Rugby union
For a more detailed explanation of how rugby union is played, see Rugby union gameplay. Not to be confused with Rugby league. Rugby union South African Victor Matfield takes a line-out against New Zealand in 2006. Highest governing body World Rugby Nicknames Rugby, Rugger, Union [1] First played 19th century Registered players 3,560,000 [2] [nb 1] Clubs 180,630 Characteristics Contact Full contact Team members 15 (with up to 8 substitutes) Mixed gender Separate competitions Type Team sport, Outdoor Equipment Rugby ball Presence Olympic Part of the Summer Olympic programme in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924 Rugby sevens included in 2016 Rugby union , commonly known in most of the world as rugby , [3] is a contact team sport which originated in England in the first half of the 19th century. [4] One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is between two teams of 15 players using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular fiel...