Rugby League

General Information
Originated	1895, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England
World Governing Body	Rugby League International Federation
International Rugby League
Test Nations	Australia · Cook Islands · England · Fiji · France · Great Britain · New Zealand · Papua New Guinea · Russia · Samoa · South Africa · Tonga
Major Competitions	The World Cup The Tri-Nations World Club Challenge The Ashes ANZAC Test Challenge Cup
Domestic Rugby League
Major Competitions	National Rugby League (Australasia) Super League (Europe) State of Origin (Australia) French Rugby League Championship (France) Bartercard Cup (New Zealand) ) American National Rugby League (USA)

Rugby league football is a full-contact team sport played with a prolate spheroid-shaped ball by two teams of thirteen on a rectangular grass field. Huddersfield ( is a large Market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, 190 miles (306km north Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Rugby League International Federation ( RLIF) -formerly International Rugby League Board - is the international governing body of Rugby league The Cook Islands national Rugby league team has been participating in international competition since 1988. The England national rugby league team represent England in international Rugby league football tournaments The Fiji national Rugby league team (nicknamed the Bati) has been participating in international competition since 1992. The France national rugby league team represent France in international Rugby league tournaments Great Britain was traditionally one of the major national teams playing Rugby league. The New Zealand national rugby league side represents New Zealand in the sport of Rugby league. Rugby league in Papua New Guinea is regarded as the country’s national sport The Russia national rugby league team (also known as The Bears) represent Russia in international rugby league tournaments and other rugby league fixtures The Samoa rugby league team has been participating in international Rugby league competition since 1988 The South Africa national rugby league team are a growing force in Rugby League South Africa competes sporadically against other international nations because of their location and their The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side representing Tonga in Rugby league. The Rugby League World Cup is an international competition contested by the men's national rugby league teams of the member nations of the Rugby League International The Rugby League Tri-Nations (also known as the Gillette Tri-Nations for sponsorship reasons is a Rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport The World Club Challenge (WCC (also referred to as the Carnegie World Club Challenge (CWCC for sponsorship purposes is an annual Rugby league match held between The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of Rugby league test series between Great Britain and Australia. The ANZAC Test (also known as the Bundaberg Rum Test for sponsorship reasons is a Rugby League Test match played annually between The Challenge Cup (as of 2008 known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons is a knockout cup competition for Rugby league clubs across Europe State of Origin is an annual best-of-three series of Rugby league matches between the Maroons, representing the state of Queensland, and the Blues The French rugby league championship ( Le Championnat de France de Rugby à XIII) has been the major Rugby league tournament for semi-professional and professional The Bartercard Cup (successor of the Lion Red Cup) was the top level Rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007 The American National Rugby League (sometimes referred to as the AMNRL) is the major Rugby league tournament for semi-professional clubs in the United States Many Sports involve a degree of player-to-player and/or player-to-object contact Team sport refers to Sports that are practiced between opposing teams where the players interact directly and simultaneously between them to achieve an objective Equation A spheroid centered at the origin and rotated about the z axis is defined by the implicit equation \left(\frac{x}{a}\right^2+\left(\frac{y}{a}\right^2+\left(\frac{z}{b}\right^2 Rugby league is one of the two major codes of rugby football, the other being rugby union. Rugby football (usually just " rugby " may refer to a number of sports through history descended from a common form of Football developed at Rugby School Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short The league code is most prominent in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and France, where the sport is played professionally. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Rugby league is one of the most popular Team Sports in Australia Rugby league in New Zealand is a Team sport played in New Zealand Rugby league has been played in France since the 1930s As with Rugby union, the heartland of the game is the Rugby league is also popular in Papua New Guinea where it is considered the national sport and many national players figure prominently in the Australian Rugby League. Rugby league is a popular Team Sport in Papua New Guinea, and indeed is generally regarded as the National sport. A national sport is a Sport or Game that is considered to be a intrinsic part of the culture of a Nation. The game is played to a lesser extent in several other countries, such as Russia, the United States and Lebanon. Rugby league is a minor Team Sport in Russia. The Russian Rugby League Federation (RRLF is the governing body of rugby league in Rugby league is a participation and spectator sport played in the United States of America. Rugby league is a Team Sport that has been played in Lebanon since 2002.

Rugby league takes its name from what was initially a breakaway faction of the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) known as the Northern Rugby Football Union when established in 1895. The Rugby Football Union (RFU is the Rugby union governing body in England History See also History of rugby league On 27 August 1895 as a result of an emergency meeting in Manchester prominent Lancashire clubs Broughton Rangers Both unions played rugby football under the same rules at first, until similar breakaway factions occurred from RFU-affiliated rugby unions in Australia and New Zealand in 1907 and 1908, and formed associations known as rugby football leagues, introducing modified Northern Union rules to create a new form of rugby football. Rugby football (usually just " rugby " may refer to a number of sports through history descended from a common form of Football developed at Rugby School For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Northern Union later changed its name to the Rugby Football League in 1922 and thus, over time the sport itself became known as "rugby league". History See also History of rugby league On 27 August 1895 as a result of an emergency meeting in Manchester prominent Lancashire clubs Broughton Rangers Over the following decades, the rules of both forms of rugby were gradually changed, and now rugby league and rugby union are distinctly different sports. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short

Contents 1 History 2 Players 2.1 Backs 2.2 Forwards 3 Rugby league worldwide 4 Footnotes 5 See also 6 External links

History

Main article: History of rugby league

The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games which bear little resemblance to modern sports. The history of rugby league began with a schism of 1895 in Rugby football. Football is the word given to a number of similar Team sports all of which involve (to varying degrees kicking a Ball with the foot in an attempt to score a It is then important to acknowledge the development of the modern football codes and two separate schisms in football history. Football is the word given to a number of similar Team sports all of which involve (to varying degrees kicking a Ball with the foot in an attempt to score a

In 19th century England, football was most prominently played in private schools. Each school had its own rules based on whatever playing field was available to them. The rules could be categorised as either handling or kicking forms of football. The kicking and handling forms were later codified by The Football Association and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) respectively. The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey The Rugby Football Union (RFU is the Rugby union governing body in England Rugby football, as is was widely known, had its main origins at Rugby School, Warwickshire, England. Rugby School, located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, is a Co-educational Boarding school and one of the oldest public schools Geography Warwickshire is bounded to the northwest by the West Midlands Metropolitan county and Staffordshire, by Leicestershire to England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

In 1895 rugby football was beset with a schism that resulted in the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU). The history of rugby league began with a schism of 1895 in Rugby football. History See also History of rugby league On 27 August 1895 as a result of an emergency meeting in Manchester prominent Lancashire clubs Broughton Rangers Although many factors played a part in the split, including the success of working class northern teams, the main division was caused by the RFU decision to enforce the amateur principle of the sport, preventing 'broken time payments' to players who had taken time off work to play rugby. Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types Northern teams typically had more working class players (coal miners, mill workers etc. Coal mining is the extraction or removal of Coal from the Earth by Mining. ) who could not afford to play without this compensation, in contrast to southern teams who had other sources of income to sustain the amateur principle. There were similar movements in other countries. In 1895 a decree by the RFU banning the playing of rugby at grounds where entrance fees were charged led to the famous meeting on 29 August 1895. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Twenty-two clubs (plus Stockport who negotiated by telephone) met at The George Hotel in Huddersfield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and formed the "Northern Rugby Football Union". Huddersfield ( is a large Market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, 190 miles (306km north The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. There should have been another two persons present, representing the Morley Rugby Football Club, but as travel in those days could only be done by train, and was considered a long journey, the two representatives decided to fortify themselves in readiness for their arduous trip. This they did by calling at several hostelries on route to the station, meaning that they missed their train. This is why the Morley club - despite being based in the Rugby League heartland of South Leeds - still play the 15-man game. Within fifteen years of that first meeting in Huddersfield, more than 200 RFU clubs had left to join the rugby revolution.

Players

Main article: Rugby league positions

Players on field are divided into forwards and backs. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench Each position has a designated number, 1 to 13. Numbers 14 to 17 are given to players starting on the bench, who will come into the game as substitutes for other players who are injured, in need of a rest, or less suited to the coach's strategy for that particular phase of the game. Typically the bench is comprised of three forward substitutes and a hooker/halves substitute. Each side is allowed 10 substitutions per game. (For 2008, in the National Rugby League, each side may use up to 10 substitutions. ^[1])

Backs

The backs are generally smaller, faster and more agile than their forward counterparts. They are often the most creative and evasive players on the field, preferring fine kicking, passing or maneuvering skills, tactics and/or set plays to break the defensive line instead of brute force.

• The title of fullback (numbered 1) comes from the fullback's defensive position where the player drops out of the defensive line to cover the rear from kicks and runners breaking the line. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench They therefore usually are good ball catchers and clinical tacklers. In attack the fullback will typically make runs into the attack or support a runner in anticipation of a pass out of the tackle. Fullbacks can play a role in attack similar to a halfback or 5/8th and the fact that the fullback does not have to defend in the first defensive line means that a coach can keep a playmaker from the tackling responsibilities of the first line whilst allowing them to retain their attacking role.
• The wings or 'wing three quarters' (numbered 2 and 5) are normally the fastest players in a team and play on the far left and right fringes of the field (the wings). A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench Their main task is to receive passes and score tries. The wingers also drop back on the last tackle to cover the left and right sides of the field for kicks while the fullback covers the middle.
• The centres or 'centre three-quarters' (numbered 3 and 4) are positioned one in from the wings and together complete what is known as the three-quarter line. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench Usually the best mixture of power and vision, their main role is to try and create attacking opportunities for their team and defend those of the opposition. Along with the wingers, the centres score plenty of tries throughout a season.
• The Halves:

Usually, the stand-off and scrum-half, are a team's creative-unit or 'playmakers'. During the interactions between a team's 'key' players (stand-off-half, scrum-half, full-back, loose forward, and hooker), the stand-off and scrum-half will usually be involved in most passing moves.

• • The stand-off or 'pivot' or '5/8th' (numbered 6):

There is not much difference between the stand-off and the scrum-half, in that --- both players may operate infront of the pack during 'forwards-play' (one on each side of the ruck as optional first-receivers ; or both on same side of the ruck as first-receiver[7] and second-receiver[6]) --- and both players may operate infront of the backs during 'backs-play' (one on each side of the ruck as optional pivots to more easily supply two lines ; or both on same side of the ruck as pivot[6] and second-man[7]). A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench The stand-off-half position is named with regard to the role / location of the player in respect to the scrum scrum. Scrum (an abbreviated form of scrummage, which is now rarely used in the sports of Rugby union and Rugby league, is a way of restarting the game either To understand the stand-off-half position, or any other playing position --- see Rugby league positions. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench

• • The scrum-half or 'half-back' (numbered 7):

There is not much difference between the scrum-half and stand-off-half, in that --- both players may operate infront of the pack during 'forwards-play' (one on each side of the ruck as optional first-receivers ; or both on same side of the ruck as first-receiver[7] and second-receiver[6]) --- and both players may operate infront of the backs during 'backs-play' (one on each side of the ruck as optional pivots to more easily supply two lines ; or both on same side of the ruck as pivot[6] and second-man[7]). A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench The scrum-half position is named with regard to the role / location of the player in respect to the scrum scrum. Scrum (an abbreviated form of scrummage, which is now rarely used in the sports of Rugby union and Rugby league, is a way of restarting the game either To understand the scrum-half position, or any other playing position --- see Rugby league positions. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench

Forwards

The forwards' two responsibilities can be broken into 'normal play' and 'scrum play'. For information on a forward's role in the scrum see rugby league scrummage. Scrum (an abbreviated form of scrummage, which is now rarely used in the sports of Rugby union and Rugby league, is a way of restarting the game either Forward positions are traditionally named after the player's position in the scrum yet are equal with respect to 'normal play' with the exception of the hooker. Scrum (an abbreviated form of scrummage, which is now rarely used in the sports of Rugby union and Rugby league, is a way of restarting the game either Forward positions are traditionally broken into:

• Front row forwards:
  • The props (numbered 8 and 10) are normally the largest players on field (they typically weigh over 15 stones (100 kg) in the open age/senior game). A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench They are positioned in the centre of the line. The prop will be an 'enforcer', dissuading the opposition from attacking the centre of the defensive line and in attack give the team momentum by taking the ball up to the defence aggressively.
  • The hooker (numbered 9) is most likely to play the role of dummy-half. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench In defence the hooker usually defends in the middle of the line against the opposition's props and second-rowers. The hooker will be responsible for organising the defence in the middle of the field. In attack as dummy-half this player is responsible for starting the play from every play-the-ball by either passing the ball to the right player, or, at opportune moments, running from dummy-half. It is vital that the hooker can pass very well. Traditionally, hookers 'hooked' the ball in the scrum. Hookers also make probably more tackles than any other player on the field. The hooker is always involved in the play and needs to be very fit. He needs to have a very good knowledge of the game and the players around him.
• The second row forwards (numbered 11 and 12) The modern day second row is very similar to a centre and is expected to be faster, more mobile and have more skills than the prop and will play amongst the three-quarters, providing strength in attack and defence when the ball is passed out to the wings. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench Good second-rowers combine the skills and responsibilities of props and centres in the course of the game.
• The loose forward or the lock (numbered 13) is the only forward in the third (last) row of the scrum. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench They are usually one of the fittest players on the field, covering the entire field on both attacking and defending duties. Typically they are big ball-runners who can occasionally slot in as a passing link or kick option; it is not uncommon for loose forwards to have the skills of a five eighth and to play a similar role in the team.  :)

Rugby league worldwide

Rugby league is played in more than 30 countries, though it is most commonly played in the United Kingdom (predominantly northern England), Australia and New Zealand. Northern England, The North, The North of England or (less commonly The North Country refers to the parts of England north of an ill-defined line Australia, where it is a winter sport, is generally thought to be the strongest of the three. Rugby league is most popular in England, Australia, New Zealand, and France and it is recognised as the national sport in Papua New Guinea. Rugby league is a popular team sport played in England The sport receives funding from Sport England as an 'English priority' sport Rugby league is one of the most popular Team Sports in Australia Rugby league in New Zealand is a Team sport played in New Zealand Rugby league has been played in France since the 1930s As with Rugby union, the heartland of the game is the Rugby league is a popular Team Sport in Papua New Guinea, and indeed is generally regarded as the National sport.

Australia has won every world cup since 1975. Until November 25, 2005, they had also not lost an international tournament or series of any kind for twenty seven years until they lost to New Zealand in the final of the 2005 Tri-Nations Series at Elland Road in Leeds. Events 1034 - Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots dies Donnchad, the Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The majority of the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations was played in Great Britain and Australasia. Elland Road is an all-seater football Stadium situated in the Beeston area of the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, Leeds ( is located on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, England

In the United Kingdom, rugby league has traditionally struggled to become accepted outside of the "heartland" counties of northern England where the game originated (Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumberland). Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea Cumberland is one of the 39 Historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 (excluding Carlisle from 1915 and now forms part of

The game is also attempting expansion in Europe. Despite having had many strong teams historically, rugby à treize in France has struggled to compete with rugby union since the Vichy government banned the sport and seized some assets during World War Two. Rugby league has been played in France since the 1930s As with Rugby union, the heartland of the game is the However, French rugby league remained reasonably strong after the war, and the French team reached the final of the 1954 and 1968 Rugby League World Cups. In 2006, the Super League admitted the Catalans Dragons, who on July 29, 2007, made it to the Challenge Cup final, being the first non-English team to do so. The Catalans Dragons (sometimes referred to as Les Catalans or the Dragons) are a professional Rugby league Club based in Perpignan Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Challenge Cup (as of 2008 known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons is a knockout cup competition for Rugby league clubs across Europe

Early 21st century developments have seen Georgia, the Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, Malta, Serbia, Argentina, Jamaica, and others take part in international rugby league tournaments or matches. Rugby league is a Team Sport, originating in England, formerly played in Georgia. Formed in 2003 the NNRLB are developing and promoting the game of Rugby league in The Netherlands. History Rugby league was formally introduced into Germany in August 2004 with the formation of Rugby Rugby league is a popular Team Sport emerging in Estonia. The National Team Rugby league is a popular Team Sport emerging in Malta. The Maltese Rugby League Association is designed to help develop a platform for taking the Rugby league is a Team sport that is played in Serbia, which now has over 250 registered players nationwide approximately 150 of which are juniors For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Rugby league is a minority sport in the AmericasIt has been played at an organized amateur level in North America since it was first introduced as a competition sport in the It should be noted that in some of these nations, such as Georgia, Argentina, and the Netherlands, competed internationally for a period, but do not currently.

Footnotes

See also

• List of rugby league terms
• Comparison of rugby league and rugby union
• List of official rugby league organisations
• List of international rugby league teams
• List of footballers (rugby league)
• History of rugby league
• Playing rugby league
• Rugby League World Cup
• Rugby League Tri-Nations
• Super League (Europe)
• Challenge Cup
• National Rugby League
• Rugby league nines
• Rugby football
• Rugby League State of Origin
• Touch football - almost non-contact version of rugby league
• Tag Rugby (OzTag) - a completely non-contact version of rugby league

External links

• The first place for rugby league news and views
• Official site of premier Australasian league - National Rugby League
• Official site of premier European league - Super League
• FOXSPORTS.com.au | Rugby League
• The World of Rugby League
• Rugby League at rlef.eu.com
• The Greatest Era of the Greatest Game of all
• Rugby Football League
• National League website
• Rugby League Fans Forums and Portal
• Rugby League World Cup
• The Sun | Rugby League news

Rugby league is a team sport played between two teams of thirteen players A comparison of Rugby league and Rugby union is possible because of the games' similarities and shared origins This is a list of external links to organisations responsible for the governing of the sport or the governing of a competition of Rugby league. This is a list of the men's national Rugby league teams in the world List of some notable Rugby league footballers based upon where they were born The history of rugby league began with a schism of 1895 in Rugby football. Rugby league players all need to be particularly physically fit and tough because of the game's fast pace and the expansive size of the playing-field as well as the inherently The Rugby League World Cup is an international competition contested by the men's national rugby league teams of the member nations of the Rugby League International The Rugby League Tri-Nations (also known as the Gillette Tri-Nations for sponsorship reasons is a Rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport The Challenge Cup (as of 2008 known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons is a knockout cup competition for Rugby league clubs across Europe Rugby league nines is a version of Rugby league played with 9 players on each side Rugby football (usually just " rugby " may refer to a number of sports through history descended from a common form of Football developed at Rugby School State of Origin is an annual best-of-three series of Rugby league matches between the Maroons, representing the state of Queensland, and the Blues Touch is a field game also known as Touch Football (particularly in Australia Six Down (in South Africa and Touch Rugby. Tag Rugby is a non-contact team game in which each player wears a belt that has two Velcro tags attached to it or shorts with Velcro patches

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