The Difference Between Rugby Union and Rugby League

The Difference Between Rugby Union and Rugby League

Rugby Union, also known as a rugby-ball, is an extremely close contact team sport originating in England in the early half of the twentieth century. One of two rugby codes in the world, it relies upon simultaneous running with the ball at hand. It has similarities to soccer but with a few key differences; for instance, both require a holding penalty for being substituted during the game. Although it isn’t very common, some international teams have been known to incorporate rugby into their training sessions.

To play rugby union, the sport requires players to wear specialized equipment including protective gear such as scrum caps. These caps help to protect the head and face from injury during tackles, while also helping the players grip the ball better. The four corners of the scrum area are known as the “dotted line” or “five finger lines”. A foul is incurred if any player crosses the dotted line when touching the ball, regardless of whether they hold the ball or not. Holding the scrum can be penalized with a yellow card, while kicking the scrum can result in a red.

Another important difference between rugby league and rugby union is that in the latter, there are no rules that restrict players from carrying the ball over the backs. As well, players may try to “pin” an opponent during a tackle, which is illegal. Finally, rugby union players are allowed to use their feet to guide the ball into their own goal, although this can be considered dangerous because the ball’s movement is not completely controlled by the player. With these differences in comparison to other contact sports, it should be fairly easy to see why rugby union is a more complicated and challenging game than its simpler counterpart.