Category: Video Explanation

How to videos

While I have talked about how rugby works in previous posts, these videos will help further understand the game.  Some of these are the videos I was shown when I first started playing rugby.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiCiehJAFSg

The video above goes over what rugby is, who are on the teams, and stuff like that in an entertaining British accent.

This is a good video to show to someone before they go watch their first game as it gives a gist of what is about to happen within a few short minutes if you do not have a lot of time to sit down and explain the game to them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiCiehJAFSg

This next video elaborates more on tackling.  Focus on the hips, because they don’t lie!  You will be able to tell where the ball carrier is going to go based on where their hips are pointing and you will be able to take down even the slipperiest runner.

7’s Rugby

There are many differences between full 15’s rugby and 7’s, so I’m only going to go over the general gist of how the two differ.

In 7’s, there are teams of 7 instead of 15, as the name suggests, as well as having 7 minute halves instead 40 minute halves.  This is mostly because its fewer players dealing with just as much space as full 15’s.  In the game, each team only has two props, a hook, a scrum half, a fly half, an inside center, and an outside center.  All other positions in 15’s are dropped.

Rugby 7’s is what is currently played in the Olympics.

Rugby 7’s is a faster-paced game and is more speed and passing the ball oriented than slowing down the game and crash with the ball oriented.  That, however, doesn’t mean don’t play smart rugby.  Look before passing the ball, tackle low, and ruck.  From my experience playing 7’s, most teams don’t ruck, so this is important in gaining and maintaining possession of the ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBci5AH5N8g

Take note of how quickly the ball is passed.  Rucks have one person in them when they form.  The scrum half passes it out faster than would happen in 15’s.

Getting in a solid, clean pass is still important.  Sloppiness can lead to knock-ons (where the ball is knocked forward during an attempted pass and causes a scrum) and dropped balls.  If a good pass cannot be completed and you don’t have anyone with you, it is OK to go down with the ball.

 

Short Videos

Watching rugby is the second best way to understand it, with the first being playing in a game.  Watching Vines and Instagram videos are good ways to see snippets if you don’t have the time to sit down and watch an 80 minute game.

The vine shown is an example of a high tackle. Take note on how the tackler is grabbing onto the shoulders and the tacklee’s head and neck are going down, which could lead to neck and spinal injuries.

http://https://vine.co/v/5J69jepxjEt

The video bellow is a good example of the back line having fast hands to gain as many yards as possible before getting tackled.  The back line getting steep after a ruck helped them get the ball out quicker.

In this next video, one of the players is able to get by the defense by punting the ball and running up to catch it.  He then is able to make a breakaway and score a try.