World Arena Rugby Rules:
The Pitch:
- Overall Dimensions = 200' x 85' (61mx26m).
- In-Goal Areas = 25' (4.6m).
- Goal Posts = 10' wide & 10' above the ground).
- Sideline Barriers = 4'; may be used to promote business sponsors.
- The ball is a size 5 Rugby Union ball:
- 11–12 in long and 23–24 in in circumference at its widest point.
- Weighs 410–460 g (14–16 oz).
- Is inflated to 9.5–10.0 psi.
- Four 12-minute quarters with 3-minute breaks in between 1/2 and 3/4 quarters and a 12-minute halftime.
- The team in possession of the ball has a shot clock of 40 seconds to score.
- Each team gets 2 timeouts per half.
- Overtime periods are 5 minutes in length; each team gets 1 timeout per period.
- 7 players on the court; All teams are required to have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 7 reserves.
- Positions = 2 Props, Hooker, Scrum-Half, Fly-Half, center, Fullback.
- All teams are allowed unlimited substitutions; all substitutions are done on-the-fly.
- The ball can only be advanced by running and passing.
- Passes can only be made backwards or laterally.
- Balls that bounce off the padded walls that surround the field are "live;"
- Only the player in possession of the ball may be tackled or interfered with.
- Tackling or interfering with a player who is not in possession of the ball is not permitted.
- All tackles must be below the shoulders; the tackler has to attempt to wrap their arms around the player being tackled to complete the tackle.
- Pushing, shoulder-charging, and tripping are not allowed.
- A tackle is deemed to be complete when the elbow of the arm holding the ball touches the ground, or the player is held in an upright tackle; the ball cannot be further advanced and a play-the-ball or handover must take place.
- Players are not allowed to go to ground unless they are effectively tackled by an opponent.
- None of the tackler's team-mates can attempt to handle or pick up the ball once the ruck has formed.
- Team-mates of the tackled player can use their hands, but only if they are on their feet.
- All players must join the ruck from behind the 'hindmost' foot of the last player.
- They must bind with one arm round a team-mate at the very back of the ruck.
- The ball can often get stuck under a pile of bodies, making it difficult for either team to make it available.
- Players cannot take shortcuts and join from the sides.
- Players are allowed to free the ball by using their boot. This term is called 'rucking'.
- However, they must ensure they do not make contact with players' heads or tread on bodies intentionally.
- All players joining a ruck must be on their feet.
- If the ball does not come out of a ruck after about five seconds, the referee will award a scrum to the team he considers to have the greater forward momentum in the ruck.
- Players can only join in from behind that team-mate. Anyone who comes in from the sides will be penalised by the referee.
- Players joining the maul must have their heads or shoulders no lower than their hips and must have at least one arm bound to a team-mate.
- The team not in possession of the ball cannot deliberately collapse the maul.
- One of the infringements referees have clamped down on in the past few years has been obstruction in the maul, or "truck and trailer" as it has been called.
- This is when a player acts as a screen, blocking tacklers from reaching the ball carrier.
- However players can circumvent this law if two or more team-mates bind around the ball together and move forwards.
- As long as the tackler has a fair opportunity to contest the ball, the referee will allow the maul to continue.
- If the maul stops moving forwards the referee will often shout "use it or lose it" to the team in possession.
- This means they must pass the ball within a five-second time period.
- If they do not the referee will call a scrum and the team not in possession will be given the feed.
- However if a player has caught the ball from a kick-off or a drop-out and is drawn in the middle of a maul inside their own 10yd line, the referee will award the scrum to their side if the ball has not come out in time.
- A maul ends when the ball is passed out or is on the ground.
- An automatic handover takes place when the team in possession runs out the shot clock.
- If the ball goes out of play, the opposition are awarded a contested scrum. If this is from a kick going into touch on the full this is called ball back and the scrum is formed where contact with the ball was made.
- If a one-on-one tackle is attempted, the tackler can legally strip the ball from the attacking player.
- When an opposing player intercepts a pass.
- When the player in possession drops the ball and it is recovered by an opposition player.
- If a player commits an illegal play the opposing team is awarded a penalty and will receive the ball.
- The attacking team may lose possession in a scrum or tackle.
- Following an unsuccessful kick at goal; If the kick at goal misses and goes dead, play is restarted with a drop out at the 10yd line.
- The team which has just scored kicks off to the conceding team.
- The ball is kicked off from the try-line; all kicks must be made by either place kick or drop kick.
- Punting is illegal because of the size of the playing field.
- The receiving team must field any kick that lands in the field of play; the kicking team is required to give a 5yd empty zone until a player from the receiving team has possession of the ball.
- Any kickoff untouched which is out of bounds or hitting an overhead structure (i.e. scoreboard) will be placed at the 10-yard line or the place where it went out of bounds, whichever is more advantageous to the receiving team.
- Try = 5 points.
- Drop Goal = 3 points.
- Conversion = 2 points.
- Penalty Goal = 1 point.
- All teams have a maximum signing bonus of $100 per player.
- All Players and Coaches must receive a salary of $25-50 per game ($400-800 per season).
- All Referees must receive a salary of $20 per game ($320 per season).
- The season starts in early May and ends in late August.
- The season is a 17-week season in which all 9 teams play all other 8 teams twice (1h/1a) (16 Games) with one bye week.