The basic rules of the greatest game....
Objective
The main objective of the game is to score more points than the opposition. This is done by working your way into the opponents end of the field in attack in order to create scoring oppertunities and containing the opposition in their half in defence to prevent them from scoring.
Players
Rugby League is played with 13 players on the field of play per team. These can be split into Backs and Forwards.
The 'kick-off' takes place from the half-way line. The ball must travel at least 10 metres and bounce in the field of play. Defending players must be behind the kicker when the ball is kicked off. After a team scores, play is restarted with a kick off from the conceding team.
General Play
When in possesion, the attacking team has six tackles in which to score. A tackle is complete once the ball carrying arm hits the ground and/or "Tackle" is called by the Referee. Following a tackle, the defending team, with the exception of two markers, must move back 10 metres towards the attacking teams in-goal area. Markers must be in line with the player in posession and directly behind one another. The attacking team restarts play and continue with their next chance to score via the play-the-ball. The referee keeps track of how many tackles have been made in each set and signals the 'fifth tackle' by raising his arm. If the attacking team is tackled a sixth time, a change-over takes place, where the defending team receives the ball and are given a set of 6 tackles to attempt to score.
Scoring
A try is scored when the ball is placed firmly in the in-goal area (either beyond or on the try-line), four points are awarded.
The scoring team is then allowed an attempt at goal: a conversion worth two points.
A drop goal may be kicked when the ball is in play, worth one point.
A place kick at goal may be scored if the referee has awarded a penalty, worth two points.
Any kick must go over the crossbar and between the two upright posts to be successful.
Passing
Ball is generally carried in hand and can only be passed backward (from hand).
Kicking
Rather than running through the defensive line, the attackers may bomb, grubber or chip kick the ball past the defensive line and attempt to regain the ball in order to continue to attack. This may often be done on the fifth tackle as a last ditch attempt to score. If a team is struggling to work the ball out of their half in attack, they may opt to put a kick down field deep into the opponents half and attempt to regain the ball.
40-20
To perform a 40-20, the attacking team must kick the ball from behind their own 40 metre line, have the ball bounce in the field of play and go into touch past the opponent's 20 metre line. In this case, the team that kicked are awarded the scrum feed and the scrum is used as a method of restarting the tackle count. (Not applicable to student rugby league).
Handling Errors
Following a knock-on (ball dropped towards the attacking try line) or forward pass a scrum is awarded to the defending team.
Penalties
When a penalty is awarded for foul play, the attacking team has the option to take a tap, kick to touch and recieve a tap from where the ball reaches touch or kick for goal.
Ball Out-Of-Play
If the ball enters touch a scrum is awarded to the defending team 20metres in from the point the ball entered. An exception to this is when the ball is kicked directlt into touch, in which case the scrum is awarded from where the player kicked the ball.
If the ball goes touch-in-goal or dead-in-goal, a 20metre tap is awarded to the defending team.
If the ball is knocked dead-in-goal by the defending team, a drop out is awarded, where the defending team must drop-kick the ball from beneath their own posts to the attacking team.
If the ball is knocked touch-in-goal by the defending team, a scrum is awarded to the attacking team 10metres from the try line and 20metres in from touch.