Many people do not know this – but, Youth Rugby in Connecticut is one of the fastest growing sports. We are the Shoreline Spartans Youth Rugby Program and we are based on the shoreline. We offer flag rugby (U6, U8, U10), U2 and U14 Tackle, and High School Men’s and Women’s Programs. If you are not familiar with rugby then let me give you an overview.
HISTORY
In 1823, William Webb Ellis used his hands to pick up a ball in a soccer match and ran with it to the goal. That day, rugby was born. There are two primary forms of rugby union: rugby fifteens and rugby sevens (some of you may have seen rugby sevens played in the Olympics). Touch rugby and beach rugby are also iterations of the sport often used as a development pathway and feeder into the main forms.
SAFER WITHOUT PADS
Though rugby players don’t wear pads or helmets, the techniques and rules of the sport make impact much safer. Rugby players are taught to use their arms and shoulders when making contact with opponents and there are serious repercussions for any contact above the shoulders and other dangerous styles of play.
ABOUT RUGBY 15S
Fifteens is played with 15 players on each side of the ball who compete for 80-minutes (two 40 minute halves) in individual matches through the year. Rugby fifteens was an Olympic sport in the early 1900s where the U.S. men won gold medals in 1920 and 1924. The Rugby World Cup is now the main pinnacle event of the sport — taking place every four years — and also serves as the third-largest single-sporting event in the world.
RULES OF RUGBY 15s
Two teams of 15 players have 80 minutes to advance the ball past their opponents’ side of the field (pitch) and touch it to the ground for a score worth 5 points (try). Participants may only pass the ball backwards or sideways with no blocking allowed; using a variety of phases such as lineouts, mauls, rucks and scrums to retain possession during play. Rugby is unique in that play is continuous even after players are tackled on the field.
Kicking is the only method by which both teams may move the ball forward. After each try, worth 5 points, the scoring team is allowed an opportunity to kick the ball through the posts for an additional 2 points (conversion). Certain penalties also earn the non-offending team a kick through the posts, worth 3 points (penalty) if made. At the conclusion of the match, the team with the most points wins.
ABOUT RUGBY SEVENS
Rugby sevens is a current Olympic sport, making its first appearance in the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Sevens is played with 7 players on each side of the ball who compete for 14-minutes (two 7-minute halves) in tournaments with up to three matches per competition day. The first day typically consists of pool rounds after which a team’s performance qualifies them for the Championship track or Challenge track. The Championship track typically awards the top finishes of the tournament including first, second and third place. The Challenge track consists of consolation rounds. Teams for either track must continue to play through the tournament to earn their final placing.
RULES OF RUGBY SEVENS
A fast, high-scoring version of traditional rugby, sevens is played with two teams of 7 players who have 14 minutes to advance the ball into their opponent’s area of the field (pitch) and touch it to the ground for a score worth 5 points (try). As in the 15-a-side version of the sport, participants may only pass the ball backwards or sideways with no blocking allowed; using phases such as lineouts, mauls, rucks and scrums to retain possession during play.
Kicking is the only method by which both teams may move the ball forward. Like rugby fifteens, play also continues in rugby sevens. After each try, worth 5 points, the scoring team is given an opportunity to kick the ball through the posts for an additional 2 points (conversion). Certain penalties also earn the non-offending team a kick through the posts, worth 3 points (penalty goal) if made. However, penalty goals are rarely seen in sevens. At the end of regulation, the team with the most points wins. If both teams are tied in a knockout round, a 5-minute overtime period will be played, where the first team to score wins.
The Shoreline Spartans Youth Rugby Club would love the opportunity to teach you more about the sport. We offer Rugby in the Spring, Summer, and Fall with practices during the week and games on the weekend. Feel free to contact us today at 203-687-9717
Youth Rugby in Connecticut is Growing – and we would love to have you involved!
