Rugby Union: Rules, Culture, and How to Watch the Game

When you think of rugby union, a full-contact team sport played with an oval ball, 15 players per side, and two 40-minute halves. Also known as 15-a-side rugby, it’s the version played in the Rugby World Cup and by clubs across England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa. It’s not just about tackling—it’s about strategy, set pieces, and endurance. Unlike rugby league, rugby union has complex rules around scrums, lineouts, and rucks, which makes it harder to pick up but richer for fans who stick with it.

One reason rugby union doesn’t blow up globally is how hard it is to follow without knowing the rules. A scrum isn’t just a pile of players—it’s a structured restart with specific binding and pushing rules. A ruck isn’t a free-for-all—it’s a contest for the ball on the ground with strict offside lines. These aren’t minor details; they’re what make the game work. And if you’ve ever wondered why France calls it rugby, the same word used in English, pronounced "roo-bee", it’s because the sport was adopted so fully that no translation was needed. In France, rugby isn’t just a game—it’s part of the national identity, especially in the southwest.

Watching rugby union today means knowing where to look. RugbyPass, a subscription service offering live streams of over 1,000 matches a year, including Top 14, Premiership, and international tests, is the go-to for fans outside the UK and Ireland. At $12.99 a month, it’s cheaper than most streaming services and gives you access to every game, replays, and even offline viewing. But here’s the catch: if you’re in the UK, you’ll still miss some matches because of broadcast rights. That’s why many fans rely on a mix of free highlights, local club streams, and international platforms.

Why does rugby union thrive in some places and fade elsewhere? It’s not just about talent. It’s about exposure. While football gets daily TV coverage, rugby union often gets shoved into late-night slots or buried behind paywalls. The World Cup draws millions, but the tournaments in between? They struggle. And without consistent fixtures, it’s hard for new fans to get hooked.

There’s also the culture around it. Rugby union fans don’t just watch—they know the history. They remember the 1995 Springboks, the 2003 England win, the 2019 Japan World Cup. They understand the difference between a fly-half and a lock. That depth of knowledge builds loyalty. But it also creates a barrier. If you don’t know what a 5-3-2 scrum formation means, you might feel lost. That’s why guides, simple explanations, and clear rules matter more than ever.

What you’ll find below isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a toolkit. Whether you’re trying to understand why rugby isn’t as popular as football, figuring out how to watch matches without breaking the bank, or just learning what the French call the game, these posts cut through the noise. No fluff. No jargon. Just what you need to get into rugby union—whether you’re watching your first match or your hundredth.