock-on” is committed, and play is restarted with a scrum. [54] Any player may kick the ball forward in an attempt to gain territory. When a player anywhere in the playing area kicks indirectly into touch so that the ball first bounces in the field of play the throw-in is taken where the ball went into touch. [54] If the player kicks directly into touch (i.e. without bouncing in-field first) from within their own 22 metre line the lineout is taken by the opposition where the ball went into touch, but if the ball is kicked into touch directly by a player outside the 22 metre line the lineout is taken level to where the kick was taken.

[55] Breakdowns A rugby tackle: tackles must be below the neck with the aim of impeding or grounding the player with the ball The aim of the defending side is to stop the player with the ball, either by bringing them to ground (a tackle, which is frequently followed by a ruck), or by contesting for possession with the ball-carrier on their feet (a maul). Such a circumstance is called a breakdown and each is governed by a specific law. A player may tackle an opposing player who has the ball by holding them while bringing them to ground. Tacklers cannot tackle above the shoulder (the neck and head are out of bounds), [56] and the tackler has to attempt to wrap their arms around the player being tackled to complete the tackle. It is illegal to push, shoulder-charge, or to trip a player using feet or legs, but hands may be used (this being referred to as a tap-tackle or ankle-tap ). [57] [58] Mauls occur after a player with the ball has come into contact with an opponent but the handler remains on his feet; once any combination of at least three players have bound themselves a maul has been set.

[38] A ruck is similar to the maul, but in this case the ball has gone to ground with at least three attacking players binding themselves on the ground in an attempt to secure the ball. [38] Set pieces Ireland and Georgia contesting a lineout in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Lineout Main article: Line-out (rugby union) When the ball leaves the side of the field, a lineout is awarded against the team which last touched the ball. [59] Forward players from each team line up a metre apart, perpendicular to the touchline and between 5 m and 15 m from the touchline. [59] The ball is thrown from the touchline down the centre of the lines of forwards by a player (usually the hooker ) from the team that did not play the ball into touch. [59] The exception to this is when the ball went out from a penalty, in which case the side who gained the penalty throws the ball in. [59] Both sides compete for the ball and players may lift their teammates.

[60] A jumping player cannot be tackled until they stand and only shoulder-to-shoulder contact is allowed; deliberate infringement of this law is dangerous play, and results in a penalty kick. [61] Scrum A scrum A scrum is a way of restarting the game safely and fairly after a minor infringement. [62] It is awarded when the ball has been knocked or passed forward, if a player takes the ball over his own try line and puts the ball down, when a player is accidentally offside or when the ball is trapped in a ruck or maul with no realistic chance of being retrieved. A team may also opt for a scrum if awarded a penalty. [62] A scrum is formed by the eight forwards from each team binding together in three rows. [62] The front row consists of the two props (loosehead and tighthead) either side of the hooker. [62] The second row consists of two locks and the two flankers. Behind the second row is the number 8. This formation is known as the 3–4–1 formation.

[63] Once a scrum is formed the scrum-half from the team awarded the feed throws the ball into the gap between the two front-rows known as the tunnel. [62] The two hookers then compete for possession by hooking the ball backwards with their feet, while each pack tries to push the opposing pack backwards to help gain possession. [62] The side that wins possession transfers the ball to the back of the scrum, where it is picked up either by the number 8 or by the scrum-half. [62] Officials and offences There are three match officials: a referee, and two assistant referees. [64] The latter, formerly known as touch judges, had the primary function of indicating when the ball had gone “touch”; their role has been expanded and they are now expected to assist the referee in a number of areas, such as watching for foul play and checking off-side lines. [64] In addition, for matches in high level competitions, there is often a television match official (TMO; popularly called the “video referee”), to assist with certain decisions, linked up to the referee by radio. [65] The referees have a system of hand signals to indicate their decisions.

[66] Common offences include tackling above the shoulders, collapsing a scrum, ruck or maul, not releasing the ball when on the ground, or being off-side. [67] The non-offending team has a number of options when awarded a penalty: a “tap” kick, when the ball is kicked a very short distance from hand, allowing the kicker to regather the ball and run with it; a punt, when the ball is kicked a long distance from hand, for field position; a place-kick, when the kicker will attempt to score a goal; or a scrum. [67] Players may be sent off (signalled by a red card ) or temporarily suspended (“sin-binned”) for ten minutes ( yellow card ) for foul play or repeated infringements, and may not be replaced. [67] Occasionally, infringements are not caught by the referee during the match and these may be “cited” by the citing commissioner after the match and have punishments (usually suspension for a number of weeks) imposed on the infringing player. [68] Replacements and substitutions During the match, players may be replaced (for injury) or substituted (for tactical reasons).

[35] A player who has been replaced may not rejoin play unless he was temporarily replaced to have bleeding controlled; a player who has been substituted may return temporarily, to replace a player who has a blood injury, or permanently, if he is replacing a front-row forward. [35] In international matches, up to seven replacements are allowed; in domestic or cross-border tournaments, at the discretion of the responsible national union(s), the number may be increased to eight, of whom three must be sufficiently trained and experienced to provide cover for the three front row positions. [69] Equipment Main article: Rugby union equipment The most basic items of equipment for a game of rugby union are the ball itself, a rugby shirt (also known as a “jersey”), rugby shorts , socks and boots. The rugby ball is oval in shape, (technically a prolate spheroid ), and is made up of four panels. [70] The ball was historically made of leather, but in the modern era most games use a ball made from a synthetic material.

The IRB lays out specific dimensions for the ball, 280-300mm in length, 740-770mm in circumference of length and 580-620mm in circumference of width. [70] Rugby boots have soles with studs to allow grip on the turf of the pitch. The studs may be either metal or plastic but must not have any sharp edges or ridges. [71] Protective equipment is optional and strictly regulated. The most common items are mouthguards , which are worn by almost all players, and are compulsory in some rugby-playing nations. [72] Other protective items that are permitted include a head gear ; thin (not more than 10 mm thick), non-rigid shoulder pads, and shin guards ; which are worn underneath socks. [73] Bandages or tape can be worn to support or protect injuries; some players wear tape around the head to protect the ears in scrums and rucks. Female players may also wear chest pads. [73] Although not worn for protection, some types of fingerless mitts are allowed to aid grip.

[73] It is the responsibility of the match officials to check players’ clothing and equipment before a game to ensure that it conforms to the laws of the game. [74] Governing bodies Member Union Associated Union The international governing body of rugby union (and associated games such as sevens) is the International Rugby Board (IRB). [75] The IRB headquarters are in Dublin , Ireland. [75] The IRB, founded in 1886, governs the sport worldwide and publishes the game’s laws and rankings . [75] As of November 2010 the IRB recorded 118 unions in its membership, either full members or associate member countries. [76] According to the IRB, rugby union is played by men and women in over 100 countries. [75] The IRB controls the Rugby World Cup , [75] the Women’s Rugby World Cup , [77] Rugby World Cup Sevens , [78] IRB Sevens World Series , [79] Junior World Championship , [80] Junior World Trophy , [81] Nations Cup [82] and the Pacific Nations Cup .

[83] The IRB holds votes to decide where each of these events are be held, except in the case of the Sevens World Series for which the IRB contracts with several national unions to hold individual events. Six regional associations, which are members of the IRB, form the next level of administration; these are: Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby (South American Rugby Confederation) (CONSUR) [89] SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) is a joint venture of the South African Rugby Union , the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union that operates Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri Nations before the entry of Argentina). [90] Although the Argentine Rugby Union initially has no representation on the SANZAR board, it has been granted input into the organisation’s issues, especially with regard to The Rugby Championship. [91] National unions oversee rugby union within individual countries and are affiliated to the IRB. The IRB Council has 26 seats.

Each of the eight foundation unions – Scotland , Ireland , Wales , England , Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and France – has two seats, and Argentina, Canada , Italy , Japan and the six regional associations each have one seat. [75] Global reach Japanese and Welsh rugby fans in Cardiff , Wales The earliest countries to adopt rugby union were England , the country of inception, followed by the other three Home Nations, Scotland , Ireland and Wales . The spread of rugby union as a global sport has its roots in the exporting of the game by British expatriates, military personnel and over-seas university students. A rugby club was formed in Sydney, Australia in 1864; while the sport was said to have been introduced to New Zealand by Charles Munro in 1870, who played rugby while a student at Christ’s College, Finchley . [10] The first rugby club in France was formed by British residents in Le Havre in 1872, while the next year Argentina recorded its first game: ‘Banks’ v ‘City’ in Buenos Aires. [92] In North America a club formed in Montreal in 1868, Canada’s first club.

The city of Montreal also played its part in the introduction of the sport in the United States , when students of McGill University played against a team from Harvard University in 1874. [10] [92] In 1875 rugby was introduced to South Africa by British soldiers garrisoned in Cape Town. [92] Several island states have embraced the sport of rugby, many introduced by British service personnel, but later spread the game to neighbouring countries as they searched for international opponents. Rugby was first played in Fiji circa 1884 by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba on Viti Levu island. [93] [94] Fiji then sent their first overseas team to Samoa in 1924, who in turn set up their own union in 1927. [95] Other countries to have national rugby teams in Oceania include the Cook Islands , Niue , Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands .

[96] Although the exact date of arrival of rugby union in Trinidad and Tobago is unknown, their first club Northern RFC was formed in 1923, a national team was playing by 1927 and due to a cancelled tour to British Guiana in 1933, switched their venue to Barbados ; introducing rugby to the island. [97] [98] Other Atlantic countries to play rugby union include Jamaica [99] and Bermuda . [100] The spread of rugby union in Europe has been sporadic. Historically, due to the lack of international games between the British and Irish home teams, who were more interested in facing the Southern Hemisphere giants of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the rest of Europe were forced to create a ‘second tier’ of international rugby matches. As a mainland country and during a period when they had been isolated by the British and Irish Unions, France became the only European team from the top tier to regularly play the other European countries; mainly Belgium , the Netherlands , Germany , Spain , Romania , Poland , Italy and Czechoslovakia .

[87] [101] In 1934, instigated by the French Rugby Federation , FIRA (Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur) was formed to organise rugby union outside the authority of the IRB. [87] The founding members were Italy , Romania , Netherlands , Catalonia , Portugal , Czechoslovakia , and Sweden . Other European rugby playing nations of note include Russia , whose first officially recorded match is marked by an encounter between Dynamo Moscow and the Moscow Institute of Physical Education in 1933. [102] Rugby union in Portugal also took hold between the First and Second World Wars, with a Portuguese National XV set up in 1922 and an official championship started in 1927. [103] Although Argentina is the most well known rugby playing nation in South America, founding the Argentine Rugby Union in 1899, [104] several other countries on the continent also have a long history. Rugby had been played in Brazil from the end of the 19th century, but the game was played regularly only from 1926, when São Paulo beat Santos in an inter-city match.

[105] It took Uruguay several aborted attempts to adapt to rugby, led mainly by the efforts of the Montevideo Cricket Club ; succeeding in 1951 with the formation of a national league and four clubs. [106] Other South American countries to have set up a rugby union include Chile (1948), [107] and Paraguay (1968). [108] The Calcutta Cup, the oldest international rugby trophy. Many Asian countries have a tradition of playing rugby going back to the time of the British Empire. India began playing rugby in the early 1870s, the Calcutta Football Club forming in 1872. After the withdrawal of the British military from the area at the end of the decade, rugby in India faltered. India’s lasting legacy to the sport was the presentation of the Calcutta Cup to the Rugby Football Union; the world’s oldest international rugby trophy which is played for annually between England and Scotland.

[109] Sri Lanka claims to have founded their union in 1878, and although little official information from the period is available, the team won the All-India cup in Madras in 1920. [110] Malaysia also suffers from poor record keeping. Historically the first recorded match in Malaysia was in 1892, but the first confirmation of rugby is the existence of the HMS Malaya Cup which, named after the ship HMS Malaya , was first presented in 1922 and is still awarded to the winners of the Malay sevens. [111] Rugby union was introduced to Japan in 1899 by Ginnosuke Tanaka a student of Trinity Hall, Cambridge and Edward Bramwell Clarke , who studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge . [112] [113] The Japan RFU was founded in 1926 and its place in rugby history was cemented with the news that Japan will host the 2019 World Cup .

[114] It will be the first country outside the Commonwealth, Ireland and France to host the event, and is viewed by the IRB as an opportunity for rugby union to extend its reach, [114] particularly in Asia. Other Asian playing countries of note include Singapore , South Korea and China , while the former British colony of Hong Kong is notable within rugby for its development of the rugby sevens game, especially the Hong Kong Sevens tournament which was founded in 1976. [115] The Ivory Coast national team before their CAN Rugby World Cup 2011 qualifier vs. Zambia on 21 July 2008. Rugby in the Middle East and the Gulf States has its history in the 1950s, with clubs formed by British and French Services stationed in the region after the Second World War. [116] When these servicemen left, the clubs and teams were kept alive by young professionals, mostly Europeans, working in these countries. The official union of Oman was formed in 1971, with His Majesty Qaboos bin Said al Said as Patron.

[117] Bahrain founded its union a year later, while in 1975 the Dubai Sevens , the Gulf’s leading rugby tournament, was created by the Dubai Exiles Rugby Club. Rugby remains a minority sport in the region with Israel , as of 2011, being the only member union from the Middle East to be included in the IRB World Rankings. [118] Rugby union in Africa was spread in the late 19th and early 20th century mainly by settlers and colonials who often adopted a ‘whites-only’ policy to playing the game. This resulted in rugby being viewed as a bourgeois sport by the indigenous people with limited appeal. [119] The earliest countries to see the playing of competitive rugby include South Africa, and neighbouring Rhodesia (modern day Zimbabwe), which formed the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union in 1895. [120] With the collapse of colonial rule, the popularity of rugby waned, but in more recent times the sport has been embraced by several African nations.

In the early 21st century Madagascar has experienced crowds of 40,000 at national matches, [121] while Namibia, whose history of rugby can be traced back to 1915, have qualified for the final stages of the World Cup four times since 1999. [122] Other African nations to be represented in the IRB World Rankings as Member Unions include Côte d’Ivoire , Kenya , Uganda and Zambia . [118] South Africa and Kenya are among the 12 “core teams” that participate in every event of the IRB Sevens World Series. [123] At least six countries have adopted rugby union as their de facto national sport ; they are Fiji, [124] Georgia , [125] New Zealand, [126] Samoa, [127] Tonga [128] and Wales. [129] Women’s rugby union US women’s rugby: NC Hustlers vs.

Midwest II Records of women’s rugby football go back to the late 19th century, with the first documented source being Emily Valentine’s writings, stating that she set up a rugby team in Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, Ireland in 1887. [130] Although there are reports of early women’s matches in New Zealand and France, one of the first notable games to prove primary evidence was the 1917 war-time encounter between Cardiff Ladies and Newport Ladies; a photo of which shows the Cardiff team before the match at the Cardiff Arms Park . [131] In the past 30 years the game has grown in popularity among female athletes, and, according to the IRB, is now played in over 100 countries. [132] The English based Women’s Rugby Football Union (WRFU), responsible for women’s rugby in England, Scotland Ireland and Wales, was founded in 1983, and is the oldest formally organised national governing body for women’s rugby.

[133] This was replaced in 1994 by the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) in England with each of the other Home Nations governing their own countries. [133] The premier international competition in rugby union for women is the Women’s Rugby World Cup , first held in 1991. [134] Since 1994 it has been held every four years. [134] Major international competitions A giant rugby ball is suspended from the Eiffel Tower to commemorate France’s hosting of the 2007 Rugby World Cup The most important tournament in rugby union is the Rugby World Cup , a men’s tournament that takes place every four years among the national rugby union teams. New Zealand is the current holder, winning the 2011 tournament held in New Zealand, beating France 8-7 in the final. [135] No World Cup winner has yet retained the trophy. [136] England were the first team from the Northern Hemisphere to win, the previous champions being New Zealand (1987), Australia (1991 and 1999), South Africa (1995 and 2007).

[136] Major international competitions are the Six Nations Championship and the Tri Nations Series , held in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres respectively. [137] The Six Nations is an annual competition involving the European teams England , France , Ireland , Italy , Scotland and Wales . [138] Each country plays the other five once. After the initial internationals between England and Scotland, Ireland and Wales began competing in the 1880s, forming the Home International Championships. [138] France joined the tournament in the 1900s and in 1910 the term Five Nations first appeared. [138] However, the Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) excluded France in 1931 amid a run of poor results, allegations of professionalism and concerns over on-field violence. [139] France then rejoined in 1939–1940, though World War II halted proceedings for a further eight years. [138] France has played in all the tournaments since WWII, the first of which was played in 1947.

[138] In 2000, Italy became the sixth nation in the contest and Rome’s Stadio Flaminio , where their games are played, is the smallest venue in the tournament. [140] The reigning Six Nations champions are England, who won four of their games but lost 24–8 to Ireland, and therefore failing to get the grand slam. [141] The Rugby Championship is the new name of the Southern Hemisphere’s annual international series for that region’s top national teams. From its inception in 1996 through 2011, it was known as the Tri Nations, as it featured the hemisphere’s traditional powers of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. [142] These teams have dominated world rankings in recent years, and many considered the Tri Nations to be the toughest competition in international rugby. [143] [144] The Tri Nations was initially played on a home and away basis with the three nations playing each other twice.

In 2006 a new system was introduced where each nation plays the others three times, though in 2007 and 2011 the teams played each other only twice, as both were World Cup years. [142] Since Argentina’s strong performances in the 2007 World Cup, a number of commentators believed they should join the Tri-Nations, [145] which came closer to reality after the 2009 Tri Nations tournament, when SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) extended an official invitation to the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) to join an expanded Four Nations tournament in 2012. [146] The competition has been officially rechristened as The Rugby Championship beginning with the 2012 edition. The competition will revert to the Tri Nations’ original home-and-away format, but now involving four teams. Rugby tours During the early history of rugby union, a time before commercial air travel, teams from different continents rarely met. The first two notable tours both took place in 1888, the British Isles to New Zealand and Australia [147] which was followed by a New Zealand team touring Europe.

[148] Traditionally the most prestigious tours were the Southern Hemisphere countries of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa making a tour of a Northern Hemisphere, and the return tours made by a joint British and Irish team. [149] Tours would last for months, due to long traveling times and the number of games undertaken; the 1888 New Zealand team began their tour in Hawkes Bay in June and did not complete their schedule until August 1889, having played 107 rugby matches. [150] Touring international sides would play Test matches against international opponents, including national, club and county sides in the case of Northern Hemisphere rugby, or provincial/state sides in the case of Southern Hemisphere rugby. [147] [151] Rugby within international tournaments Rugby union was played at the Olympic Games in 1900 , 1908 , 1920 and 1924 . [152] As per Olympic rules, the nations of Scotland, Wales and England were not allowed to play separately as they are not sovereign states.

In 1900, France won the gold, beating Great Britain 27 points to 8 and defeating Germany 27 points to 17. [152] In 1908, Australasia defeated Great Britain, claiming the gold medal, the score being 32 points to three. [152] In 1920, the United States, fielding a team with many players new to the sport of rugby, upset France in a shock win, eight points to zero. In 1924, the United States again defeated France 17 to 3, becoming the only team to win gold twice in the sport. [152] In 2009 the International Olympic Committee voted with a majority of 81 to 8 that rugby union be reinstated as an Olympic sport in at least the 2016 and 2020 games, but in the sevens, 4-day tournament format.

[27] [153] This is something the rugby world has aspired to for a long time and Bernard Lapasset , president of the International Rugby Board, said the Olympic gold medal would be considered to be “the pinnacle of our sport” (Rugby Sevens). [154] Rugby sevens has been played at the Commonwealth Games since the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur. [155] The present gold medal holders are New Zealand who have won the competition on four successive occasions. [156] Rugby union has also been an Asian Games event since the 1998 games in Bangkok, Thailand. In the 1998 and 2002 editions of the games, both the usual fifteen-a-side variety and rugby sevens were played, but from 2006 onwards, only rugby sevens was retained. In 2010, the women’s rugby sevens event was introduced. The event is likely to remain a permanent fixture of the Asian Games due to elevation of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport from the 2016 Olympics onwards.

The present gold medal holders in the sevens tournament, held in 2010 , are Japan in the male event and Kazakhstan in the women’s. [157] [158] Women’s international rugby Main article: Women’s international rugby union Women’s international rugby union began in 1982, with a match between France and Netherlands played in Utrecht . [159] As of 2009 over six hundred women’s internationals have been played by over forty different nations. [160] The first Women’s Rugby World Cup was held in Wales in 1991 , and was won by the United States . [134] The second tournament took place in 1994 , and since that date the competition has been held every four years. The New Zealand Women’s team have won the last four World Cups ( 1998 , 2002 , 2006 , 2010 ). [161] As well as the Women’s Rugby World Cup there are also other regular tournaments, including a Six Nations , run in parallel to the men’s competition.

The Women’s Six Nations, first played in 1996 has been dominated by England , who have won the tournament on 12 occasions, including a run of six consecutive wins from 2006 to 2011 . [162] Variants Beach Rugby match The game of rugby union has spawned several variants of the full-contact, 15-a-side code. The two more common differences applied to the variants of the sport lie in either fewer players or reduced player contact. Of the variants, the oldest is Rugby sevens (7’s, or VIIs), a fast-paced variant which originated in Melrose , Scotland in 1883. In rugby sevens, there are only seven players per side, and each half is normally seven minutes. Major tournaments include the Hong Kong Sevens and Dubai Sevens , both held in areas not normally associated with the highest levels of the 15-a-side game. A more recent variant of the sport is Rugby tens (10’s or Xs), a Malaysian variant with ten players per side. [163] Due to the physical nature of playing rugby, several variants have been created to introduce the sport to children with a reduced level of physical contact.

[164] Of these versions, Touch rugby , in which “tackles” are made by simply touching the ball carrier with two hands, is popular as a mixed sex version of the sport played by both children and adults. [165] [166] Tag Rugby , is a version in which the participants wear a belt with two hook-and-loop fastener tags, the removal of either counting as a ‘tackle’. Tag Rugby also varies in the fact that kicking the ball is not allowed. [167] Mini rugby is another variant of rugby union aimed at fostering the sport in children. [168] [169] It is played with only nine players and on a smaller pitch. [170] Similar to Tag Rugby, American Flag Rugby , (AFR), is a mixed gender, non-contact imitation of rugby union designed for American children entering grades K-9. [171] Both American Flag Rugby and Mini Rugby differ to Tag Rugby in that they introduce more advanced elements of rugby union as the participants age. [170] Other less formal variants include beach rugby and snow rugby .

[164] [172] Influence on other sports A game of American football between the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota (1902). Earlier forms of the game had a more obvious kinship with their rugby equivalents. Rugby union football, and its immediate ancestor rugby football, has had a strong influence on several other sports. The Gridiron codes , American football [173] [174] and Canadian football , [175] are derived from early forms of rugby. Confusingly, in Canada, Canadian football has also frequently been referred to as “ rugby football “, [175] and a number of national and provincial bodies were called “Rugby Football Unions” or “Rugby Unions”, such as the Ontario and Quebec Rugby Football Unions. [175] For example, in the Encyclopedia Canadiana, the entry Rugby Football begins by referring to “the Canadian development of rugby union or “English rugger” introduced into Canada in the third quarter of the nineteenth century”, but later states that “the Canadian game is a radical departure from rugby union”.

[175] Australian rules football has been influenced by a large number of sports, including Gaelic football , rugby football and cricket . Many authors believe that the primary influence was rugby football and other other games originating in English public schools . [176] Tom Wills , who is recognised as one of the pioneers of Australian Rules, also attended Rugby School. [177] James Naismith took aspects of many sports including rugby to invent basketball . [178] The most obvious contribution is the jump ball ‘s similarity to the lineout as well as the underhand shooting style that dominated the early years of the sport. Naismith played many years of rugby at McGill University . [179] Swedish football was a code whose rules were a mix of the association football rules and the rugby football rules . Some played the game with a round ball, while others played with an oval ball. [180] It is no longer played. [181] Rugby lends its name to wheelchair rugby (also known as “quad rugby” or “murderball”), but the sport is more strongly influenced by wheelchair basketball , ice hockey and handball than rugby union.

[182] Statistics and records According to a 2011 report by the Centre for the International Business of Sport at Coventry University , there are now over five million people playing rugby union or one of its variants organised by the IRB. [183] This is an increase of 19 percent since the previous report in 2007. [184] The report also claimed that since 2007 participation has grown by 33 percent in Africa, 22 percent in South America and 18 percent in Asia and North America. [184] Rugby union’s premier event, the Rugby World Cup, has continued to grow since its inception in 1987. [185] The first tournament, in which 16 teams competed for the title, was broadcast to 17 countries with an accumulated total of 230 million television viewers. [185] Ticket sales during the pool stages and finals of the same tournament was less than a million. [185] The 2007 World Cup was contested by 94 countries with ticket sales of 3,850,000 over the pool and final stage.

[185] The accumulated television audience for the event, then broadcast to 200 countries, was 4.2 billion. [185] The most capped international player from the tier 1 nations is Australian halfback George Gregan with 139 caps. [186] While the top scoring tier 1 international player is New Zealand’s Dan Carter , who has amassed 1250 points during his career. [187] In April 2010 Lithuania broke the record of consecutive international wins previously held by New Zealand and South Africa,which was 17 consecutive wins against tier 1 nations, [188] with their 18th win in tier 2 in a match against Serbia . [189] The highest scoring international match between two recognised unions was Hong Kong’s 164–13 victory over Singapore on 27 October 1994 [190] While the largest winning margin of 152 points is held by two countries, Japan (a 155–3 win over Chinese Taipei) and Argentina (152–0 over Paraguay) both in 2002.

[190] Rugby union in culture Henri Rousseau – The Football Players (1908) Thomas Hughes 1857 novel Tom Brown’s Schooldays , set at Rugby School , includes a rugby football match, also portrayed in the 1940s film of the same name. James Joyce mentions Irish team Bective Rangers in several of his works, including Ulysses (1922) and Finnegans Wake (1939), while his 1916 semi-autobiographical work A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man has an account of Ireland international James Magee . [191] Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in his 1924 Sherlock Holmes tale The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire , mentions that Dr Watson played rugby for Blackheath. [192] Henri Rousseau ‘s 1908 work Joueurs de football shows two pairs of rugby players competing. [193] Other French artists to have represented the sport in their works include Albert Gleizes ‘ Les Joueurs de football (1912), Robert Delaunay ‘s Football.

L’Equipe de Cardiff (1916) and André Lhote ‘s Partie de Rugby (1917). [194] The 1928 Gold Medal for Art at the Antwerp Olympics was won by Luxembourg’s Jean Jacoby for his work Rugby. [195] In film, Ealing Studios’ 1949 comedy A Run for Your Money and the 1979 BBC Wales television film Grand Slam both centre on fans attending a match. [196] Films that explore the sport in more detail include independent production Old Scores (1991) and Forever Strong (2008). Invictus (2009), based on John Carlin ‘s book Playing the Enemy, explores the events of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and Nelson Mandela’s attempt to use the sport to connect South Africa’s people post-apartheid. [197] [198] In public art and sculpture there are many works dedicated to the sport.

There is a 27 ft bronze statue of a rugby line-out by pop artist Gerald Laing at Twickenham [199] and one of rugby administrator Sir Tasker Watkins at the Millennium Stadium . [200] Rugby players to have been honoured with statues include Gareth Edwards in Cardiff and Danie Craven in Stellenbosch. [201] See also Rugby World Cup 2015: team-by-team verdicts for the tournament which kicks off in September at Twickenham - Telegraph Watch: the World Cup lowdown in 100 seconds Rugby World Cup 2015: team-by-team verdicts for the tournament which kicks off in September at Twickenham With 100 days to go until the Rugby World Cup kicks off, what are the prospects for the 20 competing teams? Who is in line to win the Rugby World Cup? (It's New Zealand, obviously) Photo: GETTY IMAGES England Stuart Lancaster has dumped bad boys Dylan Hartley and Manu Tuilagi – and could overlook alleged drink-driver Danny Cipriani on the eve of the tournament – but the truth is he has enough strength in depth to make up for those loses.

Tom Youngs is a more confident lineout thrower with No2 on his back, and there is a raft of midfield options; look at the immergence of Jonathan Joseph in the Six Nations. That Pool A shoves together three of the top-six ranked teams, according to World Rugby, is unfortunate. But England (fourth) are the best rated, compared to Wales (fifth) and Australia (sixth), and of course home advantage will give them a lift; it is interesting to note that of the seven previous editions the Rugby World Cup hosts have reached the final on five occasions. That their group is bookended by games against Fiji and Uruguay – when Lancaster’s side will know exactly how many points they need to notch up against the semi-pro South Americans – is favourable. And having beaten Wales in Cardiff earlier in the year it could become a shootout with Australia (who they defeated 26-17 in November) for them. Win that, and the pool, and they should gain an easier ride to the final (with a last-eight clash with possibly Scotland and then Ireland in the semi-final).

With George Ford pulling the strings, England have sharpened their attacking potency, and on top of an impressive pack and the home-crowd roar they should make it to the last two. Verdict: Runners up Wales The loss of Jonathan Davies is a blow, but added to that question marks hover over George North, the youngest try scorer in Rugby World Cup history (he was 19 years and 166-days old when crossed against Namibia in 2011), given that he has not played for Northampton since the Six Nations when concussed. Then there is a reliance of the fitness of captain Sam Warburton, who struggles to play too many games in such quick succession, by dint of his commitment to the cause. Kicker Leigh Halfpenny's fitness will also be central to Welsh hopes of progressing from Pool A, the group of death. Yes, Warren Gatland's side will be one of the most experienced, and they are playing a couple of games in Cardiff (however, not the ones against England and Australia), but they have a poor record against the Wallabies – they have won just once in their last 15 meetings – and were defeated at the Millennium Stadium in the spring by England.

Group stage Australia An improving tight five means that the pack can no longer simply be given the Andrew Sheridan treatment, and are certainly regaining that hard edge with Michael Cheika at the helm. They arguably have the most exciting backs too, with Israel Folau potentially lethal on the counter attack, although they do have a tendency to implode a bit too often for comfort. And their record of six Test wins out of 14 in 2014 suggests that the Wallabies might not reach the heights of past Rugby World Cups. Further, the prospect of foreign-based players like Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell coming back in to the fold, with the rules having been relaxed, smells of desperation and will surely be destabilising for incumbents. Finish behind England in Pool A and they are likely to be lining up against South Africa – a side they have lost to in four of their last five meetings – in a last-eight clash. Quarter-finals Fiji Since their famous 2007 win over Wales, one of the finest rugby matches of all time, Fiji have sadly declined.

The win over Italy in June was promising, and in the 6'5", 19st 10lb goal-kicking wing Nemani Nadolo they have one of the most exciting players in Super Rugby, but a lack of funding and political unrest have seen the romantics' favourites slip back. Group stage. Uruguay Last time Los Teros reached the Rugby World Cup, in 2003, they defeated Georgia 24-12 to reach a high-water mark. That was only their second win in their second tournament, and it is expected that the merry band of semi-professionals will hardly make a ripple in the Pool A of death. Group stage South Africa November losses to Wales (12-6) and Ireland (29-15) hinted that there may be cracks in the South African team. They did beat New Zealand 27-25 the month before that, though, in the All Blacks' first defeat in almost two year. So perhaps they were allowed to lift their foot off the pedal. Pool B should be straightforward for them, too, with Japan, Scotland, Samoan and USA considerably lower in the World Rugby rankings.

The Springboks are second in that list, and for good reason. Topping their group should pit Heyneke Meyer's side against Australia, if England win Pool A and Wales fail to lift themselves. And they have the edge over the Wallabies (see above) but a last-four fixture against New Zealand could be the game of the tournament. Semi-finals Samoa The best of the Pacific Island sides, Samoa pose a danger to any side. The Northampton trio of scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i and the Pisi brothers George and Ken are among the most dangerous attacking players in the Premiership and they will be incredibly tough opponents for Scotland. That is likely to be a key match in deciding who goes through to the quarter-finals along with the Springboks and the team simply don't play together often enough to make them a real force. Group stage Scotland With Vern Cotter, the New Zealand head coach who formerly masterminded Clermont Auvergne's attractive brand of rugby, at the helm, it was hoped that Scotland's fortunes would swing upwards. It wasn't to be in his first Six Nations, when they huffed and puffed but failed to register a win, even at home against Italy.

There is more attacking guile, and centre Mark Bennett is one to watch, as is No10 Finn Russell. But can the success of Glasgow in the PRO12 translate to international success? They should advance to the knockout stages, but the winner of Pool A (England, Australia or Wales) awaits. Quarter-finals Japan Made huge progress by climbing above Argentina and in to the top 10 of the World Rugby rankings in June 2014, although they have since slipped back down to 13th. Japan, the 2019 Rugby World Cup hosts, perform well against low-ranked opponents but tend to struggle on the big stage, despite the wealth of their domestic league which has attracted increasingly top-drawer starts from around the globe. Eddie Jones is a shrewd enough coach that his side won't be complete walkovers, though, but expect them to get blown away in the final third by the top-three sides in the group. Group stage. USA A few years ago they looked to be an up-and-coming side with lots of potential. Now though they've slipped back and endured a poor Pacific Nations Cup in 2014, in which they drew with Uruguay and were comfortably beaten by Japan.

They will be boosted by the inclusion of Saracens' wing Chris Wyles and Northampton's Toulon-bound outstanding lock/No 8 Samu Manoa, but their main goal will be not to finish bottom. Group stage. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Zealand The defending champions and overwhelming favourites. They retained their Rugby Championship crown in style last year, but will be disappointed to have lost both their winning and unbeaten records at different points in the tournament. They seem to have world-class replacements waiting in the wings for some of the game's all-time greats and Dan Carter started just one Test last year. They are a team like no other in world sport, with uncanny spacial awareness and more pace and power than the rest of the teams in this group combined. South Africa – and England in December 2012 – proved they can be beaten, but only an idiot would bet on it happening. After all, they have lost just those two games in the 42 Tests they have played since last lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. Winners Argentina After finishing third in 2007, Argentina have regressed.

Their excellent performance at the Rugby World Cup in France was rewarded with a place in the newly renamed Rugby Championship from 2012, but it was only in their final match in 2014, against Australia, that they managed to notch a win. The game has moved on from their defensive, forward-oriented tactics that found success eight years ago, but The Pumas are catching up slowly. Still, they are essentially in a group of four, playing for second place, and it's a weak group they should win. Ireland, or France, should be waiting for them in the last eight, though. Quarter-finals Tonga An ageing team, Tonga have nonetheless improved every Rugby World Cup and shocked eventual finalists France last time around, winning 19-14. They are wildly inconsistent though and it would come as little surprise if they beat Argentina but came unstuck against Georgia to miss out on qualification to the knockout stages. Group stage Georgia You know what you're going to get from Georgia. With several of their enormous powerhouse forwards plying their trade at some of Europe's top clubs, they will hit and bloody even the best teams up front and rarely let up.

A 49-7 defeat to Ireland in November hinted at how for behind the Six Nations countries, even though they went above Italy in the World Rugby standings – they remain 14th, one above the Azzurri – after winning their fifth consecutive Nations Cup in March with a clean sweep over Romania, Spain, Russia, Germany and Portugal. Group stage Namibia The Africans have played 15 matches at the World Cup and have lost them all, by an aggregate score of 974-144. Although there was a glimmer of improvement against Fiji last time around, that proved to be a false dawn and, despite the presence of the excellent Saracens flanker Jacques Burger, four defeats beckon for the tournament's lowest-ranked team. Their match against the All Blacks might well set a new mark for the biggest win / defeat. Australia currently hold that record, having bettered Namibia 142-0 in 2003. Brace yourselves. Group stage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- France There used to be something enthralling and enchanting about France. The flair, the unpredicability: they would be unstoppable one match, dire the next.

Now they're unstoppable for 10, 20 minutes per match at the best and pretty woeful to watch the next. They should advance from the group easily enough, but performances and results over the past 12 months have been bad enough that Ireland will fancy their chances of beating them comfortably to top spot. Quarter-finals Ireland Back-to-back winners of the Six Nations, Joe Schmidt's side have moved up to No3 in World Rugby's rankings. So much hinges on the fitness and form of Jonathan Sexton, however. The fly-half's return from his Paris sojourn will help him intergrate with the new young backs more quickly, while up front the peerless Paul O'Connell continues to tell age exactly where to go. A last-eight clash against the runners up of Pool C should be straightforward, but from there it gets a little too tricky. Semi-finals Italy How long can one man carry a team? We may soon know the answer as the ageing Sergio Parisse seems to no longer be enough on his own. Italy have slipped down to 15th in the latest World Rugby rankings and in 2014 they lost all three of their summer games to Japan, Samoa and Fiji.

They finished bottom of the Six Nations last year and only a tight victory over Scotland stopped them from receiving the wooden spoon yet again this term. Might be worth a tenner on Canada or Romania upsetting them. Group stage Romania Narrow wins over Tonga and Canada have been the highlight of Romania's 2014. By qualifying for the tournament they've maintained their impressive 100 per cent attendance record, but their traditional forward power is dwindling and they have been replaced as eastern Europe's dominant team by Georgia. Group stage Canada Once an up-and-coming side, Canada have slid down the rankings and lost every game they have played in 2014. Their record points scorer in World Cups is the full-back James Pritchard, who was poor in his two games for Northampton eight years ago and has since spent his career in the Championship playing for Bedford Blues. It would be a surprise to see Canada come away with anything but four defeats. Group stage

Question: How many players in total are bound together from both sides in forming a rugby union scrum?
Answer: Sixteen