Rugby, explained.
Rugby union and rugby league: the set piece, the breakdown, the laws that keep changing, and the competitions that matter.
12 articlesExplainerGuideEconomics
- ExplainerState of Origin explained: three games, two states21 minState of Origin is an annual best-of-three rugby league series between Queensland and New South Wales, with players picked by the state where they began.
- ExplainerRugby scoring system explained: every way to score19 minA try is five points in rugby union and four in rugby league. Here is every scoring play in both codes, what each one is worth, and why the numbers differ.
- GuideRugby Championship explained: four teams, twice each21 minThe Rugby Championship is the southern hemisphere's annual union tournament between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Here is the format.
- ExplainerRugby bonus points explained: four tries and seven points21 minA rugby bonus point is one extra league point for scoring four tries in a match, or for losing by seven or fewer. Here is how both are earned.
- ExplainerTMO rugby explained: how the video referee makes a call18 minWhat the TMO in rugby may review, the clear and obvious test, the two-phase limit, how the off-field foul play review works and why it keeps changing.
- GuideSix Nations format explained: five rounds and no knockout20 minThe Six Nations format explained in full: the single round robin, bonus points and the Grand Slam bonus, the tiebreakers in order, and why there is no final.
- ExplainerRugby World Cup format explained: 24 teams, six pools21 minRugby World Cup format explained in full: the six pools of four, the bonus points, the draw that used to be made three years early, and the round of 16.
- ExplainerRugby scrum rules explained: the bind, the feed, the shove22 minRugby scrum rules explained from the mark to the ball leaving: who binds where, why crouch-bind-set replaced the hit, and what a straight feed is worth now.
- ExplainerRugby league vs rugby union: how the two codes diverged18 minRugby league vs rugby union explained properly: the six-tackle set, the play-the-ball, thirteen against fifteen, and what each code does better.
- ExplainerRugby breakdown laws explained: tackle, ruck and jackal21 minThe rugby breakdown laws explained in full: what the tackler must do, the exact moment a ruck forms, how the gate works, and what makes a jackal legal.
- EconomicsNRL salary cap explained: what counts and what does not20 minHow the NRL hard cap works, what counts as a player payment, the third-party agreement rules behind most disputes, how it is audited and what a breach costs.
- ExplainerThe HIA rugby concussion protocol, explained step by step22 minHow rugby's head injury assessment works: the two removal criteria, the twelve-minute test, the two follow-ups, and why the player never gets a vote.
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