This HTML5 document contains 110 embedded RDF statements represented using HTML+Microdata notation.

The embedded RDF content will be recognized by any processor of HTML5 Microdata.

Subject Item

n35:

n36:

n2:

Subject Item

n89:

n36:

n2:

Subject Item

n111:

n36:

n2:

Subject Item

n82:

n36:

n2:

Subject Item

n55:

n36:

n2:

Subject Item

n2:

rdf:type

n52:

rdfs:label

Rugby union Rugby Union Rugby union

rdfs:comment

Rugby union was an Earth ball sport that originated from England during the 19th century. Played with two teams of fifteen players on the field the objective of the game is to score more points than the opposing team. This can be done through scoring tries (grounding the ball in the "in-goal" area) and kicking penalties or field goals through "H" shaped posts at either end of the field. Rugby union, often referred to simply as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball with dimensions of (– in) in length, circumference over length of (– in) and circumference over width of (– in). It is played on a field up to metres ( ft) long and metres ( ft) wide with H-shaped goal posts on each goal line. Rugby union, often referred to simply as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form a game is between two teams of 15 players using an oval-shaped ball on a field with H-shaped goalposts on each goal line. An adult-level rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes, consisting of two halves of 40 minutes each plus time added on for injury, and is controlled by a single referee, two touch judges, and in most professional matches, a television match official (TMO), commonly called the video referee. The object of the game is that each team of fifteen players score as many points as possible, with the team scoring the greater number of points being the winner of the match. A penalty or drop goal is worth 3 points; a conversion is worth 2 points. Rugby union was created by William Webb Alice in England in 1823. Not content to play by the rules he picked up the soccer ball and started running with it. He was promptly attacked by the opposition and members of his own team. The tougher players decided that this was much more fun than simply kicking a ball around like a whimpy diving crybaby. The sport became so popular that a whole town in England renamed itself after it. However, since most of the players were ignorant brutes no one could decide on or even knew what rules to use. Eventually the stuck up toffs in the South came up with there own rules while the uneducated louts from up North created there own version. The tight-arse southerners originally played the players with kind words and "hurrahs", while the northerners gave the

owl:sameAs

dbr:Rugby_union

dcterms:subject

n26: n31: n37: n38: n40: n45: n58: n66: n67: n68: n77: n84: n90: n95: n100: n103: n106: n107:

foaf:homepage

n9:com

n3:wikiPageUsesTemplate

n4: n12: n18: n21: n28: n29: n30: n44: n50: n53: n56: n57: n61: n62: n71: n73: n75: n83: n85: n86: n94: n99: n101: n102: n105: n109:

n16:wikiPageUsesTemplate

n17: n69: n98:

n14:wikiPageUsesTemplate

n15: n22: n32: n33: n41: n54: n70: n78: n96: n108:

n5:wikiPageUsesTemplate

n6: n34: n42: n43: n63: n64: n74: n88: n91: n97:

n10:wikiPageUsesTemplate

n11:

n46:wikiPageUsesTemplate

n47: n51: n76: n104:

n49:

Team sport, Outdoor

n110:

15

n79:

Separate competitions

n80:

n81:

n93:

Rugby, Rugger, Football,

n87:

Rugby Sevens reinstated 2016 Part of the Summer Olympic programme in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924

n72:

300

n65:

South African Victor Matfield takes a line-out against New Zealand in 2006.

n39:

1845

n48:

18630

n23:

n24:

n13:

"Oh I say old chap, how about we play this game for free." The actual conversation recorded at the time when rugby union broke up with rugby union "Fa Nowt! You're aving a lauf, bugger that,"

n92:

4504188

n59:

n60:

n7:abstract

Rugby union, often referred to simply as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball with dimensions of (– in) in length, circumference over length of (– in) and circumference over width of (– in). It is played on a field up to metres ( ft) long and metres ( ft) wide with H-shaped goal posts on each goal line. William Webb Ellis is often credited with the invention of running with the ball in hand in 1823 at Rugby School when he allegedly caught the ball while playing football and ran towards the opposition goal. However, the evidence for the story is doubtful. In 1845, the first football laws were written by Rugby School pupils; other significant events in the early development of rugby include the Blackheath Club's decision to leave the Football Association in 1863 and the split between rugby union and rugby league in 1895. Historically an amateur sport, in 1995 the International Rugby Board (IRB) removed restrictions on payments to players, making the game openly professional at the highest level for the first time. The IRB has been the governing body for rugby union since its formation in 1886. Rugby union spread from the Home Nations of Great Britain and Ireland, and was absorbed by many of the countries associated with the British Empire. Early exponents of the sport included Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Countries that have adopted rugby union as their de facto national sport include Fiji, Georgia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Wales. Rugby union is played in over 100 countries across six continents and as of 27 November 2012, the IRB has 100 full members and 18 associate members. The Rugby World Cup, first held in 1987, takes place every four years, with the winner of the tournament receiving the Webb Ellis Cup. The Six Nations Championship in Europe and The Rugby Championship in the Southern Hemisphere (the latter replacing the Tri Nations) are major international competitions held annually. Major domestic competitions include the Top 14 in France, the English Premiership in England, the Currie Cup in South Africa, and the ITM Cup in New Zealand. Other transnational competitions include the Pro 12, involving Irish, Italian, Scottish and Welsh teams; and the Heineken Cup, involving the top European teams from their respective domestic competitions. Rugby union was created by William Webb Alice in England in 1823. Not content to play by the rules he picked up the soccer ball and started running with it. He was promptly attacked by the opposition and members of his own team. The tougher players decided that this was much more fun than simply kicking a ball around like a whimpy diving crybaby. The sport became so popular that a whole town in England renamed itself after it. However, since most of the players were ignorant brutes no one could decide on or even knew what rules to use. Eventually the stuck up toffs in the South came up with there own rules while the uneducated louts from up North created there own version. The tight-arse southerners originally played the players with kind words and "hurrahs", while the northerners gave their players a tuppence and a pat on the back. This lead to major conflicts between the two codes, resulting in a messy divorce that is still causing bitterness to this day. Like most sports invented by the English, it soon spread to other countries, and those other countries soon became much better at playing it than the English. Rugby union, the toffs version, spread to nations in the commonwealth (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, India, and Liberia). It was generally adopted by upperclass private school boys. Seeing this as a chance to legally beat up on these twats Samoans, Tongans and Fijians quickly took up the game. The styles of play differ between each nation. The English kick and chase the ball, the South Africans kick and chase the ball, the Australians kick and chase the ball, the Scottish kick and chase the ball, the Librarians kick and chase the ball, the Pacific Islanders don't want the ball - they just hit the opposition whether they have the ball or not. Clapping from supporters follows most of these plays. One of the great strengths of rugby union is that it allows a diversity of body shapes and sizes to play. Are you fat? Then you can play prop. Are you a tall lanky bugger? Then lock is the position for you. Are you small, but fast? Jump into the scrum-half position. Do you have a debilitating disease that causes your foot to be permanently attached to your mouth? Then you can coach South Africa. However, the most important attribute of any player is there ability to give enlightening interviews after the game about "two halves", "full credit to then opposition", "both teams came to play rugby" and to drink copious amounts of beer at the post match functions out of various phallic shaped apparatuses. Following a live fundraising concert in Treorchy Rugby Club in the early 1970s, sufficient funds were raised to find and buy a suitable location that complied with the brief that it be "amongst the trees" and "for the homeless overseas". A location in Dublin was in fact found, where "The Sunshine Home" was built. It became the home of "Irish Referees (Football- Blind)", (then known as the IRFB), but along with the right to much needed free housing came the global responsibility for the game of Rugby Union. The arrangement of using Football Referees as opposed to Rugby Union referees, was considered innovative at the time, but gained wide acceptance particularly in Wales following the 1974 Six Nations tournament. Thanks to the IRFB the laws of rugby union are rather simple. You can not advance to the ball from a kick unless you are behind the person who last kicked it, it has been touched from a kick, or someone who was behind the person who last kicked it has passed you, or if the the person who was supposed to catch the ball has knocked it backwards, or if the the person who was supposed to catch the ball has knocked it forward, or if the person catches the ball and runs five metres forward, or if the person who caught the ball passes it to another person, or if the moon is a quarter moon and the number of people in the crowd wearing a hat is less than those waving a flag of any description (except the Welsh dragon obviously). Rugby union was an Earth ball sport that originated from England during the 19th century. Played with two teams of fifteen players on the field the objective of the game is to score more points than the opposing team. This can be done through scoring tries (grounding the ball in the "in-goal" area) and kicking penalties or field goals through "H" shaped posts at either end of the field. Rugby union, often referred to simply as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form a game is between two teams of 15 players using an oval-shaped ball on a field with H-shaped goalposts on each goal line. William Webb Ellis is often credited with the invention of running with the ball in hand in 1823 at Rugby School when he allegedly caught the ball while playing football and ran towards the opposition goal. However, the evidence for the story is doubtful. In 1845, the first football laws were written by Rugby School pupils; other significant events in the early development of rugby include the Blackheath Club's decision to leave the Football Association in 1863 and the split between rugby union and rugby league in 1895. Historically an amateur sport, in 1995 the International Rugby Board (IRB) removed restrictions on payments to players, making the game openly professional at the highest level for the first time. The IRB has been the governing body for rugby union since its formation in 1886. Rugby union spread from the Home Nations of Great Britain and Ireland, and was absorbed by many of the countries associated with the British Empire. Early exponents of the sport included Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Countries that have adopted rugby union as their de facto national sport include Fiji, Georgia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Wales. Rugby union is played in over 100 countries across six continents and as of 27 November 2012, the IRB has 100 full members and 18 associate members. The Rugby World Cup, first held in 1987, takes place every four years with the winner of the tournament receiving the Webb Ellis Cup. The Six Nations Championship in Europe and The Rugby Championship in the Southern Hemisphere (the latter replacing the Tri Nations) are major international competitions held annually. Major domestic competitions include the English Premiership in England, Top 14 in France, the Currie Cup in South Africa, and the ITM Cup in New Zealand. Other transnational competitions include the Pro 12, involving Irish, Italian, Scottish and Welsh teams; the Heineken Cup, involving the top European teams from their respective domestic competitions; and Super Rugby, involving Australian, New Zealand and South African teams. An adult-level rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes, consisting of two halves of 40 minutes each plus time added on for injury, and is controlled by a single referee, two touch judges, and in most professional matches, a television match official (TMO), commonly called the video referee. The object of the game is that each team of fifteen players score as many points as possible, with the team scoring the greater number of points being the winner of the match. Points may be scored by either a try or a goal. A try is scored when the ball is grounded within the in-goal area; that is worth 5 points. A goal is scored by kicking the ball between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goal posts. There are 3 ways to score a goal: 1. * a drop goal (scored in open play where the ball must hit the ground immediately before it is kicked); 2. * a penalty goal (awarded after the opposing side infringes against the laws of rugby; it may be kicked from a stationary ground position or by drop kick); and 3. * a conversion (awarded after a try is scored) by either a drop kick or a place kick. A penalty or drop goal is worth 3 points; a conversion is worth 2 points. The pitch must be no more than 100 metres in length, not including the in-goal area. The length of the in-goal area can vary but must be at least 10 metres and no more than 22 metres. The width of the pitch may also vary but must be no more than 70 metres. The goal posts are situated at the middle of the goal line with the upright posts placed 5.6 metres apart, and the crossbar is placed 3 m above the ground in an 'H' shape. The overall height of the goal posts must be over 3.4 m. A typical passage of rugby takes the following form: the team in possession of the ball moves the ball up the field in an effort to ground the ball over the opponents' goal line in order score a try until such time as the ball carrier is tackled. They then form a ruck in order to win the ball back. This process repeats until one team makes a mistake that violates the Laws of the game, moves off the field of play or a try or goal is scored. The team in possession may choose to advance by kicking the ball forward. The ball may be passed from one player to another as long as the ball does not travel forwards. Rugby union is one of the few ball games where the ball cannot be passed forwards. Any team mate nearer the opposition goal than the ball carrier is offside and out of the game, and must not interfere with play, meaning that American football-style blocking is forbidden. The team not in possession attempts to stop the ball carrier by tackling them, which consists of grabbing hold of them and bringing them to ground. A tackled player must pass or release the ball, allowing the opposition to contest possession of the loose ball. Play does not stop unless there is an infringement of the laws, or the ball / ball-carrier leaves the field of play. If the ball goes into touch (out of the field of play), the game restarts with a line-out. If the game stops due to an infringement, play restarts with either a scrum, free kick or penalty kick (depending on the severity of the infringement) to the non-infringing team. The attacking team may score by kicking the ball between the posts and above the cross-bar. The ball may only be kicked from the ground: either from a place kick following the award of a penalty or from a drop kick in open play. A successful kick at goal is worth three points. The attacking team may also score by grounding the ball in the in goal area. This is called a "try" and is worth five points. After scoring a try, the attacking team are awarded a free kick at goal, called a conversion, worth two points if successful, from a point directly in line with where the try was scored, and any distance away from the posts along that line. Tries are the main form of scoring, and the primary aim of most teams is to score tries. Drop goals and penalty kicks are usually augmenters, a safer option against a steadfast defense or to punish ill-disciplined opposition. On some (usually rare) occasions, a team may be awarded a penalty try, if their opponents commit a foul which is deemed by the referee to have illegally prevented a try, or if they have persistently stopped play close to the try line through foul play.