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About This Quiz
"Give blood, play rugby!" You've seen the bumper sticker, but how much do you really know about this electrifying contact sport? Find out now with our quiz! (Note: unless otherwise specified, questions are about rugby union).
In which country did rugby originate?
Canada
England
Rugby is named for a school, the Rugby School in Warwickshire. Supposedly, a student there named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball in a game of traditional football and ran with it in his hands, launching a new sport. (Disclaimer: this account cannot actually be confirmed).
Pakistan
New Zealand
In which century was rugby born?
the 17th
the 18th
the 19th
Rugby dates back to the early decades of the 19th century. The first set of written rules dates to the 1840s.
the 20th
How many players are on a rugby union team?
seven
eight
eleven
fifteen
It takes time and effort to fully understand the different positions in rugby and what they do. It's even more confusing because, once a game has started, almost everyone appears to simply be running madly.
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A rugby team is divided into which two categories?
a goalkeeper and everyone else
ball handlers and ball kickers
forwards and backs
A rugby team (called a "side" in UK English) has eight forwards and seven backs. The furthest back is the "full back," while the most forward-positioned forwards are the "front row," aka the "hooker" and the two "props."
lions and lambs
What shape is a rugby ball?
perfectly round
round with divots, like a big golf ball
oval
A rugby ball is oval, and used to vary in size. This is because early rugby balls were made from pig bladders, and the pigs varied in size. (Sorry if you're taking this quiz over breakfast!)
oval with pointed ends, like a U.S. football
What is the traditional/British word for a rugby field?
a rhomboid
a rugger
a pitch
"Pitch" isn't exclusive to rugby. Football is also played on a "pitch."
a venue
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How much ground must the ball gain at kickoff?
ten feet
twenty feet
five yards
ten meters
At kickoff, the ball must travel ten meters to officially start the game. After it lands, either team can gain possession of the ball.
What is the name of the classic formation in which forwards fight for the ball?
the maul
the scrum
In a scrum, each side's forwards get together shoulder to shoulder, leaving a gap for the ball to be thrown in. Forbidden to touch the ball with their hands, the forwards try to kick the ball backward to their own players and/or shove the opposing players away from the ball.
the ruck
the heap
Are tackles allowed in rugby?
no
oh my God, yes
Tackles are the lifeblood of rugby. Unlike in gridiron football, though, they don't stop play. In fact, it's the start of the ball being contested.
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What two things must happen after a player in rugby is tackled?
the referee must signal the tackle as valid, and the ball carrier must let go of the ball
the tackler must let go of the ball carrier, and the ball carrier must let go of the ball
In American football, a tackle means the ball is no longer in play. In rugby, the ball is let go and immediately sought by players from both teams. At this stage, the tackling player has already let go of the player who had the ball.
the tackler must let go of the ball carrier, and a maul must form around both players
the referee must signal the tackle as valid, and the ball carrier must give the ball directly to the tackler
What is it called when a tackled player lets go of the ball, and other players fight for it?
a donnybrook
a race
a ruck
During a ruck, players use their feet to try to gain control of the ball. An invisible line forms where the ball is, called the 'gain line,' and players who go over the gain line are "off side."
there is no name for this
What is it called when a tackle is unsuccessful, and both teams fight for the ball?
a throe
a tussle
a maul
During a maul, the player who wasn't taken down by a tackle, and still has the ball, will try to pass it to his teammates. If this goes on too long, the referee will call for a scrum instead.
a swarm
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Which direction may a player pass in rugby?
backwards
forwards
laterally
both #1 and #3
One of the key rules of rugby is that you can't pass forward. You can kick the ball up the field, at risk of your team losing control of it.
Which of these physical characteristics usually marks a forward?
size
strength
foot speed
both #1 and #2
True, some forwards have great foot speed, and yes, everybody runs in rugby. But it's the backs who are known for their speed, and they score more often than forwards.
What is it called when a player scores a goal by setting the ball, by hand, over a line?
a point
a deuce
a try
This is another thing that separates rugby from U.S. football. The American view is, "Hey, if I've scored, the trying part is over."
it's just called a goal
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How many points is a try worth?
two
three
four
five
A try then gives the side the right to make a kick through the goal posts, called a conversion. This is worth 2 points. So, often, a try results in seven points scored.
What is unusual about jersey numbers in rugby?
they are only odd numbers
they are only even numbers
they are never retired
they indicate the positions of the players
In rugby, your position will correspond to your jersey number. However, it's not true that numbers are never retired -- in rare instances, sides have retired numbers to memorialize a player.
What is the name of the line at the very end of a rugby field/pitch?
the dead ball line
The try line is the one that players must get the ball over to score. But the field ends with the "dead ball line."
the end line
the locker line
the do-not-pass
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How long does a rugby game last?
one hour
80 minutes
Rugby games are a fairly compact one hour and twenty minutes, divided into two 40-minute halves. This might be a relief to fans of American baseball, in which games can easily stretch past the three-hour mark.
two hours
as long as necessary
How long is halftime in rugby?
fifteen minutes
twenty minutes
thirty minutes
about ten minutes
You know how you always hear about rugby union's dazzling halftime shows? Wait, you haven't? This is why.
"Loose-head" and "tight-head" are designations for which positions?
flankers
locks
props
The props are part of the front row, along with the hooker. One of their key responsibilities is using their strength to keep their side's players from moving backward in the scrum.
full backs
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What is a scrum-half?
one team's forwards when they take part in a scrum
the game's second kickoff
a player/position
The scrum-half is the player who sends the ball into the middle of the scrum, for the players to fight over. A scrum half is a link between the forwards and backs, though technically, this position is counted as one of the backs.
a contested ball
In which maneuver would you see a player lifted onto teammates' shoulders?
a line-out
A line-out happens when the ball has been kicked out of bounds (or "into touch," in rugby terms). A line-out resembles a jump ball in basketball, possibly deliberately. The inventor of basketball, James Naismith, played rugby as a youth.
a maul
a ruck
a tackle
Which of these is a key job of the hooker?
receiving deep kicks from the offense
jumping for line-out balls
getting the ball backwards out of the scrum and into the side's possession
The 'hooker' is often the smallest of the three front-row players. In a scrum, she 'hooks' her feet around the ball and moves it backward into her side's possession. At least, that what she tries to do. The scrum itself is moving, and the opposition hooker is also trying to get the ball.
this is not really a position in rugby
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What is the name of the player who wears the number eight?
the picker
the blocker
the sweeper
the Number Eight
The Number Eight is the last of the forwards, and the only one allowed to pick up the ball by hand as it comes out of the scrum. Otherwise, only the backs can do this.
True or false: Does rugby have a World Cup?
true
Rugby's World Cup is every four years. Other important championships include the Tri-Nations and the Six Nations.
false
Which of these countries is NOT part of the Six Nations?
Japan
The Six Nations are England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The 2017 winner of the Six Nations Championship was England. Cheers!
Ireland
Italy
Scotland
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The Six Nations Championship started out as _______.
the Three Nations
the Home Nations
The "Home Nations" were those in the British Isles: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The addition of France made it "Five Nations," and, finally, Italy made six.
a charity match between England and France
a rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge
The "All Blacks" are the legendary team of which nation?
Canada
New Zealand
One funny description of rugby union goes into detail about the positions, rules, and gameplay, ending with "... and then the All Blacks win."
India
Wales
What is considered the "opposite" of rubgy union?
rugby disorganized
rugby league
After its birth in the early 19th century, rugby gradually split into two main varieties: union and league. Rugby league teams have 13 players, not 15.
pickup rugby
flag rugby
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Do women play rugby union?
yes
Proving that the willingness to limp around for three days after a game isn't just a male trait, women have been playing rugby since at least the 1880s. Non-contact versions of rugby, like touch rugby, exist for young children, people who don't want to mess up their looks, and those worried about the cost of ibuprofen.
no, just flag or touch rugby
Which sport is a descendant of rugby?
cricket
gridiron football
Gridiron (American and Canadian) football grew out of rugby. Rugby itself grew out of traditional football (aka soccer). So, in that sense, soccer is the grandfather of gridiron football.
quidditch
American soccer
The variant "rugby sevens" takes its name from what?
the length of each half
the number of players per team
"Rugby sevens" has obvious appeal for casual players -- rounding up thirty people to play on a Saturday afternoon isn't easy! However, it's also a spectator sport, popular in Africa and Asia.
games are played until one team reaches seven points
games are played to seven points total
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Has a North American nation ever won a Rugby World Cup?
yes
as if!
does the Women's World Cup count?
The Southern Hemisphere nations, New Zealand and Australia, have dominated the men's World Cup, though to be fair, it's only been held since 1987. The first Women's was held in 1991, at which the US women's team came away victorious.
You Got:
/35
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