Rugby is divided into two main “codes”; Rugby League and Rugby Union. Although there are many similarities between the two variants of rugby, the differences are pronounced enough that the two codes can be considered to be two different games.
The split between the disciplines first occurred in the 1890’s, when some Northern clubs decided that they should begin to compensate players who had missed work in order to play. This move was not approved by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) who banned any payment for players, and therefore these Northern clubs decided to break away and form their own sporting body.
Although payments were permitted to players of Rugby League, Rugby Union was not openly professionalised until 100 years later. Payments are now permitted to athletes from both codes.
Rugby League
In Rugby League, each side has 13 active players, and 10 substitutions are allowed during the course of the game. The main aim is to score tries by advancing the ball down the length of the pitch. The opposing team hopes to prevent this by tackling. When a player is successfully tackled in Rugby League, they must drop the ball and roll it behind themselves with their foot, so that it can be picked up by someone else.
There is a finite tackle limit in Rugby League, and when this tackle limit is reached, the ball must be handed over to the opposing team. If the ball is out of play, the opposing team will be awarded a scrum, which almost always results in that team gaining possession of the ball. Scrums may also be used for other infringements. These scrums traditionally consist of a total of 6 people.
The scoring mechanism in the two codes is slightly different too. In Rugby League, a try is worth 4 points, a goal is worth 2 points and a field goal/drop goal is worth 1 point.
Rugby Union
In Rugby Union, each side has 15 active players, and 7 substitutions are allowed by each side during the course of the day. Players aim to score points by touching the ball down past the opposing team’s try line. Points can also be scored by kicking the ball through the correct section of the goal posts.
When a player is tackled, the ball can then be picked up by any player from any team, so long as they are on their feet and they have come from an onside position. In theory, there is not a finite number of tackles. If the ball is out of play, a line-out will be awarded to restart the game.
Other minor infringements are solved with scrums. These scrums normally consist of 8 people. In Union, a try earns 5 points, a penalty kick or a drop goal is worth 3 points, and conversion kick is worth 2 points.
Swapping between the codes
Rugby players are not always constrained by the code in which they first learned how to play rugby. Many amateur and professional players have moved between the two (and back again) during the course of their careers. In fact, some showcase competitions have been played between teams who are actually famed for their success in opposing codes, to see how well they would perform against one another. Because there are fewer players to cover the field, and because the ball is in play more frequently, some rugby fans argue that rugby league is more physically demanding than union.
Who plays what?
In the first instance, rugby union and rugby league were often divided along class lines. Because working-class players could not afford to take time off from work in order to play sports, they were often unable to spend time training and playing Rugby Union. However, as players were able to gain remuneration when playing Rugby League, it was a more popular code amongst working-class sportsmen. In contrast, Rugby Union was often played in grammar schools, public schools and at university. This helped to create a strong class divide between the two codes. This class divide is also visible in Australia and New Zealand.
In the United Kingdom, Rugby League is more popular in the north of England, whereas Rugby Union is more popular in the South.
Until today there was such a difference between league and union. I am surprised it is allowed to carry on and compromise has not been reached. Very complex for general public I would have thought…..
Complex without compromise game of league and union
Thanks i needed to know.
What is a Rugby?
If you read the home page it might help you understand.
it is absolutely silly that there are two types of rugby. rugby league and rugby union should join together to become 1 rugby. there should be 14 players in this rugby.
If you say so my friend.
The differences are not only between these 2 types of rugby. There is also the Rugby 7s (7 on each side); games last 12 minutes (2 halves of 6 minutes each with a few minutes break) – the length of union and league games is not mentioned above but I think they are both 80 minutes. In 7s, a try is worth 5 and a conversion 2 (I don’t think they have field goals/drop kicks through the posts but not sure). Talk about a fast and very physically demanding game!! Now played in the Olympics (first time was in Rio 2016). For more info, visit one of the rugby sevens websites.
I believe there’s also a Rugby 9s.
Just as Rugby is said to have evolved from a game of football (what North Americans call “soccer”) at Rugby school in England, when a player picked up the ball, other games have also evolved from Rugby: Australian rules, American and Canadian “football”…
Great comment Lino, thanks. I think though that the less said the better about the Rugby 7s at Rio, from a British perspective of course.
Lino They’re both union ruled games so that’s why there is only two types
Australian rules has not evolved from rugby, it’s nothing like it in any way. Australian rules football was based on a sport that the indigenous men played in Australia about 150 years ago
That is simply a myth. Australian Rules Football actually stems from experience gained from Sheffield Rules Football and Rugby as experienced by Thomas Wills. The aboriginal game idea is nothing but a fanciful story.
Going to my first Toronto Wolfpack game & they play under the “league” rules. This was very helpful to understand what I will be seeing on the field. I assume that the World Cup & other national team competitions are played under the “union” rules as the description above is what I am used to watching.
I come from South Africa, where rugby is culture in many parts. Rugby league is the more popular one of the two. This can be seen by South Africa’s vast difference in ranking position on the Rugby Union World Rankings and the Rugby League World Rankings. I’ve never seen or heard of rugby league anywhere….. We predominantly play rugby union, I myself am a winger and fullback respectively. If there are any rugby league tournaments in South Africa, please let me know, I’m only 14 and I’d like to check it out.
The 2 should be combined to form a new sport call Urlru. This is in fact an acronym for Union of Rugby League and Rugby Union. Urlru is also a palindromic word which is an unexpected bonus.
Thanks for the information and I apologise for my lack of knowledge on this difference. I have learned something. Thanks.
I just love rugby