It's All About Rugby Down Under

 

 

OK, so I didn't know sport had to be so confusing!  There is clearly a difference between Rugby League, Rugby Union and ARF (Australian Rules Football).   As big as the Super Bowl in the U.S., Australia is currently in the final stages of competition for Australian Rugby League.   In fact, the two semi-final or preliminary final games . . . . oops I mean matches were held over the past two days.   In preliminary-final match one, the Melbourne Storm defeated the Manly Sea Eagles 40 - 12.   The star of the game for Melbourne was none other than Billy Slater (my new favorite player since I live on Slater St. back in the States).    He had 200 All Run Meters, 3 Line Breaks, 2 Try Assists and 2 Tries.    For those of you unschooled in rugby (including myself) that is a very good individual performance.    Match two featured the Canterbury Bulldogs and the South Sydney Rabbitohs (sweet team name).    The Bulldogs pulled off the match victory 32-8 due in part to the hobbled South Sydney team who lost rookie of the year, Adam Reynolds due to a hamstring injury after only 26 minutes of play and leading the match 8-4.   So, next Sunday at 4:30 is the Super Bowl of Rugby or the Grand Finale Featuring the two best teams, the Bulldogs (18-6) v. the Storm (17-7).

 

Back to the differences though, which are important as I have learned.   Rugby Union has 15 players. Rugby League has 13.  Besides the number of players on the field, the main difference between Rugby League and Rugby Union concerns the tackle situation.  In Union when a player is tackled (Their progress is physically halted by the opposition) the ball is recycled by a ruck (if the ball is on the ground) or by a maul (if the ball is held up off the ground). One recycling of the ball is called a phase and there is no limit to the number of phases as long as a team keeps possession of the ball.    Have I lost you yet?     

 

In League when a player with the ball is tackled the referee halts play and it is restarted when the tackled player stands, places the ball on the ground and rakes it back with his foot to the player behind them (oddly called the "dummy half"). The opposition must retreat 10 meters from the play-of the-ball except for two markers who line up in front of the player of the ball.  The team in possession can recycle the ball 5 times (much like downs in the NFL) in this manner but if they are tackled with the ball a 6th time then the ball is handed over to the opposition.

With regard to scoring and how points are assigned,

Rugby Union points: a try (like a touchdown) is worth 5 points, a conversion (like and extra point or PAT) is 2 points, a penalty goal is 3 points and a drop-goal is 3 points.
Rugby League points: a try is worth 4 points, a conversion is 2 points, a penalty goal is 2 points and a drop-goal is 1 point.

 

OK so now you are ready . . . for the most part . . .  to enjoy the Grand Finale next Sunday at 1:30 a.m. CST back in Kansas City.    I know you are all dying to stay up and watch this epic, historical match, but just in case you can't make it, I will provide the details or at a minimum an update as to who wins the match on this blog.    Stay tuned and Cheers for now!

 

Ethan