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The Los Angeles Rebellion RFC
Rookie Primer
Adapted from the San Francisco Fog RFC Rookie Primer by Derek Mickle

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Rugby? Wha...?                                                            1
Chapter 2 Pitch, Kit and New Meanings for Words You
Already Know                                                                               2
Chapter 3 The Basics                                                                     4
Chapter 4 Have We Got a Position for YOU!                                 7
Chapter 5 Rucks and Mauls                                                          11
Chapter 6 Skills You'll Know and Love                                        13
Chapter 7 You Wanna Win? You Gotta "Try"                               16
Chapter 8 Beer Break!!                                                                17
Chapter 9 The Third Half and Other Rugby Traditions                 22
Chapter 10 The World of Rugby Football                                    26
Chapter 11 A Game of Hooligans Played by Gentlemen              32
Appendix 1 The Basics of Rugby                                                33
Appendix 2 Positions: Physical Attributes and Position
Duties                                                                                          36

Chapter 1
Rugby? Wha...?
Rugby is a more than a sport. It's a passion. It's a disease you
catch that infects your very core. People will tell you it's a cross
between soccer and football, but that doesn't really prepare you
for rugby. Rugby is its own ass-backwards self. There is nothing
like it on or off the field.
How did rugby, American football's daddy, originate? There is that
tired, hackneyed legend of the young and ever-sorebellious
William Webb Ellis, who one day, during a soccer match at Rugby
School in England, decided to pick up the ball and run with it.
However, most sports historians postulate that back in the day it
was considered amusement for one town to try and carry a
somewhat startled young pig to another town's village square.
They would employ various methods of dodging, dashing,
passing, or just plowing through en masse to achieve this. These
primitive contests became refined over time and emerged as
rugby and soccer.
To the casual observer of a rugby match today, rugby seems
remarkably close to that version of its roots than some picked
up soccer ball.
Well, wherever it came from, today's rugby is, at its best, a blend
of strategy, strength, speed, and instinct. At its least, it is
organized and glorious mayhem. The object is to score more
points than the other team by carrying, passing, and kicking
the ball.
Simple enough . . .
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer

Chapter 2
Pitch, Kit and New Meanings for
Words You Already Know
We play on a pitch. It looks like a field. And it is a field. But we
call it a pitch. It is preferably grassy and level, but we take what
we can get.
As you can see from the diagram on the right, the pitch is 100
meters (110 yards) long and 70 meters (75 yards) wide.
There are four important lines on the pitch:
•    The half-way line. The half-way line indicates where the pitch
divides in half (dun!). Kick-offs to start the match, kick-offs to
start the second half and kick-offs after each time a team
scores are started here.
•    The 22-meter lines (25 yard-line). The 22-meter line is a
strategic point on the pitch. We won't talk about it too much in
this guide, but you learn that it is a very important line,
especially when it comes to kicking.
•    The goal lines. The goal lines mark where a player has to
cross in order to score. It is similar to the touchdown line in
American football.
•    The touchlines. The touchlines mark where players go out-
of-bounds along the length of the pitch. In rugby speak,
"touch" is what we call the area outside of the playing field.
When a player goes out-of-bounds, he is said to be "in touch."
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
For now one important, but tricky, thing to store in your memory
banks is that the lines are included in what is beyond them. For
example, when a ball or a player goes in touch (out of bounds)
both the touchline and the area beyond the line is the out-of-
bounds area. Once a player or a ball touches the touchline or the
area beyond the line, the ball or the player is "in-touch" or out of

The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
bounds.
Similarly, the goal line both marks and is part of the "in-goal"
area. If a player places the ball on the goal line, he scores.
The Kit
Okay, got the pitch and kit down. So how do you play this damn
game?
Your rugby kit is simply what you wear to the pitch. It consists of
•    A sturdy rugby jersey (not one of those polyester numbers
from Ross or one of those trendier-than-thou versions from
Abercrombie & Fitch)
•    A pair of rugby shorts (your Daisy Dukes or hoochie-mama
shorts won't do)
•     Matching socks
•     Cleats (called a rugby boot) and
•    A mouthguard
And that's it! Well, maybe a little athletic tape for effect, so you'll
look pretty in photographs. If you need help getting your kit
together, consult our Kit Guide, which you can download from the
San Francisco Fog website (www.sffog.org).
A tip for rookies: leave your jewelry at home. Literally thousands
of earrings, rings and necklaces have been lost forever in the linty
"black holes" of people's pockets. You've been warned...
Quick note about body jewelry: unless you want an extra nipple,
belly button or ear lobe ripped for you (OUCH!), take your body
piercing out when you play.
You'll also need a ball - a rugby ball, of course! It looks like a fat
football with more rounded ends. Get your own ball for practice
away from practice. (Ruggers.com makes a n excellent match ball
you can get for $25.) You'll be glad you did.
3

Chapter 3
The Basics
Begin with a Kick-Off
Teams usually line up for cleat inspection and salutations before
the game, but the action begins with a kick-off. This is taken at
the half-way line.
Like soccer, rugby is a continuous play game—the clock does not
stop! The game is divided into two halves, no more than 40
minutes long. Unlike American football, there is no stopping to
set up plays. The only time play stops is because a penalty or
injury has occurred.
Any time taken for injury is added on to the half in which it
occurs. The half-time break lasts no more than 10 minutes.
Substitutions are limited to seven per team. Substitutions may
only be made when the ball is dead and with the permission of
the referee. If a player is substituted, that player can't return and
play in that match even to replace an injured player—unless his
substitution was caused by injury.
The object, of course, is to rack up as many points as possible in
those 80 minutes. Usually scoring a try — the equivalent of a
touchdown in American football terms — does this nicely, but
there are other ways. We'll talk more about scoring later.
Playing Rugby
Boiled down to basics, playing rugby is about getting the ball
and using the ball while maintaining possession.
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
Lets say the other team just kicked-off to your team. Any player
who is on-side may take the ball and run with it.
Let's say you caught the ball. You have options:
•     You can pass the ball. But here's the rub: the ball may
only be passed backward or laterally (side-ways). If
you pass it forward, it's a penalty (called straightforwardly
enough, a forward pass). This is the big difference
between rugby and American football.
•     You can kick the ball forward, either on the ground like a
soccer ball or in the air. Unlike American football, in rugby,
kicking is often an excellent strategic move.
•     You can hand off the ball to another player. You don't
have to pass the ball to get it to another player.
•     You can run with the ball. This is what most folks do.
Preferably towards the other team's goal line but, certain
ones on our team have been known to do otherwise
(ahem!).
Let's say you passed the ball and the other team intercepted it.
(bad rookie, bad!) You can regain possession (and your dignity)
by:
•     Tackling the opponent with the ball. Once you've tackled
the guy, the guy must release the ball on the ground
(usually placing it towards his teammates). As the tackier
you've got to release the guy you tackled, too. The tackle
does not stop play in rugby. In fact, the whole point of
the player releasing the ball is to allow play to continue.
Once that ball is released on the ground, it's fair game to
be picked up by anyone. You can pick it up too, if you are
on your feet. If you try to pick up the released ball before
you are on both feet, it's a penalty call "playing the ball on
the ground."

• Ripping the ball from the opponent with the ball. Hey ,it
ain't pretty, but it works.
One thing that confuses rookies is that they think that once the
ball is dropped, the ball is dead. It isn't!! The ball is always alive,
even when it's on the ground. If the ball is on the ground,
anyone can pick it up and play it. The only time the ball is dead is
when it goes into touch (out of bounds).
Any player may tackle, hold or shove an opponent holding the
ball. This "holding the ball" bit is important. Unlike American
football, if you shove, tackle, hold or block any person who does
not have the ball, it's a penalty called obstruction and it is
cheating. You should never cheat. Unless you can cheat well.
As you can see, players have a lot of leeway on the field.
Regardless, whatever a player does, it must be in accordance
with the Laws of the Game.
Laws? Oh yeah, the rules of the game are called Laws. And just
like laws in real life, they are subject to the strict or loose
interpretation of those who enforce them. In rugby, that person is
the referee.
The Officials
There is one ref and two touch judges in every match who
enforce the Laws. The ref is the sole arbiter of the Laws of the
Game. His (or her) word is final. There is no appeal. The touch
judges are there to call where a player or a ball goes in touch
(out of bounds).
The important thing to remember is that there is only one
referee. It may seem impossible (or at least improbable) that
one lonely ref can see the actions of thirty other people on a
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
huge pitch, but you'd be surprised what a good ref can see.
The important thing to remember with refs is that you can't talk
back to them. Not even the coach can talk to the ref. (Bobby
Knight, the easily ignitable former Hoosier basketball coach
known for arguing with refs, would never survive in rugby.) The
only folks authorized to talk to the ref during a game are the
captains of each team. This includes foul language— you can
be penalized if the ref hears you!
Smart players (and teams) learn to play to the ref — they figure
out how the ref is going to call certain offenses and adjust their
play to the refs style. This is particularly true when it comes to
how strictly the ref is enforcing the "on-side" laws.
The Concept of "Onside"
Anybody may play the ball. Let's repeat that. ANYBODY can
play the ball. You may run with it, pass it, kick it, or tackle an
opponent who has it - provided that you are onside.
Perhaps the most confusing aspect about rugby for players and
observers alike is the concept of being on side. Which is
unfortunate because it's very simple, generally speaking.
Rookies, this is key: if you are behind the ball you are onside. If
you are in front of the ball you are offside. And being offside is a
big no-no.
You won't be in trouble if you're 50 meters away tying your
shoe, or even if you are in 10 meters away. But if you influence
play in any way from an offside position or attempt to participate
in the game (attempt to get the ball, tackle someone with the
ball, etc.), this is BAD, BAD, BAD. We're talking Penalty City,
kids. DON'T DO IT.

The French term for offside is hors jeu — literally out of the
game." That's a good way to think of if. When you are offside,
you are a "non-player" until you get back onside.
The concept of onside can be tricky at first to master, so tricky,
that we've created a guidebook devote just to this topic (oh joy!).
For now, keep these examples in mind.
•   Say your teammate has the ball and wants to pass it to
you. As he's getting ready to pass, you move ahead of
him. Doh! Now he can't pass it to you because you are
ahead of the ball (not behind it) and offside. Besides, if he
threw the ball to you, it will be a forward pass.
•    Say your teammate has the ball, and wants to pass it to
you. He completes the pass to you. Can you throw it back
to him? No, not until he's behind the ball again.
Okay, so now you have the basics of the game under your belt.
Let's look at who all gets to play in this mess...

The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
Chapter 4
Have We Got a Position for YOU!
To describe the individual positions in rugby, we'll talk about them
in the context of one of the uniquefixtures of rugby, the scrum. A
scrum is the name of the formal conglomeration of players who
bind together in specific positions when a scrumdown is called. It
is one of the basic set formations (or set pieces or set plays in
rugger talk) of rugby. We'll talk about the other set formations
later.
You can tell a lot about a rugger from his position in the scrum. A
prop is usually a stocky guy, a lock a tall one, a wing a smaller
and faster one. A scrum occurs after various minor infringements
of the law, such as when the ball becomes tied up, and other
times you'll learn about later. It is a face-off of sorts, where each
team is contesting to get the ball, and a favorite among forwards.
Form and timing are more important than brute strength (um, we'll
take some brute strength too).
This is what a scrum looks like: (This is the San Francisco Fog
versus the Manchester Spartans.)
Every position on the team has a specific function. The team is
generally divided into forwards and backs. Forwards (a.k.a., the
pack, Nos. 1 -8) tend to be big and strong. Backs (Nos. 9-15)
tend to be fast and agile. Forwards win the ball for the backs to
use to score.
Traditionally, there's always been a bit of good-natured ribbing
between the pack and the backs. But the pack vs. back thing is
really a bit misleading when you look at how a scrum actually
works. The scrum really works as a series of mini-units, each
with specific jobs to do.The team is divided into four mini-units:
the Tight Five, the Back Row, the Halfbacks, and the
Threequarters. Here's what a scrum looks like:
©
©              © © © ©
Here's how the scrum works:

•   The forwards from each teams line up across from each
other, and bind together in three rows: a rows of three, a
row of two and another row of three players.
•    On the referee's mark, the two teams "butt heads." This
forms the scrum.
•    Starting on the left side of the scrum, the scrumhalf (No. 9)
puts the ball straight into the scrum, between the two
opposing front rows.
•    The hookers (No. 2) from each team try to win the ball,
using their feet to kick the ball back. No hands allowed.
•   The ball is then channeled back to the Number Eight who
lets it out to the scrumhalf (who has already moved to the
back of the scrum).
•   The scrumhalf passes the ball out to the flyhalf (No. 10),
who, along with the other backs (No. 11, 12, 13, 14, and
15) will implement some play to try to score.
Let's take a closer look at each of the mini-units.
The Tight Five
The Tight Five consists of the two props, the hooker and the two
locks. These players are primarily ball winners.
Props. There are two props (also called prop forwards) in each
scrum. In the scrum the props' main role is to provide a solid
platform and support the hooker. The loose-head prop (No. 1)
plays on the left-hand side (loose head=left hand), and the tight-
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
head prop (No. 3) plays on the right-hand side. Props are usually
short to average height, stocky and strong, usually with a short
neck and broad shoulders. These are guys that typically enjoy
contact.
Hooker. One of the most important roles on the team, the hooker
(No. 2) is the main ball winner on the team. In the scrum, the
hooker wins the ball by striking it back to the No. 8— we'll spare
you the mechanics of how this happens. Players in this position
can be almost any shape or size, but generally, he's short to
average height, stocky and has long arms.
Lock. The locks (No. 4 and No. 5) are the engine of the scrum,
providing a stable source of power for the front row. Typically,
they are note for their height (typically above 6"2) and their
power. Players in this position are usually the tallest and
strongest guys on the team, and possess superior leg strength.
The Back Row
The Back row consists of the two flankers and the No. 8.
Flankers. The flankers (No. 6 and No. 7) are the most
aggressive guys on the team. Typically flankers (also called
wing forwards) are relentless attackers. Flankers tend to be
average height and tend to have an athletic build. Flankers
have to have superior cardiovascular fitness. Flankers also
have to be good ball hand lers because they often find
themselves supporting the backs.
No. 8. The No. 8 is a key position on the team. His primary duty
in the scrum is to keep the ball at his foot until the scrumhalf is
ready to pass it out. The No. 8 has the option to break off the
scrum and pick up the ball and run it, so he also has to be a

tactician, constantly reading the defense. His physical attributes
are similar to those of a flanker: average to tall height, athletic
build, superior cardiovascular fitness, and good ball handling
skills.
The Halfbacks
The halfbacks are the scrumhalf, and flyhalf. This duo comprises
the two most important positions on the team. These two provide
the crucial link between the forwards and the backs. They are
typically the most skilled persons on the field.
Scrumhalf. The scrumhalf (No. 9) is the second most important
position on the team. As the link between forwards and backs, he
is the pivot around which the majority of the attacks take place.
He has to be a quick decision-maker (pass? kick? run?), and the
quality of that decision will affect the entire team. The scrumhalf is
also one of the most skilled positions on the team— he has to
know a variety of passes, kicks and other techniques that no one
else on the team has to master. Physically, he is typically one of
the smallest guys on the team, usually short to average height.
He's also very fit, as the game demands the scrumhalf do a lot of
running.
Flyhalf. The flyhalf (No. 10) is the most important position on the
team. A team with a good flyhalf is blessed because they are
hard to find and even harder to mold. Typically, he's very calm,
very clear thinking and very skillful. His position requires him to
be able to read the game and anticipate holes in the defense. He
has to be a superior tactician. Like the scrumhalf, he has to be
excellent at many skills, particularly handling and passing,
managing contact and tackles and kicking. The flyhalf
determines alignment for the rest of the backs. With the help of
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the inside center, he also creates space for the threequarters to
maneuver in. Typically he is average to tall height, athletic build,
very fit and likes contact — he gets tackled a lot.
The Threequarters
The threequarters are also known as the finishers. Once the
forwards have won the ball, and the halfbacks have distributed it,
it is up to the threequarters to keep the ball alive until there is a
try. The threequarters are the two centres, two wings and the
fullback.
Centres. There are two centers. The inside centre (No. 12)
typically works with the scrumhalf and flyhalf to create the
platform on which the rest of the backs will score. The outside
centre (No. 13) will usually work more with the wings and the
fullback. In both cases, their main job is to create space for the
remaining backs to score in. Both centres are usually average
height and lean to athletic build with very strong shoulders and
lower bodies, the bigger and stronger centre being the inside
center, and the leaner and faster being the outside center. They
have superior handling and passing skills, and have excellent
tackling skills. Centres also have good peripheral vision, and
excellent catching and kicking skills.
Wings. The wings (No. 11 and No. 14) are the fastest men on the
field. They are usually the guys that score the tries. Wings
(a.k.a.., wingers, wingmen) must have excellent timing and
constantly read the other team's backs for hints of counter attack.
There are two types of wings, blind-side wing and openside wing,
and wings will play both during a game, depending on where the
scrum is positioned on the pitch (don't worry about figuring it out
now). Wingers come in all shapes and sizes, but he is typically on
the lean side, but strong in the shoulders and lower body. Speed

and agility are the main physical requirements for a wingman.
They also have superior passing and handling skills.
Fullback. Another key position on the team, the fullback (No. 15)
is the last line of defense. In the modern game, he has become
the surprise element, unpredictably entering the back line to help
penetrate the defense. A fullback needs many qualities and skills.
He has to be brave because he'll take most tackles at full speed.
He also has to be able to catch the high kick while under intense
pressure. It is usually the fullback who catches/retrieves kicks.
The fullback is usually the best kicker on the team. He is also
very fast. Also, like centres, he has superior passing and handling
skills. Physically, fullbacks are many shapes, but typically he is
short to average, athletic build. He needs strong shoulders and
lower body.
That's it for the positions. As you can see, there's a practically a
place for every type of person on the pitch. Don't worry if you read
a description, and it kind of sounded like you, except for one or
two things. The great thing about rugby is that if you try out a
position and it's not good for you, there's fourteen others just
waiting for you!
Next up, we'll get a little bit more into the nuts and bolts of he
game.
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer

Chapter 5
Rucks and Mauls
It would be a perfect world if after every scrum you automatically
scored. But there's that little pesky thing called defense that
usually keeps you from scoring.
Defense is a whole 'nother subject, but suffice it to say that
there's three types of defense. There's man-to-man defense,
where each player is responsible for guarding one particular guy.
There's zone defense, where each player is responsible for a
certain area of the field. And there's drift defense, where the
defensive line shifts as the ball moves out towards the other
team's wing.
So let's assume your team got the ball out to the inside centre
(No. 12). He's burning up the field, but unfortunately he got
tackled. The inside center is forced to release the ball.
(Remember!: If you get tackled you must release the ball.)
Fortunately, the outside centre (No. 13) is nearby. The outside
centre sees he can pick up the ball. He also sees that a couple of
your team's forwards will arrive soon. Unfortunately, there's a wall
of defenders that will arrive at the same time. If he picks up the
ball, he'll only gain a foot. And, shit! the tackier is starting to get
on his feet. What should the outside centre do?
He's got two smart options:
•   He can form a ruck.
•    He can initiate a maul.
A ruck is formed when one player from each team in the field of
play — both on their feet — shoving each other with the ball on
the ground.
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This is what it looks like:
An example of a ruck. See the ball on the ground?
In our example above, to form a ruck, the outside center would
start shoving the tackier that was getting up, who would, of
course, shove back. Folks from your team and from the other
team would join in, until the scrumhalf came to clear the ball out
to the backs again, who have quickly realigned.
So you see, a ruck is simply a stripped down version of a scrum.
Instead of 8-on-8, it's more like 2-on-2 or 3-on-3.
A couple of things about rucks. If a player joins a ruck, he must
bind on to a teammate. And if teammates join in, they must do so
from behind the hindmost player. Also, just like in scrums, no
hands allowed.
Our outside center in our example above could have also picked
up the ball, ran straight into the defender and hope that his
teammates came in after him and formed a maul. A maul
happens when at least one player from each team binds around a

player standing up with the ball'm his possession.
An example of a maul.
Just remember, "A maul is tall."
Rucks and mauls basically give everyone a chance to collect
themselves and rally the troops for the next play. In American
football speak, it's sort of like a huddle, only the game is still
going on while you're planning your next attack.
Both backs and forwards need to know how to ruck and maul.
Oh, one more significant no-no. Once a ruck or maul forms,
players not participating (by being fully bound- with at least one
whole arm) must remain behind the last person's foot. This
gives players not involved some time and space in which to set
up and look for defensive holes. A really great team will be able to
do this so quickly that their opponents will be caught with their
shorts around their ankles. <lnsert obvious joke here>
12
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
Phases of Play
The key to understanding the mayhem called a rugby match is
understanding the phases of play in rugby.
The first phase is always a set play, like a kick-off, a scrum or a
lineout. We'll talk more about lineouts in a bit. What you need to
know right now is that each of these set pieces involves getting
into established formations to fight over the ball. Set play is very
organized and somewhat predictable.
Once the ball is out of the set formation (i.e.., out of the scrum or
lineout) loose play begins. Loose play is characteristically
spontaneous and exciting. The different stages of loose play are
broken up into what are called phases of play.
The different phases in loose play are marked by what are
called breakdowns. Breakdowns are rucks and mauls, and
named so because they break down the continuity of play, the
flow of the game. Generally speaking, attacking teams try to
avoid breakdowns because it means the defending team has
been successful in stopping their advance.
It is not unusual for an attack to have five or six phases before a
penalty is called.
Next up: basic skills every rugby player needs to know.

Chapter 6
Skills You'll Know and Love
Backs and forwards alike need to develop certain rugby-specific
abilities. These skills are the foundation of all play, simple and
complex. You must never, never, never neglect them.
The basic skills are passing, handling, catching, kicking ,
running, tackling and managing contact.
Passing
We will begin with the pass. You already know that you can't
pass forward. Lateral passing is OK, but a close call. What's left?
You guessed it — we pass backwards. This explains the odd
diagonal line-up of the backs. Technique may vary, but the
important concept here is catchability.
Using both hands, the ball is passed in an underhand fashion
(sort of like you're shoveling) and should arrive in the receiver's
hands upright and solid.
You should lead the receiver so that he is bursting on to it and
thus gaining yardage even though he starts behind you. Aim for
the chest.
The distance between passer and receiver varies depending on
how skilled they are, the particular play, and the weather. But
generally speaking, a distance of about five meters is usual. The
receiver stays at an angle sufficiently deep to receive the ball
running at top speed. The passer should always turn his body
toward the receiver and pass the ball a little in front o the receiver
so that he will catch the ball while accelerating onto it. Don't pass
until you see the whites of his eyes!
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We'll practice passing plenty, so don't worry if it seems awkward
or confusing now.
Handling
All rugby players need good ball-handling skills to cope with the
different demands of the attacking game: running with the ball,
passing and catching at pace (at actual game speed). Great
teams have players who can take the fullest advantage of
attacking situations. To do this they must keep possession of the
ball. To truly succeed as a rugby player, you must be skillful in
executing the basic ball-handling techniques.
During play the ball may arrive at different angles, heights,
speeds and forces. A ball that arrives at a difficult angle may
affect your ability to keep possession. For example, a pass that
arrives from behind at knee height may be difficult to catch and
bring to your waist while you are running at pace and attempting
to maintain balance. Becoming used to the unique shape of the
ball early on will give you the confidence to cope with the
unexpected when it happens - such as a ball bouncing wildly off
the turf or a pass thrown too high or away from you.
It is to your own advantage whenever possible to carry the ball in
two hands. This allows you to either pass or keep the ball safe
when a tackier grabs hold of you. It also allows you to make a
more accurate passes in open play.
When holding or moving the ball around your body, you must
grab the ball firmly in your hands with the fingers spread across
the seams (see the drawing below). The seams will help you
maintain your grip. Use fingers to control the ball not the palms.
13

You will often see a ball carrier will hold the ball along his or her
forearm or tuck it into the ribs near the elbow when running in the
open field. This is a safe carrying style and allows players to run
more quickly because they can pump their arms with a running
motion. However, by tucking the ball, your players will make it
difficult to readjust the ball in order to pass. When running with
the ball tucked in, you must always be prepared to readjust your
grip to pass the ball with two hands on the ball.
Kicking
Kicking is another bread n' butter staple of this game. Rookies,
in general, take awhile to incorporate this aspect into their
game, so don't feel retarded if it takes you awhile to get the
hang of it. But it does open up a world of options to you - so we'll
briefly explain the range of fancy footwork.
The pop kick is a popular item. It is a short up-in-the air kick that
you can field yourself. If some menacing hulk is barreling down
on you, why take the hit? If there is no one to pass to, you can
just pop it over him and run right past the defender to catch your
own kick. You've got the momentum - he'll have to turn around to
chase it and you. And remember, he cannot touch you if you
don't have the ball.
The grub kick is like a hot grounder past the shortstop or a
soccer dribble. You punch it along the ground with your foot
and, as always, pursue it. Because of the shape of the ball,
the grub kick will take some weird hops, making it hard to
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
handle.
All kicking should be done strategically and not in a panic. It is
important to place kicks in a spot where your team can regain
possession.
Longer kicks may be used too, where the ball is kicked to a part
of the field that your teammates can get to first or make life
miserable for an opponent who does. The ball may also be
punted into touch (out-of-bounds) for long yardage. We'll
explain later what happens after the ball leaves the field, but for
now remember this:
If you are BEHIND YOUR OWN 22 METER line and kick it
directly to touch (out-of-bounds) on a fly, the ball is brought back
in at THE POINT THAT IT CROSSES THE LINE. This is a
common strategy that can get you out of hot water when the
opposition is breathing down your goal line. This is also true when
you have been awarded a penalty kick anywhere on the field.
However, if you kick it directly out when you are AHEAD OF
YOUR 22, the ball comes back in from the POINT IT WAS
KICKED - meaning no yardage gained.
You can dribble the ball or give it a good whack with your foot
anytime it's loose on the ground, but possession is 9/10ths of the
law in rugby. It's always best to secure the ball for your side.
Tackling
You've got to tackle. When you do, your opponent has no
choice but to release the ball, leaving it fair game for either
side. No, the play does not stop, but he will. Tackling well and
decisively is vital-although we always keep in mind our lack of

The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
padding. You should hit them low, squeeze their legs together,
and twist them so you land on top. We will review this
thoroughly in practices — but some of you <cough> may
already be doing this with your tricks.
The technical definition of a tackle is when a player is held by an
opposing player and at least one knee is touching the ground.
Tripping and falling down by yourself doesn't count.
Rookies: remember, if you are tackled you must release the
ball, or its penalty time once again.
You may pick the ball up immediately upon gaining your feet.
You are allowed a split second to place the ball to your team's
advantage when tackled.
The art of tackling is one of the more reluctantly embraced skills
in rugby (even by the toughest of guys). But when done right, we
promise it won't hurt at all. (Hey, you believed your first boyfriend
when he told you that...) Seriously, execute a tackle right and
you'll have hard time wiping that shit-eating grin of smug
satisfaction off your face.
Managing Contact
Managing contact is a key strategic skill. Why? It's about
controlling the ball on our own terms. You will want to have a
repertoire of skills you can call upon should you find yourself in a
situation where you are tackled or restricted.
Managing contact allows us control over how play will develop
after contact so that either (1) you can release the ball securely to
a teammate and we can continue the attack, or (2) we can give
up the ball in a manner that allows us to defend on own
terms.
Making contact with either ground or player is a skill that requires
what seems to be difficult and unpleasant work at first. Few
people enjoy it at first. For every rookie tackle jockeys who
thoroughly enjoy the rough and tumble of rugby, there are five
rookie players who take a while to achieve a "confidence in
contact" which will stay with them for the rest of their rugby
careers. It takes time to build up the courage to confidently take a
hit and know what to do once it has happened. It takes courage to
tackle someone coming at you at full speed.
Okay, okay. We said all this stuff about positions, skills and rule.
But we still haven't told you how you score. We'll go there next.

Chapter 7
You Wanna Win? You Gotta "Try"
OK, so how do we pile up points? There may be fifty ways to
leave your lover, but there's only two ways to score.
Method No. 1
Well, first in our hearts is the try. It has similarities to a
touchdown in American football, but with a significant difference.
A try is accomplished by bringing the ball into your opponent's
in-goal and touching it to the ground.
Control, downward pressure, and simultaneous
hand/ball/ground contact are essential. Woe to the rookie who
gleefully gallops over the line and in his excitement forgets this
key factors, and spikes the ball. Sorry kids, this isn't the NFL;
the try won't count that way.
A try is worth 5 points. The priority is to get the ball over and
down, but if possible, you want to place it near the middle. The
reason for this is that after a try, you have a chance to make it 7
points by kicking the ball through the posts (uprights). This is
called a conversion. Unlike the field goal kick in American
football, the kick is made from any distance back, but in line with
where the ball was touched down. It is far easier for a kicker to
make a conversion when he is in front of the posts than at an
angle. The kicker may use a place kick (where he uses a tee) or
drop-kick (where he holds the ball with both hands forward,
drops the ball, and then kicks it on the rebound).
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
After a try, the game starts up again with a kick off (a drop-kick) to
the team who has just scored. (Brutal, no?) In any case, it's back
to the 50 meter line as quickly as the kicking team can collect
itself. There is no official game stoppage.
Method No. 2
The other way to score is by going for post (kicking a field
goal). This is worth 3 points. Most commonly it is made when a
penalty is called within the range of your team's best kicker. It
may be place kicked or drop kicked from the point where the
penalty was awarded (the mark). Rarer in recreational-level
rugby is a spontaneous drop kick through the posts during play.
This is allowed at any time but is very difficult to do. Unless
you're a retired NFL punter, we don't recommend rookies, or
even seasoned players, do this.
If a team should touch the ball down in its OWN in-goal (better
you than them), two things can happen.
1.  If your team is responsible for bringing the ball in, a scrum, 5
meters back from the try line, will be awarded to the other
team (meaning their scrumhalf gets to put it in).
2.  If the ball traveled into the in-goal on the other team's impetus,
your team will be awarded a 22 meter drop out. A drop out
(a.k.a.. 22-meter drop kick) means that your team may drop-
kick the ball from any point behind the 22 meter line. The
other team must retreat immediately to the other side of the
22. Remember this retreating business when the drop out is
against you. Also learn to run backwards. You should never
take your eyes off the ball!
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The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
Chapter 8
Beer Break !!
Phew!
Feel better about your knowledge of the game of rugby? Grab a brew
and take a break for a sec.
You may be feeling a little saturated with rugby facts and figures at this
point and as you might suspect, there is much, much more. Don't worry
if it seems confusing or even ridiculous. Soon that light bulb will pop on,
miscellaneous ideas will click and in spite of your best intentions, you'll
be a rugby player.
Random Thoughts:
•     Rugby is a continuous, flowing game with natural ebbs and surges,
but no real time-outs except for injury. It has both premeditation
and spontaneity. The faster you can make things happen, the more
likely you will be able to score.
•    All sizes and shapes of people can play. Just because you're small
or lanky or short — or all of the above — doesn't mean you can't
play rugby.
•     It is an aggressive and physically demanding game. Fitness is
mandatory. It's not a sport of your typical weekend warrior — you'll
be winded in the first five minutes. It's a wise move to join a gym
and commit to a regular fitness regime.
•    A couple of little catchwords in rugby are move forward and
support. Confusingly enough, you often have to back up or
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
pass back to support the surge forward. The overall team
direction should always be lustfully aimed toward the goal line.
• This is a team game. The collective effort of 15 people is far more
powerful than the individual. When everyone on the field is in sync,
it's the coolest feeling in the world. Or at least the top 2 or 3. The
best score happens when everyone contributes.
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The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
Chapter 9
Line Outs
Line Outs
If the ball is kicked, carried, or otherwise escorted into touch
("out-of-bounds"), its re-entry onto the field is by way of a
lineout. A line out is kind of like the jumpbali in basketball.
Here's how it works:
Two rows of forwards standing up (one column per team) line up
5 meters in from the touch line and perpendicular to it. A player
from the team who didn't touch it last before it went onto touch
gets to throw the ball in, down the tunnel.
An example of a line out
The ball can be thrown any distance as long as it flies straight
between the columns. Like catchers to pitchers in baseball,
teams use signals to let their players know where the thrower
intends to throw it.
Certain players in the line out are designated as jumpers (usually
2nd, 4th, and 6th in line). The rest support and protect them in a
variety of ways that you will soon be learning. The ball may be
thrown beyond the line out or drilled to the first person, but it must
travel the initial 5 meters before it may be played. The line out
can extend out to 15 meters.
During a line out the backs line up in much the same way as
during a scrum, with one notable exception. In a scrum they must
18

only remain behind the Number Eights or last person s foot. In a
line out they (or anyone not participating directly) must remain 10
METERS back until the line out is completely over. No creeping
(moving in before the line out is over) or it's another trip to Penalty
City, kids.
The thrower from the team not throwing in and both scrumhalves
(#9) stand where indicated on the diagram. There are short line
outs, quick lineouts, and other variations, but that's all for now,
folks.

The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
Chapter 10
Penalties
Let's talk a little more about penalties.
For minor infractions of the law a simple scrum down will do. A
forward pass is one such infringement. The infamous knock on is
another minor infringement. A knock on is where you drop or
bump the ball forward with any part of your upper body. The
scrum is awarded to the non-offending team.
A scrum may also be called when a ruck or maul goes too long
without the ball coming out, or if the referee judges it to be
dangerous. There are other occasions for scrums, as you may
have guessed, but later for those.
It might behoove you to learn (at some point) the signals a
referee uses to indicate what he or she has called. After the
whistle the ref will usually give the mark with his foot and
indicate, with his arm angled down toward one team or the other,
who gets to put the ball in. The hookers then usually line up at
the mark and the rest of the pack comes in around them.
A free kick is awarded for slightly less secure infractions than a
penalty kick (hooker striking too early for the ball, for instance).
The difference is that you are not allowed to go for post. The
referee indicates a free kick by extending a bent arm toward the
team who gets to take it.
For a penalty kick, the referee extends his arm upward toward
the team to whom he's awarding it. A penalty kick is commonly
given for
• obstruction (blocking someone who doesn't have the ball)
•     offside
•     hands in a ruck
•     play deemed dangerous by the referee
He'll also award it for any number of things that are extremely
naughty. A penalty kick is awarded at the place the infraction
occurs (usually). A mark will be given and that is the point through
which the kick MUST be taken. To execute a penalty kick you
must move the ball visibly through the mark with your foot. This
could mean anything from a short tap (after which it may be
picked up and moved in any legal way) to a long punt (the space
directly above the mark counts as the mark). The opposition must
RETREAT 10 meters immediately when a penalty kick is awarded
-- giving you quite an advantage. If you ever hear your
teammates screaming at you to get "back 10" it is probable that
the other team has just been awarded a penalty kick. Remember:
keep facing the ball!
Advantage
Now we will briefly ponder the vast and murky gray area of
advantage. In most other sports, when an infraction occurs, the
flow of the game stops. In rugby, a referee does not have to call a
penalty if he feels that the offending team gained no advantage or
that the other team was able to capitalize on it.
For example: a referee may see a knock-on occur, but wait to
blow the whistle until it becomes apparent who has made
subsequent gains. If the NON-offending team scoops up the ball
and gains 10 meters, the penalty won't be called at all. This is
called "playing the advantage." The advantage law helps to keep
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the game flowing.
File this for another day, but keep in mind that even if you do
spot an infraction, DO NOT STOP UNTIL YOU HEAR A
WHISTLE! The referee may not have seen it or may be playing
the advantage.
The Referee
As long as we're on the subject, let's talk a bit more about the
referee.
There is only one ref, and this is a very significant fact. With 30
people careening around the field, one person cannot possibly
see everything and thus some unscrupulous players have been
known to cheat. Our team is above reproach and would never
resort to such cheap tactics. It shocks us to hear that there are
teams that do such dastardly deeds. And get caught.
Since you're new, it's wise to follow the rules. When the referee
does call something, his word is LAW. He may as well be
carrying two stone tablets in his hands. In fact, he cannot change
a call once made— no video review here, kids. And it is no use
arguing. In fact, you can even be penalized if you do. If you do
need to make a comment to the referee, for any reason, do so
through your captain.
Different referees have different styles. It is a smart rugby player
who learns to "play the ref." Many calls in rugby are completely
up to the referee's judgment - especially those concerning foul
play.
What exactly constitutes foul play? Alas, this may be the
grayest area of all. Basically, there is a spirit of fair play that
governs rugby. With all those people running around, you could
21
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
do things that aren't nice and not get caught, BUT DON'T!
These things have a way of escalating in a game as physically
intense as rugby and it's also distracting. If something gets out
of hand, go to your captain who can speak to the referee.
A general rule about retaliation. If someone plays dirty with you,
DO NOT RETALIATE. Chances are the ref will only see you r
retaliatory action, and not what instigated it.
Sin Bin and Ejection
The referee is the sole determiner of what constitutes foul play
and a good one will keep things clean. Most refs do not put up
with dirty play.
Dirty play comes in many malodorous shades. For a player that
repeatedly violates the Law, after repeated warnings from the ref,
the ref can yellow card him. This means he's out of the game for
five minutes. His team has to play short for the duration of the
five minutes — no substitute allowed.
A player can be given a red card and ejected from a game as
the most severe resolution of a problem. Should this happen, his
team CAN'T bring in a substitute, leaving them to play short for
the rest of the game. If you get red carded, it is reported to the
Northern California Rugby Union and you are not allowed to
play for fourteen days. Get red carded again, and you won't be
allowed play for a year.
That's it for the mechanics of the game. Next, we'll look at the
more social aspects of the sport.

Chapter 9
The Third Half and Other Rugby
Traditions
If there is one thing that sets rugby apart from all the other sports
you've seen or played, it is that after a match, you lay all
differences aside and party. This is traditionally called the Third
Half.
The Third Half is the embodiment of the traditions of rugby.
There are the rugby songs — incredibly misogynistic songs, but
they are part of the tradition nonetheless. Then there are the
drinking traditions (like "shoot the boot"). Let's give some idea of
what's in store for you.
The Zulu
One tradition that every rookie must know is the zulu. Strictly
speaking, it's part of the game. You are REQUIRED to do a zulu
when you score your very first try. At the third half, you must run
the length of the bar. Naked. Yep, kids, you read that right. So
don't be bragging about your 10" dick. We'll get to see the proof
of that after your first try.
Really, it's not that big a deal. Nudity is an accepted and
common part of the rugby. Guys change into their kits on the
field all the time, at practices and at games. And the French
and the Aussies are notorious for streaking at matches with
packed stadiums. Many guys on the L.A. Rebellion change
on the field before practice — you get used to it, and quicker than
you know it, it doesn't even register in your brain that you're half
naked as you change into your kit. Do a zulu, and the only thing
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
that will be shocked are your freezing balls.
Rugby Songs
There are literally thousands of rugby songs. Traditionally,
you'd sing these songs in a bar after practices or during the
Third Half. A team will usually adopt (or adapt) three or four
songs they expect every player to know.
Rugby songs are not for the politically correct. They are
characteristically base, ribald and juvenile. And you'll love every
minute of singing them.
You might have some questions about some odd behavior that
occur when we sing these songs:
Everyone seems to be forming a circle...
Yep, that usually happens at when someone gets the songs
started. Either that, or someone is about to zulu (oops! Rookies
aren't supposed to know that zulus aren't just for when you score
your first try!). No real rugby party is complete without a zulu and
a couple of rugby songs.
He's holding his cup/beer bottle to his head...
He's asking for his turn. Most rugby songs have many verses.
He's holding that cup to his head to signify that he wants to be
the leader, and will choose or sing the next verse.
They all seem to be pointing to him with their elbows... Even
after you put that cup to your head, it's not a given that you get to
pick the next verse. Everyone in the circle will point to you with
his elbow to tell you that you are the leader.

Here are the most often-sung rugby songs—with a Rebellion
twist, of course:
If I Were the Marrying Kind (a.k.a.The Rugby Song)
(This song is required knowledge by every rugger. Practically every team sings it,
usually tweaking it to fit the team's personality. Obviously not every verse is sung,
because the song would be way too long, but we wanted to give you an idea of the
variations. Weave made this one a little more "Rebellious.")
GROUP:
If I were the marrying kind Which
thank the lord I'm not, sir the kind of
rugger I would wed would be a rugby
(team points to the hooker. Hooker puts beer on top of head)
HOOKER: Hooker sir!
GROUP: Why sir?
HOOKER:
'cause I'd swipe balls
and you'd swipe balls (points to the a prop)
we'd all swipe balls together
we'd be alright in the middle of the night
swiping balls together
GROUP:
If I were the marrying kind Which
thank the lord I'm not, sir the kind of
rugger I would wed would be a rugby
(team points to the props. Props put beer on head)
PROPS: Prop sir!
GROUP: Why sir?
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
PROPS: 'Cause I'd support a hooker, and you'd support a hooker (points to the
other prop) we'd all support a hooker together we'd be alright in the middle of the
night supporting hookers together
(For the following verses change "Prop" with the first line and
"support hooker" with the second. You'll get the idea.)
2nd Row: grab Crotch, sniff Butt
Flanker: get off quick
No. 8: hold until you come Scrumhalf:
put it in, grab balls Flyhalf: whip it out,
call shots Centers: look for the hole,
pass out
Wing: go hard, never get it, come too fast, spread it wide
Fullback: kick balls, get fucked, find touch
Any Forward: get stripped
Any Back: get laid Scrum: go
down Rule Book: get violated
Shorts: go up your butt
Half-time Orange: get sucked
Mouthguard: get licked, get sucked
Spectator: get to watch
Spectator on a rainy day: come in rubber, be wet
Spectator on a sunny day: come again Goal Posts:
get split, stand erect Cleats: get screwed
Groundskeeper: trim bush, do lines
Whistle: get blown Boot:: come in
boxes, get tied u p
Ball: strapped in leather, get touched, get pumped
Pitch: grow weed, be hard Team from far away: come
for hours Team on a bus: get off
Drunk Team: get fucked up
I Used To Work In Chicago
(Soloist are chosen by the team captain pointing at them. Everyone sings words in
capital letters. Tune is "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow")
23

I USED TO WORK IN CHICAGO AT AN OLD DEPARTMENT STORE, I USED TO
WORK IN CHICAGO I DON'T WORK THERE ANYMORE
A YOUNG MAN CAME IN FOR SOME ^aper SOME
PAPER FROM THE STORE? Paper he wanted, a ream he
got I DON'T WORK THERE ANYMORE!
I USED TO WORK IN CHICAGO AT AN OLD DEPARTMENT STORE, I USED TO
WORK IN CHICAGO I DON'T WORK THERE ANYMORE
A YOUNG MAN CAME IN FOR SOME jewelry SOME
JEWELRY FROM THE STORE? Jewelry he wanted, a pearl
necklace he got I DON'T WORK THERE ANYMORE!
And similarly:
Carpet he wanted, shag he got
Nail he wanted, screw he got
Fishing rod he wanted, my pole he got
Meat he wanted, sausage he got
Beefhe wanted, porked he got
Coffee he wanted, my cream he got
Helicopter he wanted, my chopper he got
Camel he wanted, hump he got
Stamps he wanted, licked he got
KitKat he wanted, four fingers he got
Fuck he wanted, fucked he got
Yogi
(Soloist volunteer for each verse during the previous by raising their hand, and are
chosen by the team captain (orthe consensus) pointing at them. Everyone sings words
in capital letters. Sung to the tune of "Camptown Races")
I know a bear that you all know, Yogi, YOGI,
I know a bear that you all know,
Yogi, Yogi Bear.
YOGI, YOGI BEAR,
YOGI, YOGI BEAR,
I KNOW A BEAR THAT YOU ALL KNOW,
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
YOGI, YOGI BEAR.
Yogi's got a little "friend,"
Booboo, BOOBOO, Yogi's got a little
"friend," Booboo, Booboo Bear.
BOOBOO, BOOBOO BEAR,
BOOBOO, BOOBOO BEAR, YOGI'S
GOT A LITTLE "FRIEND," BOOBOO,
BOOBOO BEAR.
And similarly:
Yogi's got a "girlfriend," Suzi, SUZI
Suzi, Suzi Bear.
Yogi's got an enemy, Ranger, RANGER
Ranger, Ranger Smith
Yogi's got a cheesy knob, cammum, CAMMUM
Cammum, Camembert.
Booboo likes it on the fridge, polar, POLAR Polar,
polar bear.
Booboo likes it up the ass, brown, BROWN
Brown, brown bear.
Yogi hates it up the ass, something, SOMETHING
Something he cant bear.
Yogi's dick is long and green, cucum, CUCUM
Cucum, cucumber.
Yogi likes to Shave his pubes, grizzly, GRIZZLY, Grizzly, grizzly bare.
Booboo's boyfriend has no teeth, gummy, GUMMY
Gummy, gummy bear
24

Yogi likes a good beer bust, Lone Star, LONE STAR Lone
Star, Lone Star Bear
Shoot the Boot
Another common rugby tradition is "shoot the boot." This is a
rugby tradition that takes place after a rugger's first try. The
player, to celebrate his first try score, must drink beer from the
largest and dirtiest shoe on the team. Yep, you do a zulu AND
you shoot the boot.
When you shoot the boot, the traditional chant everyone sings to
"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" as you chug is:
Why were you born so beautiful
Why were you born at all
You're no flicking use to anyone
You're no fucking use at all
You should be publicly pissed on,
You should be publicly shot (bang, bang),
You should be tied to a urinal,
And left there to fester and rot.
So, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK... (chant lasts until he finishes)
Did we mention one of our locks is 67" and has a size 15 boot?

Chapter 10
The World of Rugby Football
Rugby is the world's third most popular sport (after soccer and
baseball). This section is meant to give you an idea of how our
team is connected with local, national and international teams
and governing bodies.
Rugby League vs. Rugby Union
The first thing you should know is that - SURPRISE! — there are
TWO types of rugby played in the world. The vast majority of
folks in the world play rugby union. Rugby union is the game we
play.
Rugby league is distinct, but not that different, from rugby union.
Rugby league play differs i n that
•    only 13 people are on a team (no flankers/wing forwards), not
15
•    there are fewer scrums and no lineouts.
Scoring is also different:
•    a try is 3 points (not 5)
•    a penalty kick is 2 points (not 3)
•    a drop-kick goal is 1 point (not 3).
A major difference is there is no rucking or mauling. When a
player is brought down in possession of the ball, he has to be
allowed to stand up face-to-face with an opponent and attempt to
tap the ball back to his own teammates with his foot. Hence it is a
much faster game, higher scoring and more entertaining to
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
watch. Scrums may delight forwards, but as a spectator
watching them over and over, it gets old quick.
Rugby League Football came about in the 1800s. Due to the
strict amateur code in those days, a player getting expense
money was not acceptable under the Union code. Thus Rugby
League arose to provide elite players a chance to get paid for
their playing. So, Rugby League grew to be considered the
"professional" game, and Rugby Union, the amateur game.
Well things have changed! In 1997, Rugby Union became an
"open" game, meaning players can now be paid to play rugby
union. So, now the only thing that separates the two games are
the way they are played. The three principal rugby league
countries are Australia, England and New Zealand. Ian Roberts,
the first openly gay professional rugby player (and quite the
hottie — ay papi!) played rugby league for an Australian team.
The Administrative Bodies for Rugby Union Football
There are governing bodies throughout the world that administer
the sport. The International Rugby Football Board (IRB) is the
top level. The IRB has voting members (8) and associate
members (the rest). FIRA (Federation Internationale Rugby
Association) was created by the French to have the rest of the
world represented. Sounds confusing- and you are right.
Here is a list of most of the countries with representative bodies
that govern rugby within their national boundaries:
The Americas
Argentina, Bahamas, Barbaras, Bermuda, Brazil, British Virgin
Islands, Canada, Caribbean RFU, Cayman Islands, Chile,
Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guyana,
Guatemala, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
26

Panama, Paraguay, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Trinidad-Tobago,
Turks and Cacicos, United States, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands,
Venezuela
Europe
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Scotland, Slovenia , Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Wales,
Yugoslavia
Africa
Botswana, Cote d'lvorie, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, South
Africa, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Middle East
Georgia, Israel, Saudi Arabia
Asia/Australia/Pacific
Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong,
Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Manu Samoa, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Thailand,
Tonga, Western Samoa
The Competitions.
To explain the various competitions, we are going to separate
competitions in two levels- International and National.
International Level. This level has competitions between
countries. The most prominent is the Rugby World Cup. The
Rugby World Cup occurs every 4 years. Believe it or not, it's a
relatively new competition, first held in 1987. It was last held in
1999.
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
There are also several international "league competitions" that
happen yearly. There are several prominent ones - the oldest is
called the "Five Nations". Since 1996 several other "international"
leagues have sprung up: Tri-Nations, the Super 12, Pacific Rim
are examples.
The USA national team, the Eagles compete in the Pacific Rim
competition. And just like in soccer, another game America has
come to late, we suck. But each year we get better.
One other significant international competition: the Olympics.
Rugby was again accepted as an Olympic Sport in April 1998.
However, due to politics, it is up in the air if rugby will be played in
Athens in 2004. The last time rugby was played in the Olympics
was 1928. The last gold medal team is — and you'll never believe
this one — the United States, made up of mostly Stanford
University ruggers (sorry Cal). So the current Olympic rugby
champion is the US.

National Level. Each country has its levels of competition. They
are separated by sex and age group. In the United States we
have 5 basic levels (men's club , women's club, collegiate men,
collegiate women, youth). USA Rugby, the governing body for
rugby in the United States, divides up governance of rugby clubs
into territories governed by Territorial Unions (TU). Each
Territorial Union, in turn, is divided up into several local area
unions. Clubs must belong to a Local Area Union, a Territorial
Union and to USA Rugby — and gets to pay dues to all three!!
USA Rugby offers national championships in Men's Club (1st,
>nd
.rd
st
2na and 3ra division), Women Club, Men's Collegiate (1st and 2
division), Women Collegiate (1st and 2nd division), Military, and
nd
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
High School. Each USARFU Territory and/or Local Area Union
offers competitions in some or all of these levels. Each of the
territories provides some playoff method to determine the
representatives to the regional level playoffs. The winners of each
region will then compete in the FINAL FOUR competitions.

28

There is also a "Super League" competition between the top men
clubs in the nation. For several years this competition was not
affiliated with the USA Rugby, mainly because of USA Rugby's
tendency to micro-manage. In May 2000, Super League re-
affiliated with USA Rugby.
The Super
League
Boston RFC , Chicago Lions , Kansas City Blues
, Life University , Old Blue RFC , Philadelphia-
Whitemarsh , Potomac Athletic Club ,
Washington RFC , The Gentlemen of Aspen,
Belmont Shore RFC , Dallas Harlequins , Denver
Barbarians , Golden Gate/San Francisco RFC ,
Old Blues RFC (NY), Old Puget Sound Beach ,
Old Mission Beach Athletic Club
The Southern California Rugby Union
The LA Rebellion is a member of the Southern California
Rugby Football Union (our local area union) and the Pacific
Coast Rugby Union (our territorial union), and USA Rugby
(our national union).
The Southern California Rugby Union (SCRFU) is the nation's
premier local rugby union, and its largest, with over 3000
members. To give you an idea of how good this union is:
•     The Old Mission Beach Altheltic Club (OMBAC) Won the
2002 National Sevens Tournament and has taken three
national 15's titles over the past ten years.
•     The Belmont Shore RFC made it all the way to the 2002
Super League Championship game, and is one of the top
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
feeder teams for players on the USA Eagles national team.
• The Long Beach State Rugby Club is one of the top-ranked
collegiate teams in the nation. The club has made it to the
National Final Four on 4 occasions.
The SCRFU has four divisions for men's club teams: Super
League, Division I, Division II, and Division III. Super League is
the most elite level, with teams comprised almost completely of
professional-quality players. Division I is for teams that choose to
play at a highly competitive level, where teams are composed of
a high level of elite rugby players and lots of foreigners. D1
teams typically field three to four sides and have huge clubs
(usually 60 actively playing members). In Division II, teams play
at a competitive, but social level. D2 teams usually field two
sides, a competitive and a social side. Division III is a social and
recreational level, and usually field only one side. This is the
division in which new teams enter the Union. The Rebels play in
Division III. We are aiming to move into Division II within five to
seven years.
Currently, SCRFU has only one division for women's club team.
Men's and women's collegiate teams compete in Division I and
Division II.
Here are all the teams in the SCRFU:
Super             Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, Santa Monica
League
D1 Clubs Belmont Shore, Huntington Beach Unicorns, Back
Bay, Riverside
D2 Clubs San Fernando Valley, Santa Barbara Grunions,
Kern County, San Louis Obispo, Los Angeles RC,
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D2 Clubs Las Vegas Blackjacks, Occidental Old Boys, Eagle
Rock AC, OMBAC III, South Orange County,
North County Ghurkas, Old Aztecs
D3 Clubs Camp Pendleton, Pasadena, 29 Palms, Orange
County Bucks, Finalnders
Women's
Clubs
Men's
Collegiate
(Div. I)
Men's
Collegiate
(Div. II)
Women's
Collegiate
High School
UCLA, San Diego Surfers, Scottsdale, Coast,
Belmont Shore
San Diego State University, Cal Poly San Louis
Obispo, University of Arizona, Arizona State
University, University of San Diego, UC San
Diego, Long Beach State, UCLA, UC Santa
Barbara
Loyola Marymount, CSU Fullerton, Claremont
College, UNLV, USC, Westmont College, Point
Loma, CalTech, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, California
Lutheran University, Azuza Pacific University,
Occidental College
UC San Diego, Arizona State University,
University of Arizona, UC Santa Barbara,
Occidental College, Claremont College
South Pasadena, Rancho Bernardo (San Diego),
Harvard (Studio City), La Costa Canyon (San
Diego), Ocean breeze HS
Gays in Rugby and Gay Rugby Teams
The Los Angeles Rebellion is the nation's second gay men's
rugby club, founded in August 2001. The first gay men's
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
American rugby team to establish itself is the Washington
Renegades, founded in October 1998. The very first gay male
rugby team in the world is the Kings Cross Steelers of London
England, founded in 1995.
The reception of gay rugby teams has been warm by the rugby
community. Rugby, especially in the United States, is largely a
sport full of people who fiercely guard their individuality, and
respect for the individual is a common trait. Moreover, women's
clubs have long been a haven for lesbians. In many ways,
lesbians who have been in the game for many years paved the
way. When the gay male teams first appeared, ruggers had long
been used to dealing with gay issues and gay people. In fact,
Rugby Magazine, the nation's authoritative voice on rugby ran an
article on the Renegades, praising them for being better
organized than most rugby teams, and predicting that in a few
years, the team would be a great success.
The Los Angeles Rebellion is a charter member of the
International Gay Rugby Association and Board (IGRAB). IGRAB
is a network of international gay rugby teams. IGRAB's mission is
to bring together gay rugby teams from around the world to
promote the sport. Every two years a team is chosen to host the
IGRAB international tournament, the last of which took place in
June 2002 in San Francisco.
A listing of gay rugby teams appears below:
•     King's Cross Steelers (London, England)
•     Washington Renegades (Washington, D.C.)
•     San Francisco Fog
•     Los Angeles Rebellion
•     Seattle Quake
•     Gotham Knights (New York, NY)
•     Houston Roughnecks

•     Boston Ironsides
•     Caledonian Thebans (Edingurgh, Scotland)
•     Manchester Village Spartans (Manchester, England)
•     Wellington (Wellington, New Zealand)
•     Ponsonby Heroes (Auckland, New Zealand)
•     Johannesburg, South Africa
•     Capetown, South Africa
•     Buenos Aires Rugby (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
In addition, new teams are starting to form in Vancouver, BC and
Dallas, TX.

Chapter 11
A Game of Hooligans Played by
Gentlemen
The characteristic that sets rugby apart from all other sports is the
brotherhood and code of etiquette. There's real rugby on the pitch
and rugby off the pitch. The players from each team have a
common bond in their love for rugby and use the Third Half as a
time to honor the traditions of their sport. The players gather
together, sing songs and celebrate beating the crap out of each
other. The true essence of rugby lies in being gentlemen who
take 90 minutes each weekend to become hooligans.
There is a spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship among rugby
players. After all, it is a weird sport - nobody gets paid, you travel
all around, and get bruises for your trouble. You've GOT to have
a passion for it and despite all rivalries, it is a passion shared by
everyone who plays it. As the sport is unique and intense, so are
its players. Meeting ruggers of all varieties, from all parts of the
country, is one of rugby's greatest delights.
Rugby is a lot of things to a lot of people. It is challenging and
playful, exuberant and exciting. There are always new things to
learn and old limits to push aside. We know you will love it as
much as we do.

Appendix 1
The Basics of Rugby
Here are the basics of rugby, all at once:
OBJECTIVE
The object of the game is to advance the ball down the field by
running it forward, kicking it ahead, or passing it laterally or
backwards to a teammate, who may then run the ball forward in
the attempt to score points. At the same time, a team seeks to
stop the opposing team from achieving the same results.
SCORING
To gain points, players must score in the following ways:
•    Score a try (5 points) — carry the ball over the goal line and
touch the ball to the ground in opposition in-goal area (end
zone).
•    Score a conversion (2 points) — following a try, kick the ball
directly through the opposition goal post uprights by means of
a place-kick or drop-kick, the kick must be taken out directly in
line from where the try was scored.
•    Score a penalty kick (3 points) — following a penalty, kick the
ball directly through the opposition goalposts uprights.
•    Score a drop goal (3 points)-kick the ball directly through the
opposition goalpost uprights at any time during play; the kick
must be preceded by the player bouncing the ball off the
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
ground.
BASIC RULES
The basic rules of rugby are:
•    A player must always be beside or behind the ball. Otherwise
he is offside and not allowed to be involved with the play.
•    A player stops the opposition by tackling them or taking the
ball outside the playing area. This is accomplished by kicking
the ball or pushing a player in possession of the ball out-of-
bounds.
•     No dangerous play is permitted (no jumping on other players,
no kicking at other players, no tackles that are too high).
•    Once a player has been tackled, he must release the ball and
cannot play it until he has regained his feet.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND GAME LENGTH
A rugby match may vary in terms of players on the field and
game length such as
•     USUAL: 15s — there are 15 players per team (8 forwards, 7
backs). The game consists of two 40-minute halves.
•    VARIATION: 7s—there are 7 players per team (3 forwards, 4
backs). The game consists of two 7-minute halves.
STARTING PLAY
•    Kickoff: play begins with a kickoff from the center of the field.
The ball must have traveled at least 10 meters.
33

•    Scrum: After a minor infraction, forwards from both teams
bind together in a tight formation. The team that has not
omitted the infraction puts the ball into the scrum. Both teams
then attempt to hook the ball back to their sides as well as
push the opposition back.
•     Lineout--when the ball goes into touch (out-of-bounds) over
the sidelines, forwards from both teams line up beside each
other and jump, attempting to tip or catch the ball and win
possession for their team. The team that does not have
possession of the ball when it went into touch gets to put the
ball into play.
•     Penalty Kick: After a major infraction, the non-offending
team is given possession of the ball. The opposition must be
at least 10 meters back. The non-offending team may then
kick the ball downfield, kick or posts, run, pass, or tap the ball
and pick it up.
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
There are special situations that represent advanced elements of
the basic game of rugby.
Ruck
Ruck is the term given to a situation when the ball is on the
ground and one or more players from each team are on their feet
and in physical contact, closing around the ball between them.
The purpose of the ruck is to provide some guidelines for
getting the ball back into play in a congested situation.
In a ruck, players can't
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
•    handle the ball,
•    jump on others, fall, or collapse a ruck
•    interfere with the ball emerging from the ruck if in a prone
position on the ground
•    join a ruck from their opponents' side or in front of the ball
(players must bind when joining a ruck)
•    stand beside the ruck in front of the hindmost foot of his own
players in the ruck
Maul
A maul happens when the ball is in the players hands and one or
more players from each team are positioned on their feet and in
physical contact, closing around the players with the ball. The
purpose of a maul is to provide some guidelines for getting the
ball back into play in a tackle situation.
In a maul, players can't
•    Jump on, fall on, or collapse a maul
Be offside at the maul (same rules as the ruck above)
Scrum
A scrum is a situation when players from both teams bind
together to restart play after a minor infraction has occurred
(i.e., the ball is dropped, passed forward or knocked forward).
In a scrum:
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•     Eight players must be present (three players in the front
row)
•     Hips must be below shoulders
•     Players may bind together
•    The ball must be put straight into the "tunnel" that is
formed when the two opposing scrums meet.
Lineout
A lineout is a called when the ball passes out of the sidelines (out
of bounds). When this happens a lineout forms to reenter into
play. The team not in possession of the ball when it passed into
touch (out-of-bounds) gets to throw the ball into the lineout.
In a lineout:
•    The lineout is formed by at least two players from each team
lining up in single lines parallel to each other and directly out
from the sidelines
•    The team throwing the ball will determine the maximum
number of players from either team who will line up (no more
than seven players)
•    There must be half a meter between players from the sideline
(violation is a penalty)
•    All players not directly involved in the lineout must be at least
10 meters back from the lineout until it is over (violation is a
penalty)
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
• The ball must be thrown straight between the opposing lines
Penalty
Penalty is the term given to a situation when a major infraction
has occurred (i.e., illegal tackle, offside, etc.)
The rules about penalties in general are:
•    The non-offending team puts the ball into play by kicking it
any distance from the ground at the location where the
penalty occurred
•    The non-offending team may kick the ball through the
opposition goalpost uprights, kick it into touch or downfield, or
kick it lightly then run
•    The offending team must retreat 10 meters back from the
location where the offense occurred and cannot move forward
until the ball is moved from the mark at which the offense
occurred.
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The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
Appendix 2
Positions: Physical Attributes and
Position Duties
Here's a brief overview of the positions and the physical
attributes and position duties.
FORWARDS
PROP (No. 1 and No. 3)
•    Strong upper-body strength (usually this player will be
shorter/stockier athlete)
•     Effective participation in set pieces (scrummages and
lineouts)
•    Ability to add to the play in rucks and mauls
•     Loose head prop (No. 1) responsible for supporting the
hooker and assisting in gain the ball through put-in
•    Tight head prop (No. 3) responsible for disrupting the
opposition's loose head and hooker
lineout
•    Ability to deliver a quick strike with the foot to win possession
of the ball
LOCK (No. 4 and No. 5, a.k.a. Second Row)
•    Size/strength/height (the lock is often the largest player on the
field)
•    Ability to provide the lineout with height and the scrum with
push
•    Ability to add to the play in set pieces
BACK ROW (No. 6 and No. 7, a.k.a Wing Forwards,
Flankers, and No. 8, a.k.a. Number 8)
•     Possesses all-around rugby skills
•     Demonstrated speed
•     Excellent tackling skills
•     Proven ball-winning and retention skills
•    Advanced tactical decision-making skills (back-row players
will have their hands on the ball often.
BACKS
SCRUM HALF (No. 9)
HOOKER (No. 2)
•     Possesses attributes/skills similar to those of prop
•     Flexibility to allow for greater range of motion
•     Ability to effectively and accurately throw the ball into the
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•    Excellent passing skills, ability to pass quickly and accurately
•    Ability to kick in defense and attack
•    Ability to defend against back row moves
•     Ideally, a player who is left-handed and right-footed since this
player follows the ball from left to right in the scrum (the left-
hand, right-foot orientation serves to protect the ball when
passing)
WINGER (No. 11 and No. 14)
•     Demonstrated speed
•     Excellent defensive skills (this is an area that the opposition
often attacks)
•    Ability to counterattack deep kicks
•    Ability to cover the fullback position when on the blind side of
the field
FLY HALF (No. 10)
•     Responsible for initiating team attack and calling plays
•     Responsible for organizing and ensuring that centers are up
on defense
•    Ability to handle and catch the ball cleanly and consistently
•    Ability to kick on attack and defense
•    Ability to handle the ball while running or while standing still
The Los Angeles Rebellion Rookie Primer
CENTER (No. 12 and No. 13)
•    Ability to pass quickly and accurately
•    Ability to tackle effectively
•    Ability to handle the ball well in contact
•    Ability to find the gap
WINGER (No. 11 and No. 14)
•    Demonstrated speed
•    Excellent defensive skills (this is an area that the opposition
often attacks)
•    Ability to counterattack deep kicks
•    Ability to cover the fullback position when on the blind side of
the field
FULLBACK (No. 15)
•    Ability to kick the accurately and handle the high kick
•    Ability to enter the back line decisively
•    Excellent counterattacking skills
•    Excellent open-field tackling skills (fullback is the last line of
defense)
37

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