Questions about the sport of rugby, most prominently recognized as "rugby league" and "rugby union."
5
votes
3answers
117 views
What is the red zone in rugby (or American football) and how did it get that name?
What is the red zone in rugby (or American football) and how did it get the name red zone? I couldn't see anything mentioned about this in the Wikipedia page for both games.
12
votes
3answers
575 views
Why do the balls used in rugby and American football have a similar shape?
Is there any reason for the fact that rugby and American football share this (quite unusual) ball shape?
Do they have common roots? Does the American football ball come from the rugby one ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between australian rules football and rugby?
I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the defining features of Australian Rules Football (AFL) in comparison to rugby, for example differences in scoring and rules.
4
votes
1answer
106 views
What is the largest deficit overcome in a 6 nations match?
Team A is losing by X points.
At the end of the game, either they draw or Team A wins.
Which is the largest X?
6
votes
1answer
66 views
What is the correct turf for metal studs in rugby?
I have a pair of plastic cleats for practice and dirt fields for play. My question is when would I use metal studded cleats?
Only on rainy and muddy fields, or can/should I use them for also dirt ...
11
votes
2answers
266 views
Why is the referee treated so different in soccer and rugby
Recently, in Dutch amateur football, a linesmen died after being attacked by players. This terrible news was directly the reason for the Dutch football association, KNVB, to apply some rules with ...
9
votes
3answers
341 views
Are Hookers the only players allowed to take lineout throws?
When lineouts take place in Rugby Union I have only ever seen Hookers being the player who takes the throw in. Is it in the laws of the game that only a Hooker is allowed to take the throw?
If it is ...
5
votes
1answer
758 views
Why the change of the scrum verbal directions to “Crouch-Touch-Set”?
Since I've watched Rugby in the late 90's, the referee's verbal directions for the scrum have been either:
Crouch-Pause-Engage
or for the last several years:
Crouch-Touch-Pause-Engage
I ...
0
votes
0answers
74 views
Why is there such a disparity between New Zealand's relative strength at Rugby Union and Cricket [closed]
New Zealand has dominated world rugby for a number of years, but their cricket is not nearly as strong.
What are the reasons for this?
Is it because of the schooling system, is it historical, is it ...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is American football called football? [closed]
Why is American football called "football" even though the players play with their hands more than their feet? It seems to be very similar to rugby, and doesn't have the name "American Rugby". What ...
5
votes
1answer
135 views
Knock-on vs batting the ball down
I recently saw a game where a player on the defense knocked down a pass. He was given a yellow card and sent to the sin bin. It looked like the referee said the word 'cynical'. Is there a difference ...
4
votes
1answer
101 views
Which factors have been most prominent in the switching of codes amongst professional players?
It is not uncommon for professional sportsmen to switch from one football code to another.
Specifically considering the move from Rugby League to Rugby Union and vice-versa, what have been the most ...
8
votes
2answers
365 views
Why is a chargedown not regarded as a knock on in Rugby Union?
Generally in Rugby Union when a player knocks the ball forward from their hands without making a clean catch, a scrum is called for a knock on. But when a player kicks the ball and the ball is knocked ...
7
votes
1answer
202 views
Under what conditions can a player take a quick throw-in in rugby union?
I've read the rules at irblaws but I'm still confused: over there the most binding condition stated is "A player must not take a quick throw-in after the lineout has formed", but quite often it ...
