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rugby

A ruffian's game played by gentlemen.

Rugby is a fast, skilled, team-oriented game combining the tactical complexity and physical brutality of American football (only without the padding) with the continuity and pace of soccer and the scoring rate of lacrosse.

Unlike many other sports, rugby has succeeded in maintaining as part of its culture respect for both the opponents and the referee. Players are seldom heard to argue with the ref and after the game, both teams and the ref can usually be found drinking and socialising together in the clubhouse.

There are two distinct types of rugby: union and league. They play to separate systems of rules and both have their merits. The split dates back to 1895 when the game was unified and amateur. The sport's governing body (the RFU) refused to allow a number of clubs in the North of England to pay their players (many of whom were miners) for time lost from work in their services to the club. The RFU even threatened to ban the players for life if they were found to have been paid - they saw professionalism as an evil threat to the values of the game (read: the big, poor, burly miners would beat up the rich wimps if they played on a level footing). So the Northern clubs seceded from the Rugby Football Union to form the Rugby Football League and made rules changes to speed the game up.

League is a simpler, faster game than Union. The pitch is the same size as Union, but teams consist of only 13 players, so there is effectively more space. Contest for the ball at the tackle is not permitted - instead a team has only 6 tackles worth of possession before the ball is turned over (a bit like downs in American football, but without stopping after every play). This leads to the tactic of teams kicking the ball upfield after their 5th tackle in order to give their opponents as poor a field position as possible.

Union is a much more complicated game than League. Contest for the ball is permitted and encouraged at every phase of play - tackle, scrum, ruck, maul, line-out, the lot - leading to a greater number of turnovers and hence a more fluid game. There are 15 men on a Union team, so space is more limited, meaning there is less opportunity for individual brilliance and a greater reliance on the team to function as a unit, and consequently more obvious player specialisation.

Personally, I prefer Union, bubt they're both good games.
The rugby team's looking good for promotion this year...
by Loose Cannon December 15, 2004
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Ruveyda

She smart, cool and good looking. Always slaying. Everyone likes her, but still some people hate her for who she is? Love her mother with al her heart. She always been let down by people, but she don't care. Don't open too people that much. You can laugh with her. Her laugh is soo funny it's always fun with her. She's loyal you always can trust her.
by Typ hier je pseudoniem" February 25, 2017
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Related Words

rugby

the origin of american football. no pads, no stopping for time outs. limited substitutions and no pads
by Pk April 20, 2003
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Rugby League

Basically touch rugby with tackles. This is an amazing sport to watch if you are struggling to fall asleep, 5 minutes of this repetitive crap will even put an insomniac to sleep. For a more entertaining experience check out Rugby Union, where there is actually an interesting battle with strategy and variation. Rather than 5 tackles and kick for 80 minutes. zzzzzzz
The cure to insomnia.

Man: Doctor, I'm having trouble sleeping at night.
Doctor: Here, watch this 5 minute youtube video of Rugby League.
Man: ohh, I'm only 7 seconds in and I'm already feeling sleepy.
by CureForInsomnia July 11, 2018
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rugby

game that only real men play, not like those pussy football players. No pads, rougher tackles, alot more fun.
by Anonymous December 21, 2002
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Ruger

Ruger's are smart, funny, and outgoing. They simply are amazing people to be with. You can never get bored talking to a Ruger they are just always finding something to do or say. You can't go wrong with dating a Ruger he/she will always make time for you and value you over everything. At times he might not seem perfect, but he will do anything to make you feel like the luckiest person in the world.
hey guys let's go over to Ruger's
by Dovahkiin5 September 2, 2019
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Rugby Lite

is a stripped back and bastardised version of Rugby Union better known as Rugby League. It's played and followed by people of the Mungo ilk.
Rugby Lite is rugby for dumb farks.
by Burke's Boot April 11, 2008
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