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EspañolCOMPARISON OF RUGBY LEAGUE AND RUGBY UNION
A 'comparison of rugby league and rugby union' is possible due to the games' similarities and shared origins.
In English rugby, a schism developed between those who favoured strict amateurism and those who felt that players should be compensated for time taken off work to play rugby. In 1895 this resulted in the formation of a break-away body, the Northern Union.
Since 1906 the laws of rugby league have been gradually changed to encourage a more spectator-friendly sport. Further changes have taken place to the laws of both rugby union and rugby league over the years, so that now they are distinctly different sports.[1]
:See also Football (word)
In Australia, both sports are most popular in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Either sport might be referred to simply as "football" or "footy". Rugby union is usually referred simply as "rugby" by its followers, who generally refer to rugby league as "league". In other states people refer to both codes as "rugby".
In the United Kingdom, rugby union or rugby league fans might refer to their sport as "football" but in most cases this would refer to association football. Across the UK, rugby union is usually referred to simply as 'rugby' but in and around the rugby league heartlands the word 'rugby' could refer to either sport but usually means 'rugby league'.
In New Zealand, "football" usually refers to rugby union, but depending on context could refer to rugby league. "Rugby", which almost universally refers to rugby union, is mostly used without any existing context. Rugby league is usually called "rugby league" or simply "league".
In France, rugby union is called rugby à 15 whilst rugby league is known as rugby à 13 or jeu à 13.
In South Africa, the Republic of Ireland and Japan rugby league is not very well known and rugby union is simply called "rugby".
In other countries such as Canada or the United States, where neither code of rugby football is very well known, the two forms of the game are rarely distinguished between and "rugby" could refer to either.
A rugby league field is between 112 and 122 metres long by 68m wide. The distance between try-lines is always 100 metres. There are lines going across the field which mark every ten metres. An in-goal area extends six to eleven meters beyond each goal-line. At the goal line are a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for other forms of point scoring: field goal, penalty goal and conversion.
A rugby union field is a maximum of 144 metres long by 70m wide. The length from try line to try line is always 100 metres: the only varying distances on a rugby field are the width of the playing field, and the distance from try line to the dead ball line. Lines are painted at the dead ball line, try line, 22 metre line, 10 metre line (broken line) and half way. Lines are also located 5 metres away from the try line and side line and 15 metres away from the side line. At the goal line are a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for other forms of point scoring: field goal, penalty goal and conversion.
The ball in rugby union is slightly rounder than the rugby league ball which is more pointed. This results in the union ball being easier to kick over long distances.
Rugby league has a six-tackle rule (somewhat similar to "downs" in American and Canadian football). The team in possession has a "set of six" tackles before having to hand over possession. Play stops when the player in possession of the ball is tackled and play restarts with a play-the-ball. Teams can only obtain a consecutive set of tackles in specific circumstances (by forcing a goal-line drop out, through a 40/20 kick or defensive errors such as playing for the ball but not securing possession).
Rugby union is quite different, being based on the 'right to contest possession'. A team in possession does not need to surrender possession whilst they are able to keep the ball. Whilst rugby league players aren't allowed to try to disposses the ball carrier between tackles, unless the tackle committed is a one on one tackle; rugby union players are allowed to win possession during open play.
Possession remains contested in rugby union following a tackle, for instance if a ruck (in which the ball is on the ground) or maul (in which it is held off the ground) forms. The side in possession before the tackle can lose the ball to more aggressive play from their opponents, yielding what is known as a turnover. In rugby league, possession cannot be contested at this point: play either restarts with a play-the-ball or a handover.
While in rugby league both possession and field position are important, in rugby union field position takes precedence. In league possession is usually considered more important than territory, as a player cannot score without the ball. In rugby league the primary method of scoring points is with tries, whereas in union point-scoring from kicks is a significantly more important factor. Rugby union is more a game of territory and players often kick possession away to the opposition to move play nearer the oppostion try line and goal-posts. However rugby league players will do everything possible to limit the amount of time the opposition has in possession of the football.
Possession may change in different ways in both games:-
# When the ball is kicked to the opposing team, this can be done at any time but it is normal to punt on the last tackle in rugby league.
# Following an unsuccessful kick at goal.
# When an opposing player intercepts a pass.
# When the player in possession drops the ball and it is recovered by an opposition player.
# The opposition are awarded a scrum if the player in possession drops the ball forwards or makes the ball go forwards with any part of his body other than his feet. This is called a ''knock-on''. In rugby league, scrums are not contested and the side awarded the scrum almost always gains possession from it. In rugby union, scrums are contested (ie each pack pushes against the other), and it is possible (but unusual) for the side awarded the scrum to lose possession.
# In rugby league if the ball goes out of play, the opposition are awarded a scrum. If this is from a kick going into touch on the full this is called ball back and the scrum is formed where contact with the ball was made. Otherwise, the scrum is formed 20m from the the point of touch. Penalties and 40/20 kicks are exceptions to this rule. In rugby union a line-out takes place instead.
# In rugby league, an automatic handover takes place when the team in possession runs out of tackles.
In both codes, tactical kicking is an important aspect of play.
:See also tackle (football move)
In both games it is permitted to bring down the player in possession of the ball and prevent them making forward progress. Play then restarts from the next tackle or phase. In rugby league a play the ball takes place after each tackle.
In both games, tackling or blocking a player who is not in possession of the ball is not permitted.
In rugby union, charging or pushing an opponent in possession (eg by using the shoulder only) is not permitted. Tacklers must try to grasp the ball-carrier and bring them to ground. Rugby League does allow an opponent to be charged (eg by using the shoulder only). Tripping is not allowed in either code.
Both codes of rugby have the same ways of scoring, however the scores themselves are worth a different number of points depending on which game is being played.
Tries are worth 5 points in rugby union and 4 points in rugby league. In both games, a conversion following a try is worth 2 points.
A drop goal is worth 3 points in union and only 1 in league.
Penalty goals are worth 3 points in union and 2 points in league.
There are a lot more tries scored in rugby league whereas more points are scored from penalty goals and drop goals in rugby union. The rules of rugby league have been deliberately evolved to facilitate this, in the belief that more try-scoring provides more excitement for spectators.
In rugby league, players are not allowed to go to ground unless they are tackled by an opponent - a so-called 'voluntary tackle'. In rugby union, this is not only permitted but commonplace - a ball-carrier will drop to the ground shortly before they would have been tackled, so they can more easily place the ball in a position where their team has the best chance of recovering it.
In rugby union, it is not permitted to throw or knock the ball out of play deliberately. There is no such rule in rugby league.
In rugby league, a tackle is deemed to be complete when the elbow of the arm holding the ball touches the ground. The ball cannot be further advanced and a play-the-ball or handover must take place. In rugby union, a tackle is deemed to be complete when the player in possession is held on the ground, but s/he can still place the ball in any direction provided s/he does so immediately. So a player tackled just short of the try-line in rugby union can legitimately reach across it and place the ball down for a try. This would not be possible in rugby league.
:''See also Rugby league positions, Rugby union positions, Players who have converted from one football code to another''
A maximum of 15 players can play rugby union at any one time whereas rugby league permits 13 players.
Many of the positions have similar names but in practice are very different. The position known as 'flanker' has no equivalent in rugby league; rugby league centres are split into left and right centre rather than inside and outside centres.
Generally, rugby league players are more adept at a range of skills or roles in the game, whereas rugby union players are more specialised. For instance, props and hookers in rugby union tend to be among the physically strongest players with high levels of scrummaging and mauling skills, but with limited speed and ball-handling skills. In rugby league, props and hookers may be no slower or less adept at handling the ball than other players, but would not have (because they do not need) the specialist skills of their rugby union counterparts. Scrum-half is also a more specialised position in rugby union: the no.9 initiates most moves by his or her team, whereas in rugby league it is common for any player acting as 'dummy half' to do so.
During the amateur era, many rugby union players crossed over and played professional rugby league. These days the flow is usually league to union though in the UK league is expanding into areas where it previously was not played and union players are converting to league. Players who achieve the feat of international rugby in both codes are known as dual code internationals, such as Ricky Stuart.
At first, there were no games played between union and league sides as any union player playing rugby league even at an amateur level would be "professionalised" and not allowed to play rugby union again.
During World War two, the RFU relaxed its restrictions on rugby league players playing rugby union. In 1943, a Northern Command army rugby league side defeated a Northern Command union side 18-11 at Headingley under rugby union laws. The following year a Combined Services rugby league side beat a Combined Services union side 15-10 at Bradford again at rugby union. These were the only league v union matches played until 1996. [1]
In 1995, rugby union voted to become a professional sport which opened the possibility of matches between union and league teams.
In May 1996, Bath Rugby and Wigan RLFC, who were then England's top union and league sides respectively, made history by playing against each other at both codes of rugby. The first match was at Maine Road, Manchester under league rules, Wigan beating Bath 82-6; then two weeks later the return match was held at Twickenham under union rules the result this time Bath 44 Wigan 19.
Since then many games have been played between union and league teams using the laws of one of the codes. Games have even been played under union laws during one half and league laws during the second.
1. > Black and White and Grey
★ Rugby football
★ Rugby league
★ Rugby union
★ Players who have converted from one football code to another
★ Comparison of American football and rugby league
★ Comparison of American football and rugby union
★ Laws of rugby league
★ The Laws of rugby union
In English rugby, a schism developed between those who favoured strict amateurism and those who felt that players should be compensated for time taken off work to play rugby. In 1895 this resulted in the formation of a break-away body, the Northern Union.
Since 1906 the laws of rugby league have been gradually changed to encourage a more spectator-friendly sport. Further changes have taken place to the laws of both rugby union and rugby league over the years, so that now they are distinctly different sports.[1]
| Contents |
| Names |
| The field |
| Advancing the ball |
| Tackles and blocks |
| Scoring |
| Other minor differences in the rules |
| Players |
| Cross-code games |
| References |
| See also |
| External links |
Names
:See also Football (word)
In Australia, both sports are most popular in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Either sport might be referred to simply as "football" or "footy". Rugby union is usually referred simply as "rugby" by its followers, who generally refer to rugby league as "league". In other states people refer to both codes as "rugby".
In the United Kingdom, rugby union or rugby league fans might refer to their sport as "football" but in most cases this would refer to association football. Across the UK, rugby union is usually referred to simply as 'rugby' but in and around the rugby league heartlands the word 'rugby' could refer to either sport but usually means 'rugby league'.
In New Zealand, "football" usually refers to rugby union, but depending on context could refer to rugby league. "Rugby", which almost universally refers to rugby union, is mostly used without any existing context. Rugby league is usually called "rugby league" or simply "league".
In France, rugby union is called rugby à 15 whilst rugby league is known as rugby à 13 or jeu à 13.
In South Africa, the Republic of Ireland and Japan rugby league is not very well known and rugby union is simply called "rugby".
In other countries such as Canada or the United States, where neither code of rugby football is very well known, the two forms of the game are rarely distinguished between and "rugby" could refer to either.
The field
A rugby league field
A rugby union field
A rugby league field is between 112 and 122 metres long by 68m wide. The distance between try-lines is always 100 metres. There are lines going across the field which mark every ten metres. An in-goal area extends six to eleven meters beyond each goal-line. At the goal line are a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for other forms of point scoring: field goal, penalty goal and conversion.
A rugby union field is a maximum of 144 metres long by 70m wide. The length from try line to try line is always 100 metres: the only varying distances on a rugby field are the width of the playing field, and the distance from try line to the dead ball line. Lines are painted at the dead ball line, try line, 22 metre line, 10 metre line (broken line) and half way. Lines are also located 5 metres away from the try line and side line and 15 metres away from the side line. At the goal line are a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for other forms of point scoring: field goal, penalty goal and conversion.
Advancing the ball
The ball in rugby union is slightly rounder than the rugby league ball which is more pointed. This results in the union ball being easier to kick over long distances.
Rugby league has a six-tackle rule (somewhat similar to "downs" in American and Canadian football). The team in possession has a "set of six" tackles before having to hand over possession. Play stops when the player in possession of the ball is tackled and play restarts with a play-the-ball. Teams can only obtain a consecutive set of tackles in specific circumstances (by forcing a goal-line drop out, through a 40/20 kick or defensive errors such as playing for the ball but not securing possession).
Rugby union is quite different, being based on the 'right to contest possession'. A team in possession does not need to surrender possession whilst they are able to keep the ball. Whilst rugby league players aren't allowed to try to disposses the ball carrier between tackles, unless the tackle committed is a one on one tackle; rugby union players are allowed to win possession during open play.
Possession remains contested in rugby union following a tackle, for instance if a ruck (in which the ball is on the ground) or maul (in which it is held off the ground) forms. The side in possession before the tackle can lose the ball to more aggressive play from their opponents, yielding what is known as a turnover. In rugby league, possession cannot be contested at this point: play either restarts with a play-the-ball or a handover.
While in rugby league both possession and field position are important, in rugby union field position takes precedence. In league possession is usually considered more important than territory, as a player cannot score without the ball. In rugby league the primary method of scoring points is with tries, whereas in union point-scoring from kicks is a significantly more important factor. Rugby union is more a game of territory and players often kick possession away to the opposition to move play nearer the oppostion try line and goal-posts. However rugby league players will do everything possible to limit the amount of time the opposition has in possession of the football.
Possession may change in different ways in both games:-
# When the ball is kicked to the opposing team, this can be done at any time but it is normal to punt on the last tackle in rugby league.
# Following an unsuccessful kick at goal.
# When an opposing player intercepts a pass.
# When the player in possession drops the ball and it is recovered by an opposition player.
# The opposition are awarded a scrum if the player in possession drops the ball forwards or makes the ball go forwards with any part of his body other than his feet. This is called a ''knock-on''. In rugby league, scrums are not contested and the side awarded the scrum almost always gains possession from it. In rugby union, scrums are contested (ie each pack pushes against the other), and it is possible (but unusual) for the side awarded the scrum to lose possession.
# In rugby league if the ball goes out of play, the opposition are awarded a scrum. If this is from a kick going into touch on the full this is called ball back and the scrum is formed where contact with the ball was made. Otherwise, the scrum is formed 20m from the the point of touch. Penalties and 40/20 kicks are exceptions to this rule. In rugby union a line-out takes place instead.
# In rugby league, an automatic handover takes place when the team in possession runs out of tackles.
In both codes, tactical kicking is an important aspect of play.
Tackles and blocks
:See also tackle (football move)
In both games it is permitted to bring down the player in possession of the ball and prevent them making forward progress. Play then restarts from the next tackle or phase. In rugby league a play the ball takes place after each tackle.
In both games, tackling or blocking a player who is not in possession of the ball is not permitted.
In rugby union, charging or pushing an opponent in possession (eg by using the shoulder only) is not permitted. Tacklers must try to grasp the ball-carrier and bring them to ground. Rugby League does allow an opponent to be charged (eg by using the shoulder only). Tripping is not allowed in either code.
Scoring
Both codes of rugby have the same ways of scoring, however the scores themselves are worth a different number of points depending on which game is being played.
Tries are worth 5 points in rugby union and 4 points in rugby league. In both games, a conversion following a try is worth 2 points.
A drop goal is worth 3 points in union and only 1 in league.
Penalty goals are worth 3 points in union and 2 points in league.
There are a lot more tries scored in rugby league whereas more points are scored from penalty goals and drop goals in rugby union. The rules of rugby league have been deliberately evolved to facilitate this, in the belief that more try-scoring provides more excitement for spectators.
Other minor differences in the rules
In rugby league, players are not allowed to go to ground unless they are tackled by an opponent - a so-called 'voluntary tackle'. In rugby union, this is not only permitted but commonplace - a ball-carrier will drop to the ground shortly before they would have been tackled, so they can more easily place the ball in a position where their team has the best chance of recovering it.
In rugby union, it is not permitted to throw or knock the ball out of play deliberately. There is no such rule in rugby league.
In rugby league, a tackle is deemed to be complete when the elbow of the arm holding the ball touches the ground. The ball cannot be further advanced and a play-the-ball or handover must take place. In rugby union, a tackle is deemed to be complete when the player in possession is held on the ground, but s/he can still place the ball in any direction provided s/he does so immediately. So a player tackled just short of the try-line in rugby union can legitimately reach across it and place the ball down for a try. This would not be possible in rugby league.
Players
:''See also Rugby league positions, Rugby union positions, Players who have converted from one football code to another''
A maximum of 15 players can play rugby union at any one time whereas rugby league permits 13 players.
|
|
Many of the positions have similar names but in practice are very different. The position known as 'flanker' has no equivalent in rugby league; rugby league centres are split into left and right centre rather than inside and outside centres.
Generally, rugby league players are more adept at a range of skills or roles in the game, whereas rugby union players are more specialised. For instance, props and hookers in rugby union tend to be among the physically strongest players with high levels of scrummaging and mauling skills, but with limited speed and ball-handling skills. In rugby league, props and hookers may be no slower or less adept at handling the ball than other players, but would not have (because they do not need) the specialist skills of their rugby union counterparts. Scrum-half is also a more specialised position in rugby union: the no.9 initiates most moves by his or her team, whereas in rugby league it is common for any player acting as 'dummy half' to do so.
During the amateur era, many rugby union players crossed over and played professional rugby league. These days the flow is usually league to union though in the UK league is expanding into areas where it previously was not played and union players are converting to league. Players who achieve the feat of international rugby in both codes are known as dual code internationals, such as Ricky Stuart.
Cross-code games
At first, there were no games played between union and league sides as any union player playing rugby league even at an amateur level would be "professionalised" and not allowed to play rugby union again.
During World War two, the RFU relaxed its restrictions on rugby league players playing rugby union. In 1943, a Northern Command army rugby league side defeated a Northern Command union side 18-11 at Headingley under rugby union laws. The following year a Combined Services rugby league side beat a Combined Services union side 15-10 at Bradford again at rugby union. These were the only league v union matches played until 1996. [1]
In 1995, rugby union voted to become a professional sport which opened the possibility of matches between union and league teams.
In May 1996, Bath Rugby and Wigan RLFC, who were then England's top union and league sides respectively, made history by playing against each other at both codes of rugby. The first match was at Maine Road, Manchester under league rules, Wigan beating Bath 82-6; then two weeks later the return match was held at Twickenham under union rules the result this time Bath 44 Wigan 19.
Since then many games have been played between union and league teams using the laws of one of the codes. Games have even been played under union laws during one half and league laws during the second.
References
1. > Black and White and Grey
See also
★ Rugby football
★ Rugby league
★ Rugby union
★ Players who have converted from one football code to another
★ Comparison of American football and rugby league
★ Comparison of American football and rugby union
External links
★ Laws of rugby league
★ The Laws of rugby union
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