Rugby league began in 1895 as the sport of rugby football which will probably know better now as Rugby Union, and Rugby league, although they have different governing bodies and different laws and rules. One of the rules that separated the two bodies was it used to be a life-time ban for playing league if you were union registered, even if you played as an amateur. Rugby union is played with 15 players, line-outs, scrums, rucks and mauls.

Rugby league is played with 13 players on the pitch for each team and whilst it still has scrums, does not have line outs or mauls. In the nineteenth century arguments over the issue of broken time payments took place. At that time there were no full time teams and players worked as well as playing for a team and often had to take time from their work to play the game. Soon the game had taken off and new teams had been formed in the northern English counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, followed not long after in Australia. It is now played in:

The game of Rugby League is a fast hard hitting game that is played over 80 minutes this is played in two 40 minute halves and requires strength courage and fantastic fitness
There are 'Four Leagues' in the English game.

The team which wins the National League one playoff gets the opportunity to play in the Super League while the team that finishes the season bottom of the Super League gets relegated and has to try to re gain promotion again next season, which not many clubs have been able to do. The Australian game is different as in the team who are bottom of the N.R.L1 gets the wooden spoon but remains in the top league.

Wage Cap

The wage cap was brought in four years ago and levels the playing field between the big clubs who can get 10,000 people at home game and the smaller clubs who might get 6,000. It was introduced to stop smaller clubs going bust who was trying to keep up with the big clubs who signed the big stars of rugby league not just here in the Super League but from Australia and New Zealand that demanded big wages as well . And it was not only unfair to the smaller clubs who couldn't afford as many if any of the big names but by implementing the wage cap it would make for a more competitive and exciting league . Any of the big clubs that break the wage cap face loosing points and also a heavy fine

Players

A coach can pick an 18 man squad but only 13 are allowed to start the game. Each player has their own position which they keep. When in attack the positions are:

Fullback

Fullbacks instead of joining the defensive line drop back behind it in case the attacking team kick over the line or the kick from the last tackle fullbacks need to be good tacklers and very good catchers.

Wings/Wing three quarters

The wingers are the fastest men on the pitch there job is to take passes and score tries

Center's/Center three quarters

Centres need to show good vision around the park and also power they produce the attacking opportunities and work in defence as well.

Halfback/Scrum Half

Scrum halves are the smallest players on the field and decide how the team will attack if and when the ball is kicked and makes sure the other members of the team are in the right attacking positions.

Stand Off

A Very skilful player will be involved in most of the passing.

Prop forwards

These are the biggest players and they can weigh 15 stone and are in the centre line there main job is stop attacks coming down the middle of the field.

Hooker

The hooker is in the centre and faces the opposition’s props and second row and is responsible for organising the defence and normally takes the role of dummy-half in attacks.

Second Row Forwards

Second rowers are faster and more skill full than props and faces the three quarters. They are the strength not only in attack but also in defence.

Loose Forward/Lock Forward

The Lock Forward have to be fittest players on the team as they cover all of the field in both attack and defensive positions and slot into passing links or the kick option.

Rugby League Field

A rugby League Field should be 100 Metres in length Width of 68 Metres and a In goal of about 6m and 11m and will have lines marked out from the in goal area 10 metres 20 metres 30 metres 40 metres halfway line and this should be the same on both halves.

Object of the Game

The object of the game could not be easier within the 80 minutes two 40 minuets halves you have to score more points then the opposition team you do this by either scoring a try, which is when you cross the opposition's in goal area and ground the ball, which is worth four points if you score a try then you earn the right to kick a conversion, Depending where the ball is touched down is where they will take the conversion.If the ball is grounded in the corner the kick is taken is taken 5 meter's from the touchline. If it is grounded under the post's it is taken 10 meter's out in front of the posts.And which is worth two points.

There are two other ways in which you can gain points from a penalty. If you don’t want to take a tap penalty when you tap the ball with your foot and pass to a team mate to run at the opposition’s line you can kick the penalty which is worth Two Points. You can also attempt a drop goal where you drop the ball to the ground point of the ball first and after the ball has bounced you stick it with the foot this is mostly done if the scores are tied and time is running out.

Starting The Game

Before the kick off a coin is tossed by the referee and the home captain gets the choice of heads or tails depending on how the coin lands the winner gets to decide which end they start from and if they are defending or attacking first.

Attacking

The Defending team from the kick off kick the ball to you and you have six tackles to get to the try line. This is done by passing the ball from left to right or right to left. This is normally referred to as giving the ball width or passing it to your forwards or second row that push up the centre to gain you ground before tackle six, because when you are tackled on the last tackle you must hand the ball over to the defending team. After you have been tackled you need to place the ball on the ground whilst keeping hold of the ball.

You then roll it behind you while moving your foot over the top of the ball. The player doesn’t need to count the tackles as the referee will call what tackle you are on. If it gets to the fifth tackle the attacking team will kick the ball down to the defending teams half and chase the ball. The main areas kickers will kick into are behind the defending team’s posts. This is because one mistake can let a chasing attacker touchdown, or get a repeat set of six tackles if a member of the defending team picks the ball up in the in goal and fails to get out, tackled, or pushed over the dead ball line or they will kick the ball out before the corner flag which will mean the defending team become the attacking but have to scrum down on their ten metre line and get from there into the defending teams half.

Defending

The main objective of the defending team is to make it has hard as possible for the attacking team to make it into the defending half of the field. This is done by going in the tackle hard to the floor and hoping to force an error from the attacking player. When the player is tackled instead of putting them on the ground you push them as far back as possible because the tackle is not complete until the ball carrying arm hits the floor or the referee calls held. The defending team must also give the attackers 10 metre's.

Off Loads

If the defending player does not secure the arms in the tackle this gives the attacker chance to pass the ball out and carry on the attack. It is important if you are going to secure the arms and there is another member of your team also in the tackle you do not remove the ball from the attacker's arm because this will result in a penalty going against you for stealing.

Infringements

Knock on

If an attacking player who is carrying the ball drops it and the ball's movement goes forward that is deemed a knock on. Likewise if the ball is kicked to you and the ball strikes the hand and goes forward. Or if control was lost while putting the ball on the ground to play the ball this is also deemed a knock on and the opponents get a scrum.

High tackle

If a member of the defending team's arm goes above the shoulder hitting the neck or face.

Stealing

If there are two defenders make a tackle and there is enough deliberate contact on the ball to make it come loose. If it comes loose under the pressure of a tackle it should be play on.

incorrect play of the ball

After the player has been tackled they then have to get up, put the ball on the ground. They keep one hand on top of the ball and roll it whilst moving the foot over the top of it and play it behind them. If the referee doesn’t think that there was enough of an effort to roll the foot over the top of the ball or if the player hasn't got off a vertical base to play the ball, they will give a penalty.

Forward pass

After the play of the ball, the scrum half will pass the ball. It is important the ball goes behind the scrum half although they may chose to use the flat pass which is when the player runs and the scrum half passes when the player is almost at the side of them, but care should be taken with this because if missed it can be judged as going forward.

Off side

If the defending team fail to make the ten metre's, which will be at the side of the referee.

Markers not square

When the attacking player plays the ball two defenders are allowed to stand in front of the attacking player but they must be one behind the other.

Back chatting the referee

If a penalty goes against you only the captain may ask the referee about the penalty. If another member of the team questions the referee at length about it, the referee can give a penalty which allows a kick up field and easy yards.

Interference at the play of the ball

If a player, after the tackle is completed, makes any contact with the player, holds the player down until their defence is back in position, or if there is an attempt to remove the ball before the player in attack has played the ball.

Obstruction

On the last sixth tackle the attackers kick the ball the defenders are allowed to move in the same direction but are not allowed to move to intentionally block the attacking players, run or hold them back by there shirts, or grab there arms.

A Flop

If a attacking player is tackled and a defending player then falls on top of them.

40/20

A 40/20 is a test of kicker’s skill and accurate kicking to get a 40/20 the kicker has to kick the ball from there own 40 metre line to the attackers 20 metre line. If they are successful they get rewarded with a scrum on the ten metre line.

Dangerous tackles

Players are not allowed to pick an attacking player up above the vertical base and drop them on their head or neck. This also includes a swinging arm that connects with the attacking player’s neck, a bit like a clothesline and also grapple tackles. The referee can put any of these offences on report, which is signalled by crossing both his arms in front of his chest or cross hands above his head. Players can also be sin binned, or even sent off the field.

Referee's signals

Try scored

If the try is given the referee will extend his arm and point to where the try was scored and also give a sharp blow of his whistle.

No try

Both arms are crossed by the referees chest in front of the body.Or moveing hands backward's and forward's crossing arms

Incorrect play the ball

The referee will look like he is playing an imaginary ball to indicate the player has not used the correct technique

Goal/conversion

The referees hand will be raised above the referees head as well as a loud blast on his whistle

Fifth tackle

The referee will raise his arm clearly above his head with all five fingers of one hand spread

Penalty

The referee will raise his arm to shoulder hight and point to the team who has been awarded the penalty

Dissent

The referee will raise his arm to indicate a penalty and with the other hand tap his mouth

Offside

The referee will raise one arm to indicate the penalty has been given to the team he is pointing to and the other hand is extended to show the player who is offside

Forward pass

One arm is extended in front of the referee's body to show the ball has gone forward

Knock on

Both hands are extended in front of the body with the palms of the hand showing

Scrum

The referee will raise his arm's to head hight and bend his fingers of both hands and pushes them together and then extend the arm and to point to the team who puts the ball in at the scrum

Play On

The referee will raise both hands palms open

Head high challenge

The hands are raised in front of the head from the chin to the forehead

Obstruction

Both arms are in front of the chest one above the other with the fists clenched

Zero tackle

The referee clench his fist and raise it in the air and move's it from side to side

Stop the clock

Both hands are raised above the head

Handover on the sixth tackle

The referee will raise a fist in the air and point to the team who will receive the ball. The referee will shout "handover" to the player with the ball

Incident on report

The referee will raise both arms above his head and cross them

Holding down a tackled player

Both arms are lowered and are pushing downwards

Cards

If a player gets a Yellow card they are sent to the sin bin and will miss ten minutes of the game. If a player gets a Red card they will take no further part in the game.

Disciplinary Board

If a player has been put on report the disciplinary board will have a look at the offence and then will make up there mind if the player is guilty of the offence and what punishment should be given. The punishment varies from a fine, to a period of suspension, or exclusion from the game. Players can appeal within 30 days but in doing so could face a bigger fine or longer suspensions.