h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Rugby Union - the basics to watch for - A3144322
Author: Janifrax - U975254

All constructive criticism appreciated.

I think it's a good, basic introduction to the game! As i'm not a rugby fan I don't know if you've missed anything out really, but its definately something that needs some explanation. Maybe you could just set it out a little better; maybe have sections for "fouls" "scoring" and so on under headers. I'm sure someone who's been here longer than me can be more help, but try going to A395552 for a guide to writing in "Guide ML" - it really helps to give things a sleeker look! You didn't mention the size of the pitch or about the goalposts (is that right?) or anything either....

The only other downside I noticed was that you started off in the first person - if you wanted it to go in the Edited guide you would have to change that bit to make it impersonal.

Apart from that, thanks for explaining what's been going on in those muddy pitches all these years....

A good start, though it needs a lot more work. The "laws" of Rugby Union just don't lend themselves to snappy precis!

A few specific comments:

8. "When an opposing player is stopped you too can make contact and try to steal the ball." - a distinction between rucks and mauls is needed here, though a lot more space will be required. Here's a suggested model:

"When an opposing player is tackled, other players can make contact to attempt to steal/recover the ball. If the tackled player is brought to ground (both knees touch the floor), he must immediately release the ball, upon which players from both sides may make contact with him or each other, provided they stay on their feet. This forms a RUCK of contesting players, who may use their feet BUT NOT THEIR HANDS to retrieve the ball on the floor, either by scooping it backwards clear of the ruck, or by driving the ruck forwards and clear of the ball so that non-rucking teammates may pick it up.

Should the tackle fail to ground the tackled player, other players may bind to him in a standing position. Opposing players will attempt to wrestle the ball from his grasp, while supporters attempt to protect him and his posession of the ball; this is a MAUL. The ball can be passed from hand to hand within a maul, but still only backwards. The team in posession may break up the maul immediately and continue play, or prolong it by pushing their opponents upfield. If the maul's forward progress is halted for more than a few seconds, the referee will stop play and award a scrummage against the team in posession. A maul can be a useful offensive tactic to gain territory without risking the loss of posession, and can even be used to cross the goal line, where the ball can be grounded for a try.

Most infringements at a ruck or maul will lead to a PENALTY kick against the infringing side. The exception is the KNOCK-ON."

9. "When you do something wrong, a referee can award a scrummage, a penalty, a penalty try, send you off for 10 minutes or send you off for the rest of the game. "

A summation of offences and sanctions is needed:

"KNOCK-ON - a player fumbles the ball forwards, i.e. loses the ball and it lands at the ground, or in a team-mate's hands, in front of him. Play stops and a scrummage is awarded against the transgressing team. If the knock-on is deemed deliberate, a full penalty can be awarded.

FOUL PLAY - any unneccesarily violent or dangerous play (such as tackling above the shoulders, or stamping on grounded players) can result in a penalty kick and the possibility of a YELLOW or RED CARD.

USE OF HANDS IN RUCK - if spotted, a penalty is awarded against the offender(s).

FAILURE TO REMAIN STANDING AT A RUCK - as above.

OFFSIDE - Players attempt to play the ball or make a tackle from an illegal position on the field, such as in front of a ball-carrying teammate, or to join a ruck or maul from the front or side. A penalty is awarded, or, more rarely, a free-kick if the offside is deemed accidental.

PENALTY - a dead-ball kick which may be used to restart play, to kick to touch and begin a LINE-OUT, or to place-kick for goal for 3 points.

PENALTY TRY - A try is awarded despite not having actually been scored. This can occur after repeated PENALTY offences by defenders near the goal line, or if foul play or an illegal tackle occurs which, in the referee's judgement, prevents an otherwise certain try from being scored. In both cases a YELLOW CARD is very likely to be issued simultaneously. Like a conventional try, the PENALTY TRY is worth five points and may be converted to a goal for an extra two points. The conversion kick is awarded directly in front of the posts, making the goal very easy, so in effect a PENALTY TRY is virtually guaranteed to yield seven points.

FREE KICK - There are a multitude of technical offences at the scrummage, line-out and elsewhere which do not merit a full penalty. A free-kick may be used to restart or kick for touch, but not for a goal attempt.

YELLOW / RED CARD - A yellow card banishes the offender to the "sin-bin", i.e. he must spend 10 minutes of play off the field, without being replaced. It can be awarded immediately for foul play, or for repeated lesser penalty infringements. The RED CARD removes a player from the game permanently, without replacement. It is used for gross foul play, or for a player who merits a second YELLOW CARD in the same game."



There is no mention of the line-out in your article as-is. These happen a lot, and they're very confusing to newbies!

Other features worth mentioning: a basic summary of the roles of different players; drop goals; video refereeing; injury time.

Well, that's enough to keep you busy for now - you may well decide to leave out some detail for brevity's sake, so please accept these as suggestions and nothing more. Well done for grasping the nettle, and good luck with the project!

Hi there!

Are you still working on this?

recommend move as author elvised. Rugby experts out there... is there enough to warrant a move to the fleamarket or should it go back to entry?

There isn't really enough there to work upon to turn it into an EG entry. Therefore a move back to entry it should be.

Added to the list