Rugby league football

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Rugby league football
Lance hohaia running into the defence (rugby league).jpg
An attacking player attempts to evade two defenders
Governed by Rugby League International Federation
Nickname(s) Football, Footy, League, Rugby, 'The Greatest Game of All'[1][2]
First played

1845, Rugby football rules codified in England


7 September 1895, post schism
Characteristics
Contact Full
Team members 13
Mixed gender Single
Categorisation Outdoor, Team Sport
Equipment Football
Venue Rugby league playing field

Rugby league football,[3] usually called rugby league,[4] is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field.[5] One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated as a split from the Rugby Football Union in England in 1895 over the issue of payments to players. Its rules were then gradually changed in order to produce a more entertaining game that would appeal to spectators.[6]

Frequently cited as the toughest, most physically demanding of team sports,[7] the objective in rugby league is to carry or kick the ball towards the opposing team's goal line where points are scored by grounding the ball; this is called a try.[5] After scoring a try, the team is allowed the chance to try at goal with a conversion - a kick for further points.[5] The opposing team will attempt to stop the attacking side gaining points by preventing their progress up the field by tackling the player carrying the ball.[5]

The game holds a significant place in the culture and heritage of the areas where it is played. The European Super League and the Australasian National Rugby League are the premier club competitions. Rugby league is played internationally, predominantly by European, Australasian and Pacific countries, and is governed by the Rugby League International Federation. New Zealand are the current World Cup holders.

[edit] References

[edit] In-line

  1. Fagan, Sean (2005-01-16). "George Lovejoy". rl1908.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5vOpv9sKI. Retrieved 2011-01-01. "[George Lovejoy] coined the expression 'Rugby League -- The Greatest Game of All'" 
  2. Grasso, Robert (2008-07-28). "Simply a mess: rugby league now the game forgotten by all". SBS World News (Australia: SBS). Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5vOpKrCg0. Retrieved 2010-08-28. 
  3. Collins, Tony (1998). Rugby's great split: class, culture, and the origins of Rugby League football. Routledge. ISBN 0714648671, 9780714648675. http://books.google.com/?id=Dfyovsrc2OsC. 
  4. RLEF. "What is Rugby League?". Rugby League European Federation. http://www.rlef.eu.com/whatisrl.php. Retrieved 2009-07-28. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Dept. Recreation and Sport. "Dimensions for Rugby League". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5vOqN5xIA. Retrieved 2009-07-28. 
  6. Middleton, David (2008-03). League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia. National Museum of Australia. pp. 27. ISBN 9781876944643. Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5vOqcfMBT. , quote: "When rugby league cast itself free of an arrogant rugby union 100 years ago, it did so with a sense of re-invention. It was not just about creating better conditions for the players but about striving to produce a better game; a more entertaining brand that would appeal to the masses."
  7. Meares, Peter (2003). Legends of Australian sport: The Inside Story. Australia: University of Queensland Press. pp. 132. ISBN 0702234109, 9780702234101. http://books.google.com/?id=aMw_Zpew2OgC. 

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