Laws
Why the Ball Goes Back After a Knock-On
Why the ball goes back after a knock-on: see how the ball’s direction determines the call, where the scrum is set and…
The reading room
All pieces
Explore explanations of rugby’s laws, player roles, tactics, formats and match rhythms. Each piece takes one part of the game at a time.
Positions
Flanker or Number Eight: Two Jobs at the Back of the Scrum
Flanker or number eight: see where each player packs in the scrum, when they may detach and how their first movements…
Formats
The Lineout’s Changing Shape: From Simple Throw-In to Set Play
Read a rugby lineout by tracking the target, aerial contest and first action after the catch, so the set play becomes…
Tactics
How Rugby Kicks Trade Possession for Territory
Rugby kicks can contest possession, move play into touch or relieve pressure. Learn how to read the aim, the likely…
Match Reading
Watching a Rugby Match Without Chasing the Ball
Watching a rugby match without chasing the ball helps you spot support runs and defensive shifts, so the next phase…
Our point of view
A match is more than a sequence of collisions
Rugby becomes easier to follow when you notice where players stand, what a decision changes and how one phase sets up another.