When you watch a few rugby matches, you’ll notice that defenders sometimes jump with their arms stretched out to block a kick. But it doesn’t happen very ohften. Is it foul play in some scenarios? This article looks at when you can or can’t block a kick in rugby. We’re focusing on kicks in open … Read more
The laws of Rugby Union were changed to prevent players from blocking penalty kicks by jumping under the crossbar. There was a fun period of a few years when defending players did this both successfully and unsuccessfully. Are there any circumstances in which you can block a penalty kick in rugby? We’ll run through the … Read more
The laws in Rugby Union have changed around attempts to block a conversion. But blocking is still allowed as long as you don’t use certain techniques. There are also some circumstances in which you aren’t allowed to block a conversion. This article covers what you can and can’t do. Can You Block A Conversion In … Read more
Extra time, overtime, and injury time in rugby are often confused with each other. Even commentators may use one term when they mean another. I’ll start with some brief definitions. The rest of the article goes into detail, with examples from famous matches. Extra Time, Over Time, And Injury Time In Rugby Extra time in … Read more
When you watch a game of rugby, you’ll notice that most players aren’t wearing helmets or any kind of headgear. However, there are usually one or two players on each side with what’s called a scrum cap. A scrum cap is a soft thin cap that comes down over the ears. The sport is often … Read more
Rugby balls lose air because their internal bladders are porous. This means that air seeps very slowly through tiny holes in the material. It’s perfectly normal for a rugby ball to deflate gradually, and this article explains why. However, we’ll also give you tips on how to slow down the air loss so that you … Read more
Have you just discovered rugby and are wondering if its also played in America? You may not have noticed that the sport is getting more popular in the States. This article gives you a quick run through interesting facts about the sport in this country. And if you want to dive deeper, we’ll give you … Read more
Now that referees wear microphones, television viewers may hear shouts from rugby players as they form a scrum. But it’s hard to make out exactly what’s going on. Rugby forwards say very little in a scrum. The most likely words are: brief instructions by the pack leader before the scrum starts simple chants to keep … Read more
Now that rugby referees wear microphones in international and top club matches, we can hear what they say to control the scrum. The exact phrase is mandatory as part of the laws of World Rugby. So, what do referees say in the scrum? Since 2013, rugby referees say three words to initiate a scrum. “Crouch, … Read more
You just need to watch one rugby match to notice how much the referee is respected by the players. When referees award a penalty, you won’t see them surrounded by an angry team arguing their innocence. And when a referee penalizes a burly forward who towers over him? “Yes Sir, sorry Sir”, is the standard … Read more