I feel that over the years my favorite sport is rugby union. I grew up as a football fan, but when I became disappointed when I finally played football in high school over the pads I decided to play on the school's rugby team. From then on I was hooked.
A few important things about rugby. Rugby is like football, except you can't pass forward (but you can kick forward), or block When a player is tackled he can get up and run unless the opposing player wraps him up. If he is, he must release the ball. Then, other players "ruck," or drive over each other, for possession of the ball. A "scrum half" then picks the ball up from the back of the ruck, releases to a player (usually the "fly half") and play ensues.
Also in rugby, players score similar to football: one can kick "penalty goals" or "drop goals" through the uprights for 3 points, or a "try" and successful conversion for 7 points. A try is like a touchdown, except that you physically make the ball touch the ground in your possession. It is worth 5 points. Then a conversion, much like football's "extra point," must be kicked from the angle of the part of the try zone in which you touched the ball down. Typically players who get a break-away try to run towards the middle so that their kickers can have the easiest kick.
These are the positions in a typical rugby union match. There are two types of players: The forwards, the bulky players who grapple and secure possession of the ball, and the backs, speedier players who use passes and plays to move the ball down the field. Forwards, however, can also get the ball; likewise, backs can also contest for possession of the ball. But the biggest difference between the two is that forwards are the ones who participate in the "set pieces," or the methods with which play is restarted that isn't kicking for points or tapping the ball with your foot and running with it.
There are two types of set pieces: the "scrum" and the "line out". In the scrum, the eight forwards bind together and smash against one another. Then the ball is inserted into the scrum and the teams battle for possession. A scrum half (or 8-man) can then pick the ball up from the rear of the scrum and then either run or pass it out to the backs. A line out is similar to the throw-in in soccer, except that when the player throws the ball in he's throwing it in the center of two lines of opposing players that lift each other up to get the ball. If they so choose these players can also bring the ball down, mash together and drive forward in what is called a "maul." Pretty crazy stuff.
There are two main types of rugby: rugby union and rugby league. Rugby union is the more popular and original version. Rugby league has only 13 players a side and no "rucks", instead they have "downs" much like football. Rugby union is better though, trust me.
Although no forward passes seems like an odd and limiting aspect of rugby it allows for much more creative, exciting scores. Don't believe me? Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIUaKZWJKqY&list=FLlfcfI2ljYN06AUfjP_sdyg&index=20&feature=plpp_video
Take that, Santonio Holmes.
