A Brief Introduction to Rugby

by Adam Greene

Introduction

A popular sport in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, rugby is often incorrectly thought of as American football without pads. Although both sports feature individuals engaged in a running game carrying balls of a comparable shape and size, the differences between the two games outweigh the similarities.

Each rugby team consists of 15 people. Eight of them serve as the forwards, whose primary duty is to acquire the ball from the opposing side, and seven function as the backs, who generally score points.

Rugby

The game also contains a unique lexicon that features words such as maul, meaning a situation when two or more players surround the ball carrier, and ruck, referring to contact that occurs to regain the ball when it hits the ground.

Another interesting feature of international professional rugby involves the haka. This symbolic war dance based on a Maori tradition generally begins New Zealand matches.

About the Author

At Greene & Company, LLP, in Melville, New York, Adam Greene offers financial services ranging from payroll and auditing to retirement planning and insurance consulting. While earning his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting at Hofstra University, Greene performed as Captain of the school's rugby team.