subject: The Home of the True Warriors [print this page] The Home of the True Warriors The Home of the True Warriors
Rugby is often mistaken for football by the uninitiated. There are people who would say that rugby preceded football, but there are likely an equal number of people who would dispute that and state that football preceded rugby. However, the exact origins of this sport are up for debate as no reliable documentation exists today.
Rugby league football -- or simply rugby -- is a physical and rule-oriented game using an oval shaped ball. The playing field measures between 112 to 122 meters in length and 68 meters in width. The basic rule of the game is this: A player sends the ball to the opponent's goal or net, while the other team tries to block it and prevent said player from scoring.
Many professional players started out as members of amateur sports clubs. Many football and rugby clubs exist the world over. Members of these sports clubs compete in different leagues: pro or amateur, national or international.
Sports clubs are organizations or groups of people that take part in sports events. Often, they sponsor these events or tournaments and participate in competitions. Even an amateur player can join these sports clubs because as previously mentioned, there are clubs that cater to amateur players.
In England, rugby union emerged as a product of a schism. One faction of rugby league clubs which was partial to strict amateurism over professionalism (i.e., appropriate compensation should be paid to professional players). The Northern Rugby Football Union (which favored strict amateurism) was a direct product of this split. In time, rugby league and rugby union became two distinct sports with their own distinct and separate sets of rules.
In the UK, opportunities abound in taking part in rugby league clubs. One can find a rugby league club almost anywhere in the UK, even in places which are traditionally the bailiwick of rugby union, such as Wales. Ireland has many of them while Scotland has 20.
In UK schools, rugby is a very popular game. Over a hundred rugby league clubs are spread out across UK schools and a student can find any type of club depending on what one is looking for.
