Rugby union (often referred to as just rugby, or union) is a variant of rugby football. Rugby union is normally played by teams with 15 players, although there is also rugby sevens, a quicker game with 7 players a side. The name comes from the name of the game's original governing body, the Rugby Football Union. It is one of the two codes of rugby, the other being rugby league.

Like other forms of rugby football the game was developed from the rules used to play football at Rugby school in England. The crucial differences from football (soccer) are that in rugby the ball is a prolate spheroid instead of a sphere and that the players are allowed to pick the ball up and run with it. The players are also allowed to throw the ball from player to player, but unlike American football they are not allowed to throw it forwards; ie the ball must only go sideways or backwards.

Rugby union was invented in Rugby, England in 1823. It has established itself as a major global sport, especially popular in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Australia, Argentina and South Africa. Rugby is also gaining popularity in Italy and Japan, following Italy's acceptance into the Six Nations and Japan's unsuccessful bid to host 2011 Rugby World Cup, which will be hosted in New Zealand.

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Come back jerry!!!...but tells rugby union Bro...yeah nah, Tua to Tuaminate all before him!...Breakers finally Win the oz nbl
Frakinmantis (Mason minhinnick) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:20:58 -0000
Come back jerry!!!...but tells rugby union Bro...yeah nah, Tua to Tuaminate all before him!...Breakers finally Win the oz nbl
Rugby Union best of the decade lists that mention NZ only in passing make me so MAD http://bit.ly/4sJPOs
richirvine (Richard Irvine) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:50:07 -0000
Rugby Union best of the decade lists that mention NZ only in passing make me so MAD http://bit.ly/4sJPOs
#rugby NSW Rugby creates new Waratahs Board: In an historic move the New South Wales Rugby Union board has restruct... http://bit.ly/8dq6AQ
wallabynews (Qantas Wallabies) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:55:12 -0000
#rugby NSW Rugby creates new Waratahs Board: In an historic move the New South Wales Rugby Union board has restruct... http://bit.ly/8dq6AQ
LatestNews: Rugby Union: 'Blitzboks' under pressure: South Africa's World Sevens Series champion-defending side is ... http://bit.ly/7b5YMV
SportalAU (Sportal.com.au) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:04:36 -0000
LatestNews: Rugby Union: 'Blitzboks' under pressure: South Africa's World Sevens Series champion-defending side is ... http://bit.ly/7b5YMV
Coventry Deducted 15 Points: THE Rugby Football Union's Management Board today confirmed a 15-point deduction for Co... http://nzne.ws/533a
NZSportNews (NZ Sport News) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:27:51 -0000
Coventry Deducted 15 Points: THE Rugby Football Union's Management Board today confirmed a 15-point deduction for Co... http://nzne.ws/533a
#rugby NSW Rugby creates new Waratahs Board: In an historic move the New South Wales Rugby Union board has restruct... http://bit.ly/8dq6AQ
GoTheWallabies (Go The Wallabies) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:44:00 -0000
#rugby NSW Rugby creates new Waratahs Board: In an historic move the New South Wales Rugby Union board has restruct... http://bit.ly/8dq6AQ

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