Not sure what a scrum or lineout is? Want to know about rugby’s different positions? Need to understand the game’s scoring system? We’re here to help with articles on rugby basics, from laws to terminology and much more.

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi, surrounded by his team-mates,lifts the Rugby World Cup in Japan

Bonus points have been part of the Rugby World Cup ecosystem since Australia 2003. For longer-term fans, they are now part of the tournament furniture, but for anyone relatively new…

rugby ball shape

The shape of the modern rugby ball that fans know and love – except when the bounce goes against our team – is a story of accident over design dating…

A rugby player wearing a GPS tracker in a chest harness

The rugby GPS conversation generally runs something like this.  “What’s that rectangular lump on the back of professional rugby players’ shirts?” a relative newcomer to the game may ask. “That’s…

Penalty try

A penalty try is awarded when foul play prevents a probable try from being scored. A referee will run under the posts and signal a try in the traditional way…