Rugby Union

On first acquaintance, rugby can be bewildering. Thirty players in multi-colored jerseys and a man in white with a whistle rush about chasing a strange oval ball; while every so often the larger and stronger players collide in a heap and appear to stamp indiscriminately on the opposition and even on any members of their own side who get in the way.

But to those in the know, the rucks, mauls, scrums, lineouts and other esoteric events are an essential part of a game that involves a variety of skills and caters for a wide range of physiques. Rugby is also governed by as intricate a set of rules as most other sports and the referee has at his discretion to "blow up" (blow his whistle and bring to a stop) any play that he believes might result in serious injury (minor injuries such as a few bruises or chipped teeth are taken for granted).

To the cognoscenti in countries where rugby is the national sport its status approaches that of a religion, and in such countries as the USA where it is not a major sport it still attracts fervent and dedicated supporters.

In recent years, rugby union, once an entirely amateur sport, has turned professional in the major rugby playing nations, with an increase in the number of international competitions and an ever-increasing international following.

• In the Scrum - The rugby message board on Yahoo!
• Independent Rugby Forums - Forum dedicated to rugby union.
• World Rugby Forum - A newer forum, but with a wide range of discussion.
• The Rugby Forum - One of the best known rugby forums.
• Dragon Rugby Forums - Another new forum discussing all things related to rugby.

• FIRA-A.E R European Rugby Union
• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• England
• France
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• Scotland
• South Africa
• USA
• Wales

Many Encyclopedia articles are out of date or inaccurate when discussing rugby, but here are two guides to the basics of the game that can be recommended:

Rugby Guide: Scrum.com - "...a guide to the basics and terminology of the game of Rugby Union in all its guises - fifteens, sevens and tens. Designed for people new to the sport, as well as those who may need a refresher course, it aims to give a clear insight into all aspects of the game. From the precision discipline of tactical kicking, to the dark arts of the scrum."

Rugby Union: Wikipedia - The Wikipedia's article about rugby union has a description of how the game is played, the positions, and some history of the game. A good overview of both rugby codes.