In 2009 the World Rugby Member Unions identified Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect as the defining character-building characteristics of Rugby. These are now collectively known as the World Rugby values and are incorporated within the World Rugby Playing Charter, a guiding document aimed at preserving Rugby’s unique character and ethos both on and off the field of play.  

The core values enable participants immediately to understand the character of the Games and what makes it distinctive as a sport which is played by people of all shapes and sizes.

RUGBY SEVENS

Rugby Sevens is now an Olympic sport which will be played at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo. ‘Sevens’ is played increasingly at the grass roots level, but at the elite end of the game are the (men’s) HSBC Sevens World Series and (women’s) World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series for national teams, both of which are staged in multiple countries around the world, like a grand prix format. Both are also direct qualifying tournaments for the 2016 Olympic Games, with the top four-ranked nations in 2014/15 booking their place in Rio.

Because Sevens is played on a full-sized rugby pitch but with less than half the normal number of players (seven against seven, instead of 15 against 15), there is a large amount of space to run in. This makes it a very fast and exciting variation of the game demanding huge levels of fitness.

RUGBY 10 a side

10-a-side Rugby is also played and is usually called ‘tens’. Like in Sevens, there is more space available than in 15-a-side rugby, but there are two extra forwards and one added back. The game uses the same Laws as the 15-a-side Game but with some slight variations:

RUGBY 12 a side

In 12-a-side rugby a ‘number 8’ (hindmost player in the scrum) and a full-back are further added as another step in the progression from 7-a-side to 15-a-side. This variation can be useful to a coach who has a squad of 16 or 17 players. With a number 8, the players can be introduced to the idea of having a back row player to provide, for the first time, a link between the forwards and backs.

RUGBY 15 a side

In the traditional form of the game, players are introduced to the full game of Rugby, the core of the sport. Now they can enjoy all the intricacies of the game and try out different positions in the team. Depending on factors such as age and experience, a player may play in several positions before they settle in one that suits best, and coaches should be prepared to allow this. Hopefully, other clubs nearby will be able to offer fixtures and the steps outlined below offer advice about how to arrange a league.