Rugby rules change since days of old

Rugged sport originated from soccer tantrum

 

By Jeanine Cardullo, Online Forty-Niner

Thursday, November 4, 1998

According to legend, the game of rugby originated in 1823, during one soccer player's temper tantrum.

It all began when one William Webb Ellis of the Rugby School of England became extremely frustrated with his level of playing during a traditional soccer game, according to the Rugby Homepage. To the amazement of teammates and spectators alike, Ellis bent down, swooped up the ball ... and ran.

And so rugby was born. Whether or not the art of the tackle was born when his afore-mentioned amazed teammates jumped him remains unknown.

While some would-be spectators may feel that the rules of rugby seem chaotic at best and unrecognizable at worst, the game has been played with strict rules and guidelines for years.

For the layman, there are some rugby need-to-know-basics, according to the Rugby Homepage. In its simplest form, the objective is to get possession of ball, carry it over the opposition's goal line, and touch it to the ground. The team who scores the most points in the allotted time of play, wins.

Other basics: there are eight forwards, seven backs, and no substitutes, unless injury occurs. The ball can never be passed forward or laterally. It can be carried, kicked ahead, or passed behind.

Only the man with the ball may be tackled. Differing from its American counterpart of football, rugby play does not stop with a tackle; the closest man merely scoops up the ball and keeps going. In fact, a penalty is called if the man down does not release the ball.

In way of protection - players traditionally wear none, barring the mouth guard.

Here at Cal State Long Beach, Dr. Dale Toohey has coached the Rugby Club Team since 1973, and has coached previously at Washington State, University of Massachusetts, University of Notre Dame and Penn State. He encourages CSULB students to come out and sign up.

"[Rugby at CSULB] is open to all undergraduates. No one gets cut. Most people haven't even seen a game, but if they show up at practice between 3 and 5, we'll make them welcome, and get them involved," Toohey said.

While games are played in the fall, the autumn season is also used to spend considerable time prepping new and returning players for the more competitive spring season.

"It's early days, but we're 3-0. We graduated a lot of good players last year, and this is a rebuilding year. We're off to an excellent start." Toohey said.

The team will compete against U.C. San Diego, Loyola Marymount, and U.C. Irvine in the upcoming months. The team will also compete in an all-day tournament Nov. 8 in Huntington Beach. Admission is free.

In the summer of 1999, the team will be touring in South Africa, not only to play rugby, but to also take advantage of the cultural and educational opportunities available.

Perhaps a bit of praise is due to William Webb Ellis, who started it all. To this very day a stone marker at the gates of the Rugby School in England celebrates the time when "William Webb Ellis ... with fine disregard for the rules of [soccer] as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it."