• A game played by two teams, 13 to 15 players on each side,
• Each team try to score as many points as possible by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding an oval shaped ball.
• The object of the game is to gain possession of the ball and take it to the opposition territory to place it in the in-goal area.
• During the match, players may be replaced (for injury) or substituted (for tactical reasons).
• Up to 7 substitutes are allowed.
• Rugby union is played between two teams, each of which starts the match with 15 players on the field.
• Players in a team are divided into eight forwards (two more than in rugby league) and seven backs.

Dimensions of the field

Outside Dimensions

• Length including the Dead Ball Line should not exceed from 14 metres and width should not be greater than 70 metres.
• 10 Meter Line
• It is marked 10 meters from the halfway line on either side. The 10 meter line marks the distance that a kick off must go before the opposing team may gain possession of the ball.
• 22 Meter Line
• The 22 meter line is measured from the goal line (or tries line). This is the line marks the spot play is restarted.
• Rugby goalposts are H-shaped, and consist of two poles, 5.6m apart, connected by a horizontal crossbar 3m above the ground.
• Unlike some other sports there are no goalkeepers, and the section underneath the crossbar has no special meaning.

Rugby ball:

• An official rugby union ball has a length in-line of 280–300 millimetres, a circumference (end to end) of 740–770 millimetres, and a circumference (in width) of 580–620 millimetres.
• The rugby ball may not weigh more than 460 grams or less than 410.
• Air pressure should be of 65.71–68.75 kilopascals

Other Equipments:

• The most basic items of equipment for a game of rugby are the ball itself, a rugby shirt (also known as a "jersey")
• Protective equipment is optional and strictly regulated. The most common items are mouthguards, which are worn by almost all players, and are compulsory in some rugby-playing nations.
• Other protective items that are permitted include a scrum cap;
• Non-rigid shoulder pads,
• Shin guards; which are worn underneath socks

Mode of Play

• The ball is kicked to start the game.
• Then carry, throw, kick or give the ball, usually but not necessarily to other players in your team.
• When you are the ball carrier you may carry the ball in any direction.
• Any player may pass, throw or give the ball to any another player but only if the ball does not travel forward of your position on the field.

Scoring Pattern

• A try, scored by grounding the ball in the in-goal area, is worth 5 points
• A subsequent conversion kick scores 2 points;
• A successful penalty kick or a drop goal each score 3 points.

Basic Rules and regulations:

• Players are divided into backs and forwards.
• There are eight forwards whose job is to gain possession of the ball and get it to the backs.
• The Backs will develop a running play and work together to score tries (goals).
• The backs are more mobile, but the positions are very interchangeable.
• A Field Goal can be scored at any time during general play by drop-kicking the ball over the cross-bar.
• A Goal is scored from either a conversion after a try or from the spot where the referee has awarded a penalty.
• A Try is scored when a player grounds the ball in his opponents in-goal. After scoring a try, a player from that team will attempt a conversion.
• A Conversion is a kick from a spot on the field that is in-line with where the try was just scored.
• The game is played over two 40 minute halves
• The team that has scored the most number of points at the end of play is the winner. 

Types of penalty:

• A game played by two teams, 13 to 15 players on each side,
• Each team try to score as many points as possible by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding an oval shaped ball.
• The object of the game is to gain possession of the ball and take it to the opposition territory to place it in the in-goal area.
• During the match, players may be replaced (for injury) or substituted (for tactical reasons).
• Up to 7 substitutes are allowed.
• Rugby union is played between two teams, each of which starts the match with 15 players on the field.
• Players in a team are divided into eight forwards (two more than in rugby league) and seven backs.

Dimensions of the field

Outside Dimensions

• Length including the Dead Ball Line should not exceed from 14 metres and width should not be greater than 70 metres.
• 10 Meter Line
• It is marked 10 meters from the halfway line on either side. The 10 meter line marks the distance that a kick off must go before the opposing team may gain possession of the ball.
• 22 Meter Line
• The 22 meter line is measured from the goal line (or tries line). This is the line marks the spot play is restarted.
• Rugby goalposts are H-shaped, and consist of two poles, 5.6m apart, connected by a horizontal crossbar 3m above the ground.
• Unlike some other sports there are no goalkeepers, and the section underneath the crossbar has no special meaning.

Rugby ball:

• An official rugby union ball has a length in-line of 280–300 millimetres, a circumference (end to end) of 740–770 millimetres, and a circumference (in width) of 580–620 millimetres.
• The rugby ball may not weigh more than 460 grams or less than 410.
• Air pressure should be of 65.71–68.75 kilopascals

Other Equipments:

• The most basic items of equipment for a game of rugby are the ball itself, a rugby shirt (also known as a "jersey")
• Protective equipment is optional and strictly regulated. The most common items are mouthguards, which are worn by almost all players, and are compulsory in some rugby-playing nations.
• Other protective items that are permitted include a scrum cap;
• Non-rigid shoulder pads,
• Shin guards; which are worn underneath socks

Mode of Play

• The ball is kicked to start the game.
• Then carry, throw, kick or give the ball, usually but not necessarily to other players in your team.
• When you are the ball carrier you may carry the ball in any direction.
• Any player may pass, throw or give the ball to any another player but only if the ball does not travel forward of your position on the field.

Scoring Pattern

• A try, scored by grounding the ball in the in-goal area, is worth 5 points
• A subsequent conversion kick scores 2 points;
• A successful penalty kick or a drop goal each score 3 points.

Basic Rules and regulations:

• Players are divided into backs and forwards.
• There are eight forwards whose job is to gain possession of the ball and get it to the backs.
• The Backs will develop a running play and work together to score tries (goals).
• The backs are more mobile, but the positions are very interchangeable.
• A Field Goal can be scored at any time during general play by drop-kicking the ball over the cross-bar.
• A Goal is scored from either a conversion after a try or from the spot where the referee has awarded a penalty.
• A Try is scored when a player grounds the ball in his opponents in-goal. After scoring a try, a player from that team will attempt a conversion.
• A Conversion is a kick from a spot on the field that is in-line with where the try was just scored.
• The game is played over two 40 minute halves
• The team that has scored the most number of points at the end of play is the winner.

Types of penalty:

• A tap kick, when the ball is kicked a very short distance from hand, allowing the kicker to re gather the ball and run with it;
• A punt, when the ball is kicked a long distance from hand, for field position;
• A place-kick, when the kicker will attempt to score a goal;
• A scrum mean  Players may be sent off (signalled by a red card) or temporarily suspended for ten minutes (yellow card) for foul play or repeated infringements, and may not be replaced.

Common offences:-

• Obstructing opponents
• Punching, trampling, kicking or tripping players
• Tackling too early, too late, above the shoulders
• Tackling a player when they are in the air
• Doing anything which is unfair or dangerous.

Match officials:-

• A referee, and
• Two assistant referees

Major international competitions/ tournaments:

• The most important tournament in rugby union is the Rugby World Cup, a men''s tournament that takes place every four years among the elite national rugby union teams.
• Other major international competitions are the Six Nations Championship (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) and
• The Tri Nations Series-(Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.)

Variants/ types:

• Rugby sevens:  In rugby sevens, there are only 7 players per side, and each half is normally 7 minutes
• Touch rugby: in which "tackles" are made by simply touching the ball carrier with two hands.
• Tag Rugby: in which the participants wear a belt with two Velcro tags, the removal of either counting as a ''tackle''.
• Rugby tens: a Malaysian variant with ten players per side.
• Beach rugby is a sport that can be based on either of the rugby football codes, league or union.

Governing bodies:

• The international governing body of rugby union (and associated games such as sevens) is the International Rugby Board (IRB).
• Six continental associations, which are members of the IRB, form the next level of administration; these are:
• Confederation of African Rugby (CAR)
• Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU)
• North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA)
• Federation Internationale de Rugby Amateur – Association Europeenne de Rugby (FIRA-AER)
• Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU)
• Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby (South American Rugby Confederation) (CONSUR)