Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Rugby union is a team sport
that was (according to legend) developed from the rules used to
play football at Rugby School in England. Two teams, each of 15
players have the task of outscoring the opposing team. Players
clutch a prolate spheroid ball (see picture left) in their hands
or arms, and may pass it backwards or laterally across the
pitch, or kick it in any direction. The opposing players attempt
to halt the ball-carrier by tackling him or her with their arms
and bodies. When tackled, the ball carrier must release the
ball, at which time a contest for possession of the ball
commences (either a ruck or a maul). Method of play As noted
above, rugby union differs from association football in that the
hands can be employed to move the ball. However, a player can
only pass the ball backwards to another player or kick it
forward. This means that the majority of progress made by an
attacking team occurs through a leap frog cycle of passing the
ball backwards, running to make