irish badminton player takes off top after winning

Rugby union is played by two teams of 15 players.

Although the aim of the game is simple, there are many laws which make tin can make information technology difficult for the new viewer to keep runway of what is going on.

Here BBC Sport runs through the very basics of the game and, to the correct, yous can click on the links to notice our more than on the various rules of rugby union.

AIM OF THE GAME

Jonny Wilkinson scores the winning points in the 2003 World Cup final

Jonny Wilkinson scores the winning points in the 2003 World Loving cup final

The aim of the game is very elementary - utilize the ball to score more points than the other team.

You tin can run with the brawl, boot information technology and laissez passer it, but passing forrard is non immune.

Rugby union is a contact sport, and so you can tackle an opponent in gild to go the brawl, every bit long equally you stay within the rules.

There is a referee, aided past two touch judges (i on each side of the pitch), to make up one's mind how the rules should be applied during a game.

There are several ways to score points.

A try - 5 points are awarded for touching the brawl downwardly in your opponent's goal area.
A conversion - 2 points are added for a successful boot through the goalposts after a try
A goal kick - three points are awarded for a penalization kicking or drop goal through the posts

If both teams score the same corporeality of points, or no points are scored, then the friction match is a draw. In some cases, extra time is played to decide who wins.

DURATION

A game of rugby union has 2 periods of xl minutes each. In international matches the referee will finish the clock for stoppages.

Between the two halves, there is a maximum ten-minute interval, after which both teams alter ends.

The referee'due south whistle indicates the start and finish of the one-half.

Actress time will only be played if it's a knockout contest.

Kick-OFF

Before the beginning of the match, the referee tosses a coin to determine which squad will boot off the match.

The helm of the team that wins the toss gets to decide which end he wants to attack offset, or whether his side or the opposition volition kick off.

The game is started by a place kick or a drop kick from the heart of the halfway line.

The brawl must travel forwards at least x metres from the kick-off. If it does non, the opposition become the choice of a scrum or line-out on the halfway line, with the advantage of the feed or throw.

If a penalty or driblet goal is scored during the game, play is restarted with a drop kick from the halfway line. The team that has conceded the points takes the kick.

THE Brawl

Rugby union is played with an oval-shaped ball.

All balls must be betwixt 28cm and 30cm in length (approximately 11-13 inches).

About total-size balls weigh betwixt 383 and 440 grammes (approximately 13.v-15.5 ounces)