Rugby Union and Rugby League are 2 different sports.

They are similar and Rugby L eague is a break away from Rugby Union (In England Rugby League is mostly played in the North). The main idea in Rugby Union is to score a try. That is when the ball crosses th e goal line. The player must touch the ball to the floor to score (a try scores 5 points). Then the team can attempt a conversion (worth 2 points) where a playe r kicks the ball through the upright. Above the cross bar. The other ways of sco ring are a penalty and a drop goal (both worth 3 points). A penalty is kicked li ke a conversion but when the opposing team makes an infringement (within range o f the kicker). A drop goal is where the player kicks the ball through the H abov e the bar during normal play. when the ball is passed from one players hands to another players hands it must not go forward. When a player is tackled (brought down to the floor while he has the ball) he must release the ball. There are 15 players on each side. There are 2 types of players forwards and bac ks. The forwards are involved in the scrum and throw in lines. The forwards wear numbers 1 to 8. The backs generally are the players running with the ball. The backs wear 9 to 1 5. Arguably the most important player is the Scrum half (always wears number 9). He is the player that gets the ball out from the scrum and from the throw in line. Jonny Wilkinson plays fly half (he normally kicks the goals) England also won the World Cup 4 years ago but have been awful since and were no t expected to repeat. There are a lot of weird rules in Rugby Union but I have given you the general i dea. I have been watching for many years and still don't understand all the refe rees decisions.