Rugby football

:This article discusses rugby football generally, for specific varieties see Rugby union, Rugby sevens or Rugby league.

Related Topics:
Rugby union - Rugby sevens - Rugby league

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rugby football refers to sports descendent from a common form of football developed at Rugby school. The two major sports are rugby league and rugby union.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rugby league is played both as a professional and amateur sport in some regions of Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. It is regarded as the national sport of Papua New Guinea. Semi-professional and amateur rugby league tournaments take place in France, Russia and some Pacific Island nations. (For further information see: list of international rugby league teams.)

Related Topics:
Rugby league - Great Britain - Australia - New Zealand - National sport - Papua New Guinea - France - Russia - Pacific - List of international rugby league teams

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ten "major" unions dominate rugby union: Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. Rugby union is a major sport played nationwide in each of these countries and is the national sport in New Zealand and Wales.

Related Topics:
Rugby union - Argentina - Australia - England - France - Ireland - Italy - New Zealand - Scotland - South Africa - Wales - National sport

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Numerous "minor" unions include Canada, Fiji, Georgia, Japan, Namibia, Romania, Samoa, Spain, Tonga, USA and Uruguay. (For further details see: list of international rugby union teams.) Rugby Union ranks as the national sport of Wales, of New Zealand, and of Pacific countries such as Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa.

Related Topics:
Canada - Fiji - Georgia - Japan - Namibia - Romania - Samoa - Spain - Tonga - USA - Uruguay - List of international rugby union teams - Pacific

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An old saying goes "football (soccer) is a gentleman's game played by ruffians, and rugby is a ruffian's game played by gentlemen." In most rugby-playing countries, rugby union is widely regarded as an establishment sport: most private schools and grammar schools play rugby union. By contrast, rugby league has traditionally the reputation of a working class pursuit.

Related Topics:
Football (soccer) - Private school - Grammar school - Working class

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Because of the nature of the games (almost unlimited body contact with little or no padding), the rugby world frowns on unsporting behaviour, since even a slight infringement of the rules may lead to serious injury or even death. Because of this, governing bodies enforce the rules strictly.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~