Rugby

Its David Mefin Davies (39) (born 2 September 1972) Wales and Ospreys

so far

The process is simple. The attacking team carrying the ball will progress the game by passing the ball to a team mate in the correct manner or by kicking the ball ahead, collecting it and then;

The player holding the ball to score a try and the ball itself must not be in touch or touch-in-goal (including on or over the dead ball line). The touchline, touch-in-goal lines and dead ball lines count as being 'out'. There has to be contact with the ground or corner flag by a player or the ball for it to be ruled in touch or touch-in-goal. Parts of the body in the air above the lines and outside the field of play or in-goal are not touch, and it is common to see players who are partly in the air over the lines still ground the ball successfully.

The in-goal area in which the ball must be grounded includes the goal line but not the touch-in-goal and dead ball lines.

Grounding the ball in both codes means either holding it and touching it to the ground in-goal, or placing hand, arm or front of body between waist and neck (the front torso) on top of the ball which is on the ground in-goal.

A player does not need to be holding the ball to ground it. If the ball is on the ground or just above it, it can be touched to the ground with a hand, arm or front torso. Match officials interpret dropping the ball in-goal as a knock-on, and disallow a try. For a try to be awarded they consider whether the player had the intention to ground the ball and the control of it when they did. Grounding of the ball can be instantaneous, it does not matter if the player immediately lets go and the ball then bounces forward.

An attacking player who falls to the ground before reaching the goal line scores a try if momentum carries the player so that the ball touches the in-goal including the goal line.

These are common in both code

In Union only

• A player may ground the ball in one of two ways: (1) if the ball is held in the hand(s) or arm(s), merely touching the ball to the ground in-goal suffices and no downward pressure is required; (2) if the ball is on the ground in-goal, downward pressure from the hand(s), arm(s) or upper body (waist to neck) is required. For a try to be awarded, an attacking player must ground the ball before a defender does so. If there is doubt about which team first grounded the ball, the attacking team are awarded a 5-metre scrum.

A player who is in touch or touch-in-goal, but who is not carrying the ball, may score a try by grounding the ball in-goal.

The goal-posts and padding at ground level are part of the goal line and therefore of the in-goal, so a try may be scored by grounding the ball at the foot of the posts.

A player may ground the ball in a scrum as soon as the ball reaches or crosses the goal line. (The laws governing the scrum do not apply to the in-goal area so as soon as the ball crosses the line, players may unbind and ground the ball.)

If an attacking player is tackled short of the goal-line but immediately reaches out and places the ball on or over the goal-line, a try is scored. (This is a direct contrast to rugby league which would award a penalty for "double movement", see below. There is occasionally confusion amongst spectators and players at community levels of the game and an incorrect protest of "double movement" is a common one at English rugby union matches.)

If a television match official (TMO, or video referee) has been appointed, the referee may ask for advice before deciding whether to award a try, but under current protocols the TMO may only advise on whether the ball was properly grounded, on whether the ball or ball-carrier went into touch or touch-in-goal in the act of scoring; and on any foul play that may have occurred.

In league only

The laws of rugby league still refer to the need for "downward pressure" to be exerted in grounding the ball with hand or arm.

The laws of rugby league specify that a try is scored if an attacker grounds the ball simultaneously with a defender.

An attacking player whose momentum does not allow the ball to reach the try-line or in-goal after their ball-carrying arm touches the ground may not reach out to score if a defender is in contact with them; this is disallowed by interpretation as a "double movement".

The goal posts and padding are not part of the goal line so grounding the ball at the foot of the posts will not result in a try.

Players who are in touch-in-goal and not carrying the ball may not score a try by pressing a loose ball still in play to the ground.

A try may not be scored in a scrum which crosses the goal line, but when the ball comes out of scrum a player may pick it up and 'bore through' their own scrum to score a try.

Video referees in rugby league are given a wider scope to look at the validity of a try and if the video is inconclusive, the decision is sent back to the referee ("ref's call"). Referees often give the benefit of the doubt in favour of the attacking team in such cases

That depends on the football team and whether or not you include the gear. The professional football team 'The Philadelphia Eagles' will weigh more than a high school football team.

That once again depends on what team you weigh, since individuals are of different heights and many different weights.

Here are some of the key poinyts to play Mini Rugby

Under 7 and Under 8 years

• Play games with small numbers, no more than seven players and not less than five players.
• Match squads of 10.
• Mini Tag Rugby.
• Size 3 rugby ball.
• Maximum pitch size is 40 metres x 30 metres, plus 2 metres for each in-goal area.
• 10 minutes each way - Game no longer than 20 minutes.
• Passes may be sideways or backwards through the air.
• Free pass restart, opponents 7 metres away on line parallel to goal line.
• No scrum.
• No lineout.
• No kicking.
• A tackle - a 'tag' - is made by removal of one of the two tags from the ball carriers belt.
• The tagged player must pass the ball to a team mate.
• The tagger must stop running and wait for the tagged player to reclaim their tag before re-joining the game.
• No hand offs, fend offs or barging.
• Under 7s and under 8s may play together, utilising the Mini Tag format.
• No under 7 or under 8 child may play with under 9 children or above in any circumstances.
• Under 7 players must be limited to playing in not more than 12 fixtures and 3 festivals / tournaments per season.
• Mouthguards, shin pads are mandatory.
• Checking of studs at regular intervals.
• On match days, a coaching session lasting no longer than 60 minutes with the addition of no more than 20 minutes devoted to match play against outside opposition is mandatory.
• All matches must be used as an extension of the coaching session, with the emphasis being on the quality of performance rather than the result.

Under 9 and Under 10 years

• 9 a-side - 3 forwards, 6 backs. Match squads of 12 players.
• Mini rugby with an introduction of full contact.
• U9 - Size 3 rugby ball. U10 Size 4 rugby ball.
• Maximum pitch size is 60 metres x 35 metres plus 5 metres for each in-goal area.
• 15 minutes each way - no longer than 30 minutes.
• Scrum - 3 player front row, uncontested scrum (no pushing permitted and the ball be won by team putting in).
• Offside line (Scrum) - All opposing backs except for scrum half 7 metres behind scrum. Scrum half behind hindmost foot of scrum until the ball is out.
• Lineouts are uncontested. The lineout is made up of two players from each team, plus the player throwing the ball in and an immediate opponent, who must stand within the 2 metre area, and one player from either side in a position to receive the ball (ie. Scrum half). Both the thrower-in and his immediate opponent are able to take an active role in the game as soon as the ball has been touched by one of the players in the lineout.
• Free pass restart at kick off, infringement, ball in touch. At a free start, the starter cannot run with the ball and the receiving player can not run from more than 2 metres behind the passer. Opponents 7 metres away on line parallel to goal line.
• No Kicking or fly hacking (kicking a loose ball on the ground).
• No hand offs, fend offs, scrag tackles or barging.
• Maximum of 12 fixtures and not more than 3 festivals.
• Tackling is a skill that needs to be taught and must be introduced progressively as shown in the current RFU Coaching Course materials.
• For safety reasons coaches and referees must check that studs and other approved clothing are in accordance with the laws of the game.
• Mouthguards and shin pads mandatory.
• No under 7 or under 8 child may play with under 9 children or above in any circumstances.
• Under 9s and under 10s may play together, utilising the under 9 mini contact format. No under 9s may play with under 11s or above in any circumstances.

Under 11 and Under 12 years

• 12 a-side - 5 forwards, 7 backs. Match squads of 15.
• Mini rugby with contact.
• Size 4 rugby ball.
• Maximum pitch size is 60 metres x 43 metres, plus 5 metres for each in-goal area.
• 20 minutes each way - no longer than 40 minutes. Scrum - 3 player front row and 2 second row locks binding around hips.
• Offside line (Scrum) - Scrum half behind the hindmost foot of scrum until the ball is out.
• Lineout (Contested) - 2-4 players lineout between 2 metres and 7 metres from the touchline, 5th player throws in. Quick throw is not allowed.
• Offside line (lineout) - 10 minutes from line of touch.
• No hand offs, fend offs, scrag tackles or barging.
• Maximum of 14 fixtures and 3 festivals.
• Mouthguards and shinpads mandatory.
• Under 10s and under 11s may play together utilising the under 10 mini contact format. No under 10 child may play with under 12s or above in any circumstances.
• Under 11s and under 12s may play together utilising the mini contact format.