|
|Origins
of Rugby:|Rugby
the game|Rugby Positions|Haka|Rugby
websites|
Many believe that rugby was born in 1823 when William Webb Ellis "with fine disregard for the rules of football (soccer) as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the Rugby game". Although it is worth pointing out that this is apocryphal as there is little in the way of evidence to substantiate this view, it is however, the popular view. So much so in fact that the international committee named the Rugby world cup the "William Webb Ellis Trophy". The Welsh say that Caid was just a derivative of their sport of Criapan. The Cornish called it "hurling to goales" which dates back to the bronze age, the West country called it "hurling over country", East Anglians "Campball", the French "La Soule" or "Chole" (a rough-and-tumble cross-country game). In fact, there had been traditions of ball-in-hand sports games for centuries before Webb Ellis' was born. Pastimes of this kind were known to many nations of antiquity, and their existence among tribes, such as the Maoris, Faroe Islanders, Philippine Islanders, Polynesians and Eskimos, points to their primitive nature. The invention of Rugby was therefore not the act of playing early forms of the game or the acts of a certain Webb-Ellis (true or not), but rather the events which led up to it's codification. Like so many sports which originated from Victorian England it was competition, the sense of fair play and the subsequent need for rules and laws which allowed the game to develop on a global basis and spawn internationally. The game of football as played at Rugby School (Rugby, England) between 1750 and 1823 permitted handling of the ball, but no-one was allowed to run with it in their hands towards the oppositions goal. There was no fixed limit to the number of players per side and sometimes there were hundreds taking part in a kind of enormous rolling maul. The innovation of running with the ball was introduced some time between 1820 and 1830. See the rugby timeline for the rest of the story.
Rugby is a simple game. Each side's players attempt to ground the ball beyond their opponents' goal line while their opponents attempt to stop them by tackling the person who has the ball. Rugby is a handling game. Each side has 15 players: 8 forwards and 7 backs. The forwards deliver the ball to their backs, who advance with speed, passing it from one to another. They try to cross their opponents' goal line and touch the ball to the ground. This (worth 5 points) is a "try", because they try a kick at goal (2 more points). This kick is taken anywhere on a line perpendicular to the place of score. Play is continuous until someone scores, breaks a law, or propels the ball out of bounds (called "in touch"). Any player may run with the ball, pass it, or kick it. It is illegal to pass it forward; fumble so that it bounces forward; lie on it; throw it into touch; or hold on to it after a tackle. There is also a law against off-side play. Minor infractions result in a scrummage; blunders bring the other side a penalty kick. Armor is prohibited -- the only protective gear allowed is a thick rugby shirt and shorts. Blocking, tripping and obstructing are not allowed -- only the ball -carrier may be tackled. One should not confuse the various rugby positions with those on an American football team, though there is a rough similarity in set play (scrums, line- outs, penalties). Rugby forwards often handle the ball and must be adept at passing and catching while backs must be prepared to occasionally ruck and maul. There are so many variables during a rugby match so there is not many programmed play-calling. Players must think and react for themselves. The Forwards or the Pack There are eight forwards on each team, shown in the Figure, usually the larger players on the team, which participate in scrums, line-outs, and mauls. Each player relies on team-mate support. It is the forwards that cause and recover most of the ball turnovers. These are the players that set the tempo of the game by participating in every play one way or another.
The Props 1 & 3; and the Hooker; 2: The start of a good scrum begins with the props and the hooker. The first three positions consist of two props and one hooker, located between them. The name prop comes from propping up, supporting, the hooker during a scrum. The hooker gets its name from using their legs to hook to ball back into their side of a scrum. The Second Row; 4 & 5: The second row is made up of a power house pair. One of their main jobs is to fiercely push forward during a scrum. Their role is just as prominent as they soar to catch or steal the ball during a line-out, throw in. The Flankers; 6 & 7, and Number 8: The back row of a scrum is compiled of two flankers and a number eight player. They are always the first players out of a scrum and to the action, supporting the backs as they charge up field. The Backs: There are seven players that form the backs, shown in the figure, all which play a major role in the game. These are usually players that are faster and smaller in size compared to the forwards. Once the forwards win the ball from a scrum or mull and provide to the backs, they run certain set plays. There role in the game is just as critical on offense and defense. The Scrum Half 9 and the Fly Half 10: The scrum half is a player of great courage. She follows the forwards like a shark after blood. The forwards pass her the ball after they win it in the kick off, mull, or scrum. She then pitches the ball out to the fly half. The scrum half is as vital to the team as a quarterback in American football. Her partner, the fly half, must know hes every move and be able to catch anything that scrum half throws out to her. The fly half then opens up the running and kicking game with the help of the rest of the backs. She either passes the ball to the inside center or kicks it up the field, timing it right so the wings and centers can catch or recover the ball. The Centers; 11 & 12 and the Wings; 13 & 14: There are two centers and two wings. The first player behind the fly half is called the inside center, followed by the outside center. Their names are given due to how they line up on the field. One is always on the outside of the other. They either advance the ball up field using the wingers as decoys or pass it out to them, in which they follow the wingers down the field as support. The wings play off of the outside center and run in their support. This is not their only role. Wings help out on defensive maneuvers, even while their team has the ball. They also chase after the ball after it has been kicked by the fly half, so the other team can not take a quick line-out. The Full Back 15: This position acts as a safety behind the other fourteen players. She must make the last effort tackles on those who out whit the rest of the players. The full back must catch and kick the ball They are sometimes included in the running plays with the other backs.
For most non-Maori New Zealanders today their knowledge of Haka is perhaps limited to that most performed of Haka called "Ka mate, Ka mate". Many sports teams and individuals travelling from New Zealand overseas tend to have the haka "Ka mate" as part of their programme. The sports team that has given the haka the greatest exposure overseas has been the All Blacks, who perform it before their matches. It has become a distinctive feature of the New Zealand All Blacks. Origin of the Haka According to Maori ethos, Tama-nui-to-ra, the Sun God, had two wives, Hine-raumati, the Summer maid, and Hine takurua, the Winter maid. The child born to him and Hine-raumati was Tane-rore, who is credited with the origin of the dance. Tane-rore is the trembling of the air as seen on the hot days of summer, and represented by the quivering of the hands in the dance. Haka is the generic name for all Maori dance. Today, haka is defined as that part of the Maori dance repertoire where the men are to the fore with the women lending vocal support in the rear. Most haka seen today are haka taparahi, haka without weapons. More than any aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race. Haka is not merely a past time of the Maori but was also a custom of high social importance in the welcoming and entertainment of visitors. Tribal reputation rose and fell on their ability to perform the haka (Hamana Mahuika). Haka reflected the concerns and issues of the time, of defiance and protest, of factual occurrences and events at any given time Haka History The centrality of the haka within All Black rugby tradition is not a recent development. Since the original "All Black" team of "New Zealand Natives" led by Joseph Warbrick the haka has been closely associated with New Zealand rugby. Its mystique has evolved along with the fierce determination, commitment and high level skill which has been the hallmark of New Zealand's National game. The haka adds a unique component, derived from the indigenous Maori of New Zealand, and which aligns with the wider Polynesian cultures of the Pacific. The All Blacks perform the haka with precision and intensity which underpin the All Black approach.
|
