Rugby Sevens and 10-a-side - ActiveSG Rugby Sevens and 10-a-side Rugby: Types of passing and catching Image credit: Andrew Tan/SportSG Not every game of rugby requires 15 players. Variations of the game, such as the rugby tens and rugby sevens have sprung up so check out the key differences between the three. Rugby Sevens Also known as 7-a-side rugby, or Sevens, this version of rugby requires only, as its name suggests, seven players on each team. Games are also much shorter compared to the traditional 15-player rugby with each half lasting just seven minutes (compared to 40 minute-halves), with a one minute break in between. Rugby sevens is played by a team of three forwards and four backs - with two props and a hooker playing forwards, and a scrum-half, fly-half, center and winger for the backs. Due to playing numbers being halved, sevens players need to be extremely fit and fast to be able to cover the same pitch size.

This adds to the excitement and its growing popularity as games are fast paced and high scoring while tournaments can be concluded in just two or three days In terms of rules, the scrum consist of three forwards on each team, instead of the eight forwards in 15-player rugby, while line outs are usually limited to two players. Other differences from the 15-a-side game are that conversions must be drop kicked, instead of a place kick, and these kicks must take place 40-seconds after a try instead of the full minute in traditional rugby. Another difference is that the team that scores a try restarts the game and if the restart does not go beyond the required 10 metres then a free-kick is awarded to the non-offending team at the centre of the half way line. In terms of yellow card suspensions, while the sin bin lasts for 10minutes in 15s rugby, in rugby sevens a suspension lasts two minutes. Rugby Tens In Rugby Tens or 10-a-side rugby, there are only five forwards and five backs in the side with each half lasting only 10-minutes each.

Two props, a hooker and two locks make up the forwards, while the backs consist of a scrum-half, fly-half, centre, winger, and fullback. Scrums in rugby tens is formed by five players on each team, with two rows instead of eight players in three rows in traditional rugby. As with seven-a-side rugby, the team that manages to score a try restarts the game, and only drop kicks can be used to score a goal. Conversions –as in rugby sevens – must be scored with a drop kick and done within 40-seconds of a try or it will be discounted. Similarly, suspensions also last two minutes instead of the 10-minutes in 15sgame. This variation has been played for decades in Singapore and remains popular locally, however, unlike rugby sevens, which has soared in popularity across the world – now even featuring in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games - rugby tens is still largely played only in Southeast Asia having been invented in and spread from Malaysia. To receive the latest updates on the happenings in the Singapore sports scene, or to find out more about some of the latest programmes on offer at ActiveSG, like our Facebook page here .

Basics of Rugby - The Lineout THE LINEOUT When is a line out formed?... The line out is another one of the awesome sites of rugby union. It is a way of re-starting play after the ball has been knocked or kicked out of play past the touch line. The line out is taken on the exact spot where the ball went out of play. It can have anywhere between three to eight players from each side in it, up to 16 in total, all aiming to get their hands on the ball for their team. So how does it work? The advantage is with the team throwing in. They get the ball because they were not the team who last touched the ball before it went out. They also get to decide how many players will make up the line out. Forming a line out... The eight forwards and the scrum-half are the players who make up the line out. The most important players in the line out are the hooker, the two second rows and the scrum-half. They are the players responsible for getting the ball out to the backs or for the rest of the forwards to attack. But that does not mean the other players have nothing to do. Far from it.

More will be explained in the next sections. The line out must be formed past the five metre line and no more than 15m in from the touchline. Both teams must have a one metre gap between them. This is very important and something referees can spot a mile off. If the referee decides one team has purposely closed the gap, he will award a penalty to the other team. Throwing in at the line out... The hooker is usually the player with the task to throw the ball into a line out. Their job is to find the "jumpers", usually the two second rowers. But this is not as easy as it seems. Remember, the other team wants the ball just as much as your team does, so they'll be doing all they can to upset the hooker's throw. The hooker gets a call from one of the jumpers or the scrum half, usually in a code no-one except your team understands, on who to aim the throw at. They must stand behind the touch line when they make their throw. And the throw must be deadly straight, otherwise the referee will have the line out taken again, but this time the opposition get the throw in. When is a line out re-taken?...

The line out may look very simple, but it has plenty of laws every player must follow: The ball must be thrown straight All players not in the line out must be 10m behind the last man in the line out No player can use a one of the opposition to use as support when they are jumping No player is allowed to push, charge or hold another player in the line out No player can be lifted before the ball is thrown No jumper can use the outside of their arm to catch or deflect the ball Depending on how serious the offence is, the referee will either award a penalty or free-kick to the team who did not make the offence. The scrum has collapsed before the ball has been fed or before the ball BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Laws & Equipment | What is a line-out? What is a line-out? The line-out is another awesome sight in rugby union. It is a way of restarting play after the ball has been knocked or kicked out of play past the touch line. The line-out consists of three to eight players from each side, up to 16 in total, and is taken where the ball went out of play. The aim of each player is simply to get their hands on the ball for their team.

So how does it work? The advantage is with the team throwing in. They get the ball because they were not the team who last touched the ball before it went out. They also get to decide how many players will make up the line-out. FORMING A LINE-OUT The eight forwards and the scrum-half are the players who make up the line-out. The most important players are the hooker, the two second rows and scrum-half. They are responsible for getting the ball out to the backs or for the rest of the forwards. That does not mean the other players have nothing to do. Far from it. The line-out must be formed past the five-metre line and no more than 15m in from the touchline, and both teams must have a one metre gap between them. If the referee decides one team has purposely closed the gap, a penalty will be awarded to the other team. LINE-OUT THROWS The hooker is usually the player with the job throwing the ball into a line-out. Their aim is to find the "jumpers", usually the two second rowers. But this is not easy.

The other team also want the ball, so they'll be doing all they can to upset the hooker's throw. The hooker gets a call from one of the jumpers or the scrum half, usually in a code no-one except your team understands, on who to aim the throw at. They must stand behind the touch line when they make their throw. And the throw must be deadly straight, otherwise the referee will have the line-out taken again, but this time the opposition get the throw in. RETAKEN THROWS The line-out may look very simple, but it has plenty of laws every player must follow: The ball must be thrown straight All players not in the line-out must be 10m behind the last man in the line No player can use a one of the opposition to use as support when they are jumping No player is allowed to push, charge or hold another player in the line-out No player can be lifted before the ball is thrown No jumper can use the outside of their arm to catch or deflect the ball Depending on how serious the offence is, the referee will either award a penalty or free-kick to the team who did not make the offence.

Rugby Positions | LineoutCoach.com Key Partners Rugby Positions Rugby positions each have a specific role to play. Different physical attributes are required, although strength and speed are key across the team. Most players will specialise in one or two positions which uses their skills and size to best advantage. The 15 players for each team are on the pitch at all times and play both attacking and defending roles unlike American Football which has offence, defence and special teams that alternate depending on possession. The team is divided into two packs, the Forwards (8 players) and Backs (7 players) and they can stand in any position on the field of play as long as they remain onside. The exception is set piece plays when rugby rules stipulate where each player should be in relation to the ball and opposition. The players wear rugby jerseys with the numbers 1-15 on the back. The number stays with the rugby positions and not the player as it can do in other sports so the hooker is always number 2 for example. The numbers were introduced in 1920s as a way for coaches to rate the players.

Teams can call on substitute players with team numbers (16-23) to cover rugby positions where players are injured, tired or as impact players to turn a match around or close down an opposing team in a close game. Rugby Positions Explained A basic understanding of the rugby positions and the skills of each player will help you enjoy the sport more and appreciate the tactics of the game. Rugby positions names Some of the names for the 15 rugby positions have changed over the years and some have different names in other countries. The IRB use terms favoured by northern hemisphere countries. Variations to these include: Flanker – wing forwards Outside centre – centre three-quarter, centre Wing – wing three-quarter Fly-half – outside half, stand-off half, out half, first five-eighth Scrum-half – half-back Number 8 – 8 man Rugby Positions: Forwards Rugby positions numbers 1-8 on the field are called the Forward pack. They are involved in all the set piece plays and contest the lineouts and scrums. Larger and more powerful than the Backs, they aim to win or retain the ball and drive the team up the field and in that respect are similar to linebackers or linesman in American Football.

Rugby Positions: Front Row Supports hooker in the scrum Lifts jumpers in the lineout Key power at rucks and mauls for retaining ball 2 Hooker Middle of the front row of the scrum Responsible for winning the ball Throws ball at lineouts Rugby positions: Second row (loose forwards/loosies) 4 Lock or lock forward 5 Lock or lock forward Tallest on the field Bind in the scrum and drive forward Rugby positions: Back Row At the back of the scrum Aim to win ball through turnovers 8 Number Eight Link between the forward pack and backs Controls ball at back of scrum before attack begins Rugby Positions: Backs Rugby positions numbers 9-15 are called the Backs. They tend to be smaller than their Foward brothers as they need speed and agility to run the ball into space or kick for goal. They have to maximise the possession and get points on the board so would be similar to running backs or wide receivers in American Football.

Rugby positions: Half-backs Links between forwards and backs Feeds ball into scrum Collects ball from the back 10 Fly-half Directs play on the pitch Good decision maker and communicator Commonly the goal kicker Good reader of the game Direct attacks Score tries and finish plays Fast and agile Powerful enough to break tackles 15 Full Back Rugby Football History All Blacks Barbarians Canada British & Irish Lions Ireland Scotland Springboks USA Wales Wallabies Introduction Originally the number of players in a game of Rugby football was not limited, and there were no formal playing positions. Games at rugby school were simply played by however many boys wanted to play in a particular game. A kind of huge rolling maul developed, moving around the field since there was a very limited amount of space on the field in which to run. As the game began to be played between different schools and clubs a fixed number of players was needed. This then allowed players to start specializing in certain positions and to develop particular skills appropriate to those positions. Rugby teams were then limited to twenty players made up of seventeen forwards and three full backs whose sole job was to maintain possession if the opposition managed to hack it out the scrum.

Circa 1875 the number of players in a team was reduced to fifteen (ten forwards and five backs). Today the player names, positions and numbers worn on shirts are defined by the International Rugby Board (IRB). Players usually have the following position names and numbers although there are some local variations in namingin common use: F full back 1 & 3 Prop Along with the hooker, the loose-head and tight-head props make up what is known as the front row, which refers to their position in the scrum. To be successful, both props must be extremely strong in the neck, shoulders, upper body and legs, and they should relish head-to-head competition. While stopping their side of the scrum from moving backwards, the props also support the hooker's body weight, allowing him or her to see and strike the ball when it is put into the scrum. In the lineout, props should be able to support or lift the jumper to prevent the opposition winning the ball. Away from set pieces, props help to secure the ball when a player has been tackled, so it helps if they can combine their power with a degree of mobility.

You’ll also often see them used as battering rams in attack, receiving short passes after a ruck or maul and hitting the opposition defence at pace in an attempt to occupy the defenders and make space for their own backs. 2 Hooker Lining up in the scrum between the two props, the hooker is one of the forwards’ key decision-makers. He or she will coordinate the timing at the scrum, and is also responsible for winning possession in the scrummage by hooking the ball back through the props' legs. To allow the hooker to do this effectively, the props support much of the hooker’s weight, leaving him or her free to concentrate on hooking the ball back, rather than pushing against the opposition forwards. For this reason the hooker is often the smallest member of a front-row trio. At the lineout he or she is responsible for throwing the ball in and must be able to accurately hit the lineout jumper who is expecting the ball. In open play the hooker plays a similar role to the props, securing possession at rucks and mauls, or taking short ‘crash’ passes.

4 & 5 Lock The second row forwards (also known as locks) are the engine room of the scrum and the target men in the lineout, meaning that they need to be tall, powerful players with excellent scrummaging technique and pinpoint timing. If they bind to each other and the props too loosely in the scrum their pack will lose power, and if they are not accurate and dynamic with their lineout jumping, it offers the opposition forwards a chance to steal possession. In open play the second row’s duties have evolved from being support players at rucks and mauls to ball carriers. If a marauding second row is comfortable with the ball in hand, their bulk and power makes them very difficult to stop. 6 & 7 Flanker Open-side and blind-side flankers are often considered to be the players with the fewest set responsibilities, but as such must be excellent all-rounders with inexhaustible energy. Speed, strength, fitness, tackling and handling skills are all vital. Flankers are more often than not at the centre of the action – winning balls at the ruck and maul, collecting short passes from tackled players and making their own big tackles in open play.

While they can rarely be blamed for a loss, they can certainly be the key to victory. The open-side flanker plays on the far side of the scrum from the touchline and is often smaller in size than their blind-side partner, making them more mobile around the pitch. The blind-side flanker tends to have bigger, more physical role around the pitch, and also acts as a target jumper in the lineout. 8 Number Eight Support play, tackling and ball-carrying are the No.8’s areas of expertise, making his or her duties similar to the two flankers. Together the trio forms a unit called the back row. Binding on right at the back of the scrum, the No.8 is also the only player from the forwards who is allowed to pick the ball up from the base of the scrum. It is a move that is often used to gain vital yards when a team is scrummaging close to the opposition try line, and for it to be truly effective the No.8 must be an explosive, dynamic runner. 9 Scrum-Half Acting as the link between the forwards and the backs, the scrum half is a key player when it comes to building attacks.

Playing just behind the forwards, a good scrum half will control exactly when the ball is fed out to the backs from the rear of a scrum, ruck or maul. A scrum half needs good vision, speed and awareness, quick hands and lightning reactions. They tend to be one of the smaller players on the pitch and so rely on protection from their own forwards. An indecisive or poorly protected scrum half makes easy meat for a rampaging opposition flanker. 10 Fly-Half The heartbeat of the side and arguably the most influential player on the pitch. Almost every attack will go through the fly half, who also has the responsibility of deciding when to pass the ball out to the centres and when to kick for position. The fly half must orchestrate the team's back line, deciding what rehearsed moves to put into action and reacting to gaps in defence. He or she is also the main target for the defending team's open-side flanker and so must be strong in the tackle. The fly half has to be able to relieve territorial pressure by kicking down the field into touch, and is often the team's designated place kicker for conversions, penalties and drop goal attempts.

In defence he or she will marshal the backs to ensure each opposition player is covered, and a strong-tackling fly half can snuff out opposition attacks before they start. 11 & 14 Wing Playing out wide on the side of the pitch, the winger is a team’s finisher in attack. A winger is also often the last line of defence when they don’t have the ball and as such, pace is their major resource. 12 & 13 Centre The inside centre – who stands closest to the fly half when the backs line up – and the outside centre tend to be strong, dynamic runners with a good eye for exposing gaps in the opposition defence. In attack they tend to run very direct lines. The centres take on their opposite number in an attempt to either break the defensive line, or draw in enough opposition defenders to create space and try-scoring opportunities for their team-mates. As such they need to be strong and powerful, and when attack turns into defence, they must also be accomplished at tackling. The inside centre is often the more creative in a centre pairing and should be able to pass and kick nearly as well as the fly half.

In either defence or attack, the inside centre tends to be all action – dishing out the tackles and then drawing the opposition defence. Meanwhile, the outside centre tends to be the faster of the two and the ability to offload the ball quickly to the wingers is also vital. 15 Full-back Lining up behind the entire back line, the full back is the closest thing that rugby has to a sweeper in defence. But they also receive deep kicks from the opposition, so they must be comfortable catching high balls and launching attacks from the resulting possession. As such, the full back must have enough tactical awareness to recognise when to counter-kick, and when to run with the ball, often from deep within his or her half. Having started life as a winger, ex-England, Sale and British Lions player Jason Robinson was an excellent example of a running full back who also had the ability to kick his way out of trouble – the perfect combination for a number 15. This high-pressure position is not for the faint-hearted, but those who can combine tackling, kicking, catching and running with a cool head can excel here.

Player line-up Players will typically line up as follows at a scrum: Position Hierarchy Here is a hierarchy of player position naming including collective terms, the corresponding common player numbering shown in parenthesis: Forwards Notes: In some countries the term halfback refers solely to the scrum half, while in other countries it applies to both the scrum half and the fly half. New Zealand saw advantage in having a fourth player in the three-quarters placing a forward between the half back and the three-quarters. Legend has it that the position was named by deciding that the half back was 4/8ths and the three-quarters 6/8ths, so therefore the new position must be a 5/8ths. When fly half play developed they introduced the first 5/8th and the second 5/8th. Hence the fly half is sometimes referred to as the 1st 5/8, implying a slightly deeper position than halfback and the inside centre is sometimes referred to as the 2nd 5/8 implying a more forward position than a 3/4 back. Centres used to be called Centre Three-quarters and Wings, Wing Three-quarters. The term three quarters collectively describes the centers, wings and full-back.

In some countries the Flankers are referred to as 'Break-aways' e.g. New Zealand. In some countries the No. 8 is referred to as the 'Last man down' e.g. New Zealand. Additional collective terms: History of Positions Origin of the Half-Back (collective name for Fly-half and Scrum-half) Originally the rules described three full backs which was later changed to one and the other two players were then stationed at a midpoint between the forwards and the full backs and were to be called half-way backs. In time this was shortened to half backs. Their role and that of the full back continued to be to fall on the ball in the event of the opposition hacking it out of the scrum. Origin of Fly-Half In 1878 at Cardiff, in Wales, they developed a short pass to one of the half backs who would then go charging ahead with the ball. He became known as the flying half back which in time was shortened to the fly half. In New Zealand the fly half is sometimes referred to as the 1st 5/8, implying a slightly deeper position than halfback.

Origin of the three-quarters In the 1880’s the game had spread to the Universities, particularly Cambridge and Oxford, whose input lead to far more thought being put into the game and the style of play that was developed. They were instrumental in the development of the games tactics, the introduction of need to practice and the coaching of the players. In addition they re organised the scrum, developed short passes amongst the forwards and long passes amongst the backs. This led to the need for more players to be placed in the back line between the halves and the full back. The fraction between a half and a whole (full) is three-quarters. Note: One alternative theory for why they are called three-quarters is that these new positions were called 'quarters' and the fact that three of them were put in this position led to them being known as three-quarters. But this seems unlikely since there is an obvious progression from Half-back (half-way from the from of the scrum to the full back), Five-eighths, three-quarters, full back.. Scotland claim the honour of having first introduced a third three-quarter, against Ireland in 1881.

Origin of the centre and wings The middle player being called the centre with the two on his outside called wings. Fouth three-quarter The introduction of a fourth player into the three-quarters was to a large extent, accidental, with Wales again being allowed to take the honour. In 1885 Cardiff were due to play a tough match away from home and their first choice centre was not available so they promoted one Frank E. Hancock from the second side in his place. Hancock was a great success scoring two vital tries. When the Cardiff selectors sat down to pick their team for the next match they were keen to revert to their original team, but they were most reluctant to drop Hancock, so they compromised by introducing a fourth three-quarter. Within two years Wales had introduced it at international level. The New Zealanders were quick to see the advantage of having a fourth player in the three-quarters. Their solution was to pull a forward out the pack and put him between the half back and the three-quarters. Their problem was what did they call the new position.

Legend has it that consent was reached by deciding that the half back was 4/8ths and the three-quarters 6/8ths, so therefore the new position must be a 5/8ths, a name that has continued to this day in that country. When fly half play developed they introduced the first 5/8th and the second 5/8th. Origin of the Number 8 This is a two-part question. In summary, the No 8 position evolved in South Africa, but was christened in New Zealand. a) How did the No.8 evolve? The position now known as No.8 evolved in South Africa in the 1920s. Before the Great War a number of scrum patterns were tried. Most involved a three-man front-row in a 3-3-2 or more commonly 3-2-3 pack. Paddy Carolin of the 1906 Springboks claimed to have experimented with a 3-4-1 formation. New Zealand most notably always used a 2-3-2 system. Their so-called diamond scrum had a rover to act as a detached winging forward who could also double as a second scrum-half.

The Law dictating that a scrum must have a three-man front-row did not come into effect until the 1951-2 season (Law 15c.). New Zealand apart, forwards in Test matches were selected primarily for their all-round skills - there were no fixed position in the early days. The first forwards up for a scrum were the first to pack down, although by the early 1900s there was usually one player specifically chosen to hook and one to act as a wing forward. There is evidence that early Australian and French packs experimented with fixed places for their players under the 3-2-3 formation, but it wasn't until 1923 that Wavell Wakefield, as pack leader, allocated fixed positions to England's forwards. Two were devolved to prop up their hooker, while two formed the second-row. Behind them was a back-row of two wing-forwards either side of a middle man who was then called the lock or lock-forward - the position from which the No 8 has evolved. England won the Grand Slam that year and specialism became the norm in the Home Unions.

Meanwhile in South Africa, Oubaas Markötter of the famous Stellenbosch club developed the 3-4-1 pack formation to curb a fly-half named Bennie Osler, who was the master kicker and tactician for their great rivals at the University of Cape Town. Markötter's new scrum was essentially the 3-2-3 scheme but with the wing-forwards from the back-row flanking the second-row instead - and therefore closer to the fly-half. That helped to address the Osler problem, but other advantages of the formation became apparent. With only one man at the back, the ball was heeled from the scrum more quickly, while the opposing scrum-half and loose forwards found it harder to disrupt possession. In addition, the inward push from the flankers at the scrum channelled considerable drive through their props and put extra pressure on the opposition hooker. All South Africa embraced the 3-4-1 scrum and by 1928 it was the preferred formation for the Springboks in their home series with the All Blacks. In the first Test their scrum was a revelation to the New Zealanders, who were demolished 17-0.

It wasn't until a few years later, however, that modern back-row play evolved. Markötter considered how to make the best use of a gifted Stellenbosch threequarter named André McDonald, who was not fast enough for a back and not big enough for a forward. McDonald was moved to the solo position at the back of the scrum where he inter-played with his scrum-half in attack and was deployed as a shadow flanker in defence. So the prototype for the No.8 evolved in South Africa as a much looser player than his forerunner, the lock. South Africa still sought strong forwards who could push from the back of the scrum, but attacking and defensive duties for which the prime attribute was mobility became part of the job description. The Springboks toured Britain/Ireland in 1931-32, demonstrating the new scrum formation and back-row tactics to the Home Unions, and in 1933 Australia saw them for the first time when they were beaten in a series in South Africa.

By the time war broke out in 1939, most of the world's rugby-playing nations had bowed to Springbok supremacy, adopting the 3-4-1 pack and refining back-row tactics. The main dissenters were the Scots, who persisted with the old 3-2-3 system until the mid 1950s. b) When was the term No.8 first used? It was not until the 1940s that the expression No.8 became recognised worldwide as part of rugby's lexicon. Finding a common name for the sole player at the back of the 3-4-1 scrum seems to have taken some time. In the Home Unions he was still referred to as the lock or lock-forward, as he had been in the 3-2-3 system. Australian reports of the 1937 Tests against the Springboks refer to the position as anchor-man or solo-lock. South Africans called him the eighthman (as many of the old-timers out there still do), in New Zealand he was usually the back-row or back-row forward and to the French he was le troisième ligne centre.

Numbering of players in Tests was a haphazard affair until the 1960s. In the Five Nations, some teams numbered from 1 to 15 from the back, starting with the fullback and finishing with a flanker (so that the back-row man was number 14). France and Ireland often numbered in reverse starting from the front-row, making the middle-man of the loose trio number 7. Wales even used letters throughout the 30s and 40s making him letter N! Players on tour were numbered 1 to 30 and kept their allocated numbers for Tests. Old Test programmes show that the earliest efforts to number the back-row man with jersey eight were in New Zealand's South Island during the 1930s. For NZ v Australia at Dunedin in 1936 and NZ v SA at Christchurch in 1937 the All Blacks' back-row man wore this number. Abbreviating the South African term eighthman to No.8 originated there and the noted New Zealand rugby historian, Arthur Swan, was among the first to refer to him in print as the "number-eight".

When post-war Tests resumed in 1946, New Zealand led the way in regularly numbering their back-row man in the eight jersey. Curiously, South Africa's Hennie Muller, who played Test rugby between 1949 and 1953 and was universally hailed as the definitive eighthman of his day, never wore an eight shirt in a Test, although by 1951 the British press were referring to him as the team's No 8. It was not until the 1960s that the shirt number universally matched its position's name in Test matches. Rugby sevens | Rugby Union | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Rugby sevens is sanctioned by the International Rugby Board (IRB), and is played under substantially the same rules and on a field of the same dimensions as the 15-player game . While a normal rugby union match lasts upwards of 80 minutes, a normal rugby sevens match lasts approximately 15 minutes (allowing for the one-minute halftime break, injury time and so forth).

Competition finals last somewhat more than 20 minutes; each half in a competition final is ten minutes instead of the normal seven minutes, and the halftime break can be two minutes. (In the IRB Sevens World Series, only the Cup final, which determines the overall winner of an event, is played with 10-minute halves; all finals for lower-level trophies are played with normal 7-minute halves. [1] ) This allows rugby tournaments to be completed in a day or a weekend. However, sevens scores are generally comparable to union scores; scoring occurs with much greater regularity in sevens, since the defenders are more spaced out than in rugby union. Scrums still exist within sevens, composed of just three players from each team. Given the speedy nature of the game, players are usually either from the backline or the trio of loose forwards in fifteens rugby. Rugby sevens was initially conceived by Ned Haig , a butcher from Melrose , Scotland as a fundraising event for his local club in 1883 . The first ever sevens match was played at the Greenyards, where it was well received.

The largest sevens tournament in the world is the Rosslyn Park Schools tournament, with an attendance of over 3,000 schoolchildren from around the world. Rugby Sevens specialists Wellington College have dominated the rugby sevens festival winning 6 times out of the last 9 years with a five year unbeaten spell between 1998-2003. Results from the tournament can be seen on The Schools' Rugby Website . The first ever officially sanctioned international tournament occurred at Murrayfield as part of the "Scottish Rugby Union's celebration of rugby" centenary celebrations in 1973. Due to the success of the format, the ongoing Hong Kong Sevens was launched three years later. In 1993, the Rugby World Cup Sevens , in which the Melrose Cup is contested, was launched. Two of the best known sevens competitions are the Hong Kong Sevens and Dubai Sevens , which now make up parts of the IRB Sevens World Series . Variations to the Laws of the Game Edit The emphasis of play in Sevens is speed, skill, and fitness. A team is usually comprised entirely of backs, because of their fitness and agility compared to their forward counterparts.

Furthermore, players may need to get more creative in making plays, with only 14-20 minutes to play a single game. There are several variations in laws which apply to Rugby Sevens, [2] primarily to speed up the game and to account for the reduced number of players. The main changes can be summarised as follows: 7 players per team on field (instead of 15). 5 reserves, with only 3 interchanges (instead of 7 and 7). 7-minute halves, 10-minute halves in championships (instead of 40-minute halves). 1-minute halftime, 2 minutes in championships (instead of 10 minutes). Matches drawn after regulation are continued into Sudden Death Extra Time , in 5-minute periods. Conversion attempts must be drop-kicked (instead of having the option to place-kick). Conversions must be taken within 40 seconds of scoring a try (instead of 60 seconds). 3-man scrums (instead of 8). The scoring team kicks off (instead of the non-scoring team). Yellow cards net a 2-minute suspension (instead of 10 minutes). Suspensions are more severe in Sevens than in Fifteens.

The team plays a man down for 1/7th of the match instead of 1/8th, and losing 1 man out of 7 opens up many more holes than 1 man out of 15. Referees decide on advantage quickly (where one play usually ends advantage, not true in fifteens). There are additional officials present (in-goal touch judges) to judge success of kicks at goals and hence the game is not delayed waiting for touch judges to move into position to judge conversion attempts. At the Summer Olympics Edit Template:Catmore1 Owing to the speed by which matches are resolved and the minimal personnel requirements, there is hope that sevens will be accepted for Olympic competition (it has been in the Commonwealth Games since 1998 ). The IRB pointed towards sellout crowds at Commonwealth Games and World Cup sevens as proof of the sport's popularity. In addition, it would provide a competition in which sporting minnows from regions such as the Pacific, who are able to field competitive rugby teams, could genuinely contend for medals. [3] However, the International Olympic Committee turned down the bid for the purposes of the 2012 Olympics to be held in London.

One IOC official from Switzerland, Dennis Oswald, dismissed the bid declaring: “When it comes to rugby, I am not a specialist, but people within the sport tell me that rugby sevens is something of a joke.” Oswald later confirmed that he had never in fact watched a game of sevens, or indeed, fifteens rugby. Although disappointed, the IRB responded by pointing out that in terms of the Olympic motto : Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger), a rugby player was more likely to possess all of these attributes than competitors within other debatable Olympic events, such as rhythmic gymnastics . The IRB has recently moved to counter criticisms that it only proposed for a male Olympic tournament, establishing a series of Sevens events for women; the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens will include a women's championship for the first time. Major tournaments Edit Portugal defeated Russia 28-26 in a pulsating climax to the Grand Final of the 2005 FIRA European Sevens in Moscow to retain the trophy they have won for the last three years. Spain won the Plate with a 25-14 win over Germany, whilst Lithuania claimed the Bowl.

Portugal topped their group on day one, recording four victories and a 7-7 draw, against Italy. In Pool B, Russia delighted the home fans with five wins out of five, including a 33-7 victory over France. They followed that up on day two by defeating Italy 17-0 in the Cup semi finals, whilst Portugal beat France 22-7. Notable Sevens Players Edit Rugby league may also be played under seven-a-side rules, though this is less common as an alternative when compared with Rugby league nines (played on a nine-a-side basis). The game is substantially the same as full rugby league , however scrums involve only three players per team, and all kicks at goal must be made by drop-kicks. The major tournament was the World Sevens played prior to the start of the National Rugby League season in Sydney , but the tournament has been cancelled.

Rugby league sevens is particularly popular with pub teams — formed from the regulars at a particular public house, the reason for this is that it is often difficult for a single Pub (particularly in the north of England where rugby league is popular, as are pubs) to form a full squad of 13 players and four substitutes of willing players. Women's Rugby sevens Edit Women's rugby 7s is dominated by New Zealand, with either the New Zealand team (1999-2001) or Aotearoa Maori Women’s Rugby 7’s team (playing as New Zealand) [1] winning all of the Hong Kong 7s to date (as of 2007 ). The inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament will be held in 2009 in Dubai in conjunction with the men’s tournament. Other strong nations in Women's 7s are Australia and the USA. Women's rugby seven's may be added to the Commonwealth Games in 2014 or 2018.

References Olympic Rugby Returns For Men; Women Make Their Debut | WFUV Olympic Rugby Returns For Men; Women Make Their Debut by Tom Goldman 8.04.16 11:18am Olympic fans, prepare to watch hookers in a scrum who hope not to end up in the sin bin. The lexicon of rugby , and the men's game itself, return to Olympic competition after a 92-year absence. The return in Rio also involves a couple of debuts: it's the first Olympic appearance for women in the sport, and a first for Rugby Sevens. It's a seven on seven game. Traditional rugby has 13 or 15 a side. Sevens is a fast, physical and unpredictable game. Rugby organizers hope an Olympic showing will spread the game's popularity beyond traditional hotbeds like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the U.K. For those who didn't grow up in those countries, rugby knowledge is limited. Americans might be able to conjure up images similar to football. In rugby, teams move a watermelon-shaped ball toward a goal line, or the try line. Players move the ball by running with it or passing, although there's no forward passing.

Players can also advance the ball by kicking it. And there's tackling, a lot of tackling, but the players don't wear pads or helmets. During pre-Rio training at the U.S. Olympic Committee's facility in Chula Vista, Calif., U.S. women's team captain Kelly Griffin offered a primer on the game. "Rugby Sevens especially is like the perfect game for America," she said, "because one, it's fast-paced." At a U.S. women's practice, three offensive players sprinted toward three defenders. The ball carrier either shoveled an underhand pass to a teammate, or faked the pass and tried to split the defense. It was a high speed drill and a good example of the game's pace. Sevens is a lot faster because it's played on the same sized field as traditional rugby but with half the players. The game is much more wide open. Not only is the action fast, the games are too. Seven minutes halves. In between, a barely-long-enough-for-a-bathroom-break halftime. In total, a 16-minute game. Which, actually, is plenty of time, according to U.S. team member Jillion Potter.

"In 30 seconds you can win or lose a game," Potter says. "You can be down with one minute to go and you need 14 points and you can turn around and win the game. It's that kind intensity, that kind of excitement that will draw people in." Hard hitting So will the hitting. That's another reason Griffin says Rugby Sevens is the perfect game for America. This country loves a good smack to its sports, and rugby let's women fully in on the action. In post-Title IX America, female athletes get many athletic opportunities. But not often the chance to hit, and be hit, as part of a team game. Richelle Stephens, 20, who plays the position fly half for the U.S., says before rugby, she had to seek out contact in other ways. "In softball, I used to do the collision at home plate," she laughs, adding she'd do it even if she didn't need to. "It was so silly, but I liked getting in someone's face." On this day, Stephens was sporting a rainbow-colored shiner, courtesy of rugby, under her left eye. Her teammate Potter is in a class of her own when it comes to rugby toughness.

She's a cancer survivor and is playing six years after breaking her neck in a match. She admits being hesitant when she first came back from the injury. "Yeah there was a little bit of timidness I think coming back," Potter says, adding "but just gradually building back to the tackling technique and the form and establishing confidence again. And then once you get that a little bit and hit a couple of pads, you hit a couple of people and then you're like, 'Alright let's play!'" Potter says the injury was a fluke. U.S. women's team athletic trainer Nicole Titmas says most rugby injuries are not as dramatic. "Ankle sprains, knee sprains, shoulder separations," Titmas says. "We've had some ACL tears, but those numbers are down. We have special training and work on prevention." Titmas says the quick turnaround in Sevens games helps. "With it being seven-minute halves, we'll get through a bunch of games and not really have much [in the way of injuries]," she says. There's always been an assumption rugby is safer than American football, because players aren't tempted to make dangerous hits with no outer protection.

But that's been challenged in recent years, with the intense focus on head injuries in football and all sports. Hooker in a scrum Physical, fast, lightening-quick games. There's a lot to "draw people in" as Potter predicts. But a new wave of interest also depends on fans understanding the game. There's a lot of jargon and there are many technical aspects to digest. There are positions such as prop and hooker. The latter is a player who hooks the ball with their feet to an open teammate. That happens during a scrum, the classic rugby action where a group from each team locks shoulders and arms in what looks like a big, interconnected huddle. A score is called a try, rugby's version of a touchdown, when the runner crosses the try line and touches down the ball. That's the briefest of primers. Or, there's Rugby 101 from Jillian Potter. "Tackle the person with the ball," she laughs. "Run when you have it. That's the first thing they teach you." Potter and her teammates are considered medal contenders in Rio. The favorites include New Zealand, Australia, Canada and England. On the men's side, the U.S.

actually is the defending Olympic champion – the Americans won the gold medal in 1924, the last time the sport was in the games. It was 15-man-per-side rugby in 1924. A lot has changed in 92 years, and while the U.S. men, like the women, have a chance at a medal, they're not among the favorites . The short list includes Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Competition for the women begins Saturday and wraps up a mere two days later. The men have their three-day tournament right after. Like everything else with Rugby Sevens, it's fast. Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR . Coaching Forwards in the Rugby Scrum | iSport.com Coaching Forwards in the Rugby Scrum Coaching Forwards in the Rugby Scrum The scrum is one of rugby’s most recognizable structures. Eight players on each side are involved, and are referred to as the Pack . When both packs come together it generates an incredible amount of force. Although the forwards are the only players directly involved in the scrum, how they perform affects the entire team’s performance.

This guide breaks down the responsibilities for each of the players involved in the pack. The Scrum’s Core Though there are eight forwards involved in the scrum, the core is formed by the props, hooker, and second row players. This group of players is referred to as the “ Tight Five ,” and they generate the power and force of the scrum. Each player in the tight five has a specific job, and they’re broken down as follows: Props Along with the hooker, the props make up the Front Row of the pack. When both packs collide to make a scrum, it’s up to the front row to both transfer the force of their pack to the other side (props) and secure the ball from the put-in (hooker). The Props are at the very front of the pack. The props are usually the biggest and strongest players on the team. Strength and size are especially helpful in the pack, because the props’ first duty is to deliver a forceful hit to the other side’s pack. Along with delivering the first hit, they must also keep a solid bind on the hooker, so he can concentrate on heeling the ball back from the Put In . Hooker Bound between both props is the Hooker .

Generally one of the smaller forwards, the hooker’s main responsibility in the scrum is to heel the ball back from the put-in. Second Row Immediately behind the props and hooker are the two second row players, or Locks . These players bind to one another, as well as to the props in front of them. Though they do help to generate power for the initial hit and drive, they are also responsible for maintaining the stability of the front row players. One second row player continues to foot the ball backward after the hooker secures it, directing it towards the back of the pack. These linked players are referred to as the tight five, because these players are surrounded on all sides by both teammates and opponents. Also important (and part of the nickname’s origin) is that their initial bind is one of the most important aspects of the scrum. The props bind on to the hooker, and the second rows bind on to the props. The more secure (or tighter) these bindings are, the more stable the tight five will be, and the easier it is to generate and sustain the momentum of the original hit.

The Reaction Players Three other members of the pack surround the tight five: Two Loose Forwards (or flankers) and the Eight Man . While the tight five players are mostly concerned with delivering the first hit and maintaining the pack’s momentum, the loose forwards and eight man are mostly concerned with the transition from the scrum back to regular play. Here’s a look at their roles in the scrum: Loose Forwards Loose forwards are also called flankers because they are positioned on both sides of the tight five, between the props and locks. The loose forwards bind on to each lock with one arm, and maintain contact with the prop in front of them. In doing so, they provide some extra stability from the outside of the scrum. Loose forwards only use one arm to bind because they are the first to detach from the scrum, and must be able to do so quickly. Additionally, their free arm explains why they’re distinguished as “loose” forwards: They’re not bound together as tightly as the other forwards. Eight Man Unlike the loose forwards, the eight man is bound in tightly to the rest of the pack.

Located at the very rear of the pack, the eight man binds on to both second row players and helps generate momentum when the pack drives forward. Much like the hooker, the eight man is also responsible for securing the ball with his foot. After the ball gets transferred to the back of the pack, the eight man uses one foot to roll the ball directly underneath his body. From there, the scrum half usually picks the ball up, though the eight man can also carry it out. Success Comes With Teamwork The scrum may be the best example of teamwork in all of team sports. True, athletes in other sports must work together to win, but rarely are so many players required to cooperate in such a cohesive and tight-knit manner. In order to have a successful scrum, these eight players have to work together and trust that the player next to him can do his job.

Share this Guide: Olympic Rugby Returns For Men; Women Make Their Debut | WHQR Olympic Rugby Returns For Men; Women Make Their Debut By Tom Goldman • Aug 4, 2016 Related Program: View Slideshow 1 of 6 Women's rugby teammates Kelly Griffin (left) and Jillion Potter demonstrate how they would protect Richelle Stephens (bottom) as she attempts to hand off the ball during practice at Olympic Training Center in San Diego. Women's rugby is making its Olympic debut in Rio. Bill Wechter for NPR Lauren Doyle is lifted up for a catch by teammate Carmen Farmer during practice. The Olympics will feature a seven-on-seven game, in contrast to traditional rugby that can feature 13 ("league") or 15 ("union") players per side. Bill Wechter for NPR Kelly Griffin (left), Richelle Stephens and Jillion Potter stand together during practice. Bill Wechter for NPR (Left) Bui Baravilala makes a pass during practice. (Right) The team exercises together. Bill Wechter for NPR Richelle Stephens works on a move with head coach Richie Walker. Bill Wechter for NPR The team takes a water break.

Bill Wechter for NPR / Originally published on August 5, 2016 2:18 am Olympic fans, prepare to watch hookers in a scrum who hope not to end up in the sin bin. The lexicon of rugby , and the men's game itself, return to Olympic competition after a 92-year absence. The return in Rio also involves a couple of debuts: It's the first Olympic appearance for women in the sport, and a first for Rugby Sevens. It's a seven-on-seven game. Traditional rugby has 13 or 15 a side. Sevens is a fast, physical and unpredictable game. Rugby organizers hope an Olympic showing will spread the game's popularity beyond traditional hotbeds like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the U.K. For those who didn't grow up in those countries, rugby knowledge is limited. Americans might be able to conjure up images similar to football. In rugby, teams move a watermelon-shaped ball toward a goal line, or the try line. Players move the ball by running with it or passing, although there's no forward passing. Players can also advance the ball by kicking it.

And there's tackling, a lot of tackling, but the players don't wear pads or helmets. During pre-Rio training at the U.S. Olympic Committee's facility in Chula Vista, Calif., U.S. women's team captain Kelly Griffin offered a primer on the game. "Rugby Sevens especially is like the perfect game for America," she said, "because one, it's fast-paced." At a U.S. women's practice, three offensive players sprinted toward three defenders. The ball carrier either shoveled an underhand pass to a teammate, or faked the pass and tried to split the defense. It was a high-speed drill and a good example of the game's pace. Sevens is a lot faster because it's played on the same sized field as traditional rugby but with half the players. The game is much more wide open. Not only is the action fast, the games are too. Seven-minute halves. In between, a barely-long-enough-for-a-bathroom-break halftime. In total, a 16-minute game. Which, actually, is plenty of time, according to U.S. team member Jillion Potter. "In 30 seconds you can win or lose a game," Potter says.

"You can be down with one minute to go, and you need 14 points, and you can turn around and win the game. It's that kind of intensity, that kind of excitement that will draw people in." Hard hitting So will the hitting. That's another reason Griffin says Rugby Sevens is the perfect game for America. This country loves a good smack to its sports, and rugby lets women fully in on the action. In post-Title IX America, female athletes get many athletic opportunities. But not often the chance to hit, and be hit, as part of a team game. Richelle Stephens, 20, who plays the position of fly-half for the U.S., says before rugby, she had to seek out contact in other ways. "In softball, I used to do the collision at home plate," she laughs, adding that she'd do it even if she didn't need to. "It was so silly, but I liked getting in someone's face." On this day, Stephens is sporting a rainbow-colored shiner, courtesy of rugby, under her left eye. Her teammate Potter is in a class of her own when it comes to rugby toughness. She's a cancer survivor and is playing six years after breaking her neck in a match.

She admits being hesitant when she first came back from the injury. "Yeah, there was a little bit of timidness, I think, coming back," Potter says, adding, "but just gradually building back to the tackling technique and the form and establishing confidence again. And then, once you get that a little bit and hit a couple of pads, you hit a couple of people, and then you're like, 'All right, let's play!' " Potter says the neck injury was a fluke. U.S. women's team athletic trainer Nicole Titmas says most rugby injuries are not as dramatic. "Ankle sprains, knee sprains, shoulder separations," Titmas says. "We've had some ACL tears, but those numbers are down. We have special training and work on prevention." Titmas says the quick turnaround in Sevens games helps. "With it being seven-minute halves, we'll get through a bunch of games and not really have much [in the way of injuries]," she says. There's always been an assumption rugby is safer than American football, because players aren't tempted to make dangerous hits with no outer protection. But that's been challenged in recent years, with the intense focus on head injuries in football and all sports.

Hooker in a scrum Physical, fast, lightning-quick games. There's a lot to "draw people in," as Potter predicts. But a new wave of interest also depends on fans understanding the game. There's a lot of jargon , and there are many technical aspects to digest. There are positions such as prop and hooker. The latter is a player who hooks the ball with their feet to an open teammate. That happens during a scrum, the classic rugby action where a group from each team locks shoulders and arms in what looks like a big, interconnected huddle. A score is called a try, rugby's version of a touchdown, when the runner crosses the try line and touches down the ball. That's the briefest of primers. Or, there's Rugby 101 from Jillion Potter: "Tackle the person with the ball; run when you have it," she laughs. "That's the first thing they teach you." Potter and her teammates are considered medal contenders in Rio. The favorites include New Zealand, Australia, Canada and England. On the men's side, the U.S.

actually is the defending Olympic champion — the Americans won the gold medal in 1924, the last time the sport was in the games. It was 15-man-per-side rugby in 1924. A lot has changed in 92 years, and while the U.S. men, like the women, have a chance at a medal, they're not among the favorites . The short list includes Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Competition for the women begins Saturday and wraps up a mere two days later. The men have their three-day tournament right after. Like everything else with Rugby Sevens, it's fast. Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: And 92 years of missing out on the Olympics, and rugby players are back. The return of rugby in Rio marks the first Olympic appearance for women in that sport. It's also the debut of rugby sevens. It's a seven-on-seven game - half the number of traditional rugby - and sevens is fast. NPR's Tom Goldman reports.

TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE: I didn't grow up in New Zealand or Australia or England, so my rugby knowledge, like many Americans, is limited. I can conjure up images kind of like football, teams moving a watermelon-shaped ball toward a goal line, tough players tackling without pads or helmets, running with the ball and passing, although no forward passing. On a summer visit I made to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., U.S. women's team captain Kelly Griffin was patient. She knows my type. KELLY GRIFFIN: Have you watched any rugby at all? GOLDMAN: Not much, not much. GRIFFIN: Well, it's a very - rugby sevens especially is, like, the perfect game for America because, one, it's fast-paced. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: My ball, my ball, my ball. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #2: Go, go, go. GOLDMAN: During this morning practice, offensive players sprint toward defenders. The ball carrier shovels an under-handed pass to a teammate or fakes the pass and tries to split the defense.

Sevens is a lot faster because it's played on the same size field as traditional rugby but with half the players. The game's much more wide open. Not only is the action fast, the games are too - seven-minute halves in between a barely-long-enough-for-a-bathroom-break half-time. In total, a 16-minute game, which actually is plenty of time, says U.S. team member Jillion Potter. JILLION POTTER: You know, you can be down with one minute to go and you need, you know, 14 points or something, and you could turn around and win the game, you know? So it's just that kind of high intensity, that kind of excitement that will draw people in. GOLDMAN: So will the hitting. That's another reason Kelly Griffin says rugby sevens is the perfect game for America. This country loves a good smack to its sports, and rugby lets women fully in on the action. In post-Title IX America, female athletes get many opportunities but not often the chance to hit and be hit as part of a team game. I asked Richelle Stephens whether that was frustrating in her pre-rugby the life.

She plays the fly-half position on the U.S. team. All that time you were playing those other sports, did you feel an inner beast that you had to let out? Now, before she answers, I'll note on this day Stephens was sporting a rainbow-colored shiner - courtesy of rugby - under her left eye. RICHELLE STEPHENS: In softball, I used to do the collision at home plate (laughter). GOLDMAN: Even if you didn't need to. STEPHENS: Yeah (laughter). It was so silly, but I liked the, like, I don't know, just getting in someone's face. GOLDMAN: Jillion Potter is in a class of her own when it comes to rugby toughness. She's a cancer survivor and is playing six years after breaking her neck in a match. She admits being timid when she first came back after the injury. POTTER: And then kind of once you hit a couple pads, you hit a couple people, and then you're like, all right, let's play. GOLDMAN: Physical, fast, lightning-quick games - there's a lot to draw people in, as Potter predicts.

But a new wave of interest also depends on fans understanding the game. ANDREW LOCKE: Don't worry about the pad. Just focus on the ball. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #3: Left, left, left, left, left. GOLDMAN: There are kickoffs. Assistant Coach Andrew Locke leads a kickoff drill at this practice. There are positions such as prop and hooker, a player who hooks the ball with their feet to an open teammate. That happens during a scrum, the classic rugby scene where a group from each team locks shoulders and arms in what looks like a big, interconnected huddle. A score is called a try - rugby's version of a touchdown - where the runner crosses the try line and touches down the ball. That's the briefest of primers, or there's rugby 101 from Jillion Potter. POTTER: Tackle the person with the ball. Run when you have it (laughter). That's what - the first thing they teach you. GOLDMAN: The U.S. women are considered medal contenders. The favorites include New Zealand, Australia, Canada.

Competition begins the morning after the opening ceremony and wraps up a mere two days later - like everything else with rugby sevens, fast. Tom Goldman, NPR News Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Question: How many players from each team usually make up a rugby sevens scrum?
Answer: 3