With the Six Nations just around the corner here at HCX we thought we’d provide you girls (and perhaps some boys) with THE definitive guide to rugby and the six nations. Perhaps in the past you’ve been able to sail through the year without even noticing the occurrence of the Six Nations, blissfully unaware of the tension, excitement and anticipation settling in on the nation. Unless you live in Wales where rugby is the national drug of choice, it could have been easy for you to bypass this monumental sporting event. But perhaps all that has changed… maybe you live in a house with rugby fanatical boys whose adrenaline and testosterone levels have been steadily increasing or maybe the guy you met at a Timepiece rugby social is refusing to make any plans for the next few weekends… this is all down to the Six Nations.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learnt from growing up with a rugby fanatical dad and brother it’s to not try and compete. It might be your 14th birthday and you might be confused as to why the party you were hoping for has descended into a living room full of your dads mates accompanied by cans of beer and your left over birthday cake… but you quickly learn that Wales is playing England on TV and that is much, much, more important. The best thing to do in a situation like this is not to despair but to sit down, help yourself to a can of beer (not what I did at 14 just to clarify) and enjoy the game. Because trust me, if you let yourself you will enjoy it! Rugby is fast moving, aggressive and exciting; unlike football you don’t have to sit for eternity watching boys prance around ballet dancing with a ball. In rugby you see men smashing into each other, receiving real injuries and running like the wind. Rugby is a sport to get your pulse racing, it’s engaging and exciting… oh and did I mention how fit the players are?
So if you’ve been persuaded read on… oh and the good bits are at the end!
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First things first… the players positions.
All players have shirts with numbers on to identify their positions. Here’s a run down of who’s who:
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1 and 3: Numbers one and three are PROPS. They tend to be the biggest men on the pitch, they’re found in the middle of the scrum pushing the other team back.
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2: Number two is a HOOKER. He’s a forward like the props and hooks the ball backwards within the scrum.
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4 and 5: These two are LOCKS. They push in the scrum behind the props, locking their hands between the legs of the props. They also jump for the ball at the lineouts.
- 6 and 7: FLANKERS. These two also push in the scrums and they also run around a lot tackling the opposition.
- 8: A mystery player in that he is known only as NUMBER 8, he stays at the back of the scrum and is known ominously as the enforcer.
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9: This one is the SCRUM HALF who throws the ball out of the scrum and passes it into play. He tends to be vocal and bossy, providing the link between the forwards and the backs.
- 10: FLY HALF who catches the ball from the scrum half and dictates the play, tends to be bright and good at tactics.
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11 and 14: WINGERS (yes this is starting to sound like quidditch) are the fastest men on the pitch, they run with the ball and try to avoid conflict. Referred to by my dad as ‘pretty boys’.
- 12 and 13: These are the CENTRES who try to get the ball to the winger and tackle the opposition.
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15: Finally number 15 is the FULLBACK who is the last line of defence.
So now you know the positions lets get up to date with the lingo and rules…
Breakdown: When the ball goes to the ground and the players try to stop the other team from getting it.
Tackle: Pretty self-explanatory, it’s when one player crashes into another who has the ball, tries to get the ball and stop the player moving forward. Violent.
Ruck: When the balls on the ground and the players try to tackle for possession, running over the ball.
Scrum: At a restart of the game the ball is placed into the scrum which is when the two teams almost lock together and push at each other with the ball underneath, they try to feed the ball out of the scrum.
Line out: Each team line up their players and the ball is thrown onto the pitch and one player from each team is lifted up to try and catch it.
Sin Bin: A yellow card means a player has to sit in the sin bin for ten minutes and a red card means they get sent off. Love that it’s called a sin bin.
Note the players can only pass backwards, apparently it would be too easy if they passed forward?
Scoring…
Try: 5 POINTS. When the ball is carried to the end of the pitch and the player falls to the ground/ touches the ground with it. The player has to be in control of the ball.
Conversion: 2 POINTS. After a try a player will attempt to kick the ball between the posts.
Drop Goal: 3 POINTS. During open play a player kicks the ball as it touches the ground and it goes between the posts.
Penalty Goal: 3 POINTS. After the ref has declared an indiscretion a player is allowed to try to kick the ball between the posts.
So now you know the positions and the lingo you’re ready to enjoy a match and where better to start than the Six Nations? A tournament which divides the British Isles, it causes fans to identify themselves with the nation they love best; people who have never left the mainland are suddenly proudly Irish and families who have lived for generations in the Midlands remarkably become passionately Welsh. Here at HCX we thought we’d have a bit of fun and showcase one of the hottest players from each team… just in case you needed any more convincing!
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ENGLAND
Danny Care – English Scrum Half
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SCOTLAND
Sean Lamont – Scottish Centre and Winger
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IRELAND
Gordon D’Arcy- Irish Centre
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WALES
Mike Phillips- Welsh Scrum-Half
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ITALY
Tommaso Benvenuti – Italian Centre/ Winger/ Fullback
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FRANCE
Thierry Dusautoir – French Flanker
So there you have it, your definitive guide to rugby and the Six Nations. Still not convinced? Or are you so excited you need your fix of rugby themed procrastination? HCX highly recommend you, in fact we insist, you google or youtube Dieux du Stade. It’s an infamous French rugby calendar that we’re certain you will enjoy ;)
Credits : rbs6nations.com; telegraph.co.uk; irishrugby.ie
Sources: rbs6nations.com; David Edwards