Beach Rugby

Beach Rugby is a sport that can be based on either of the rugby football codes, league or union. There is no centralized regulation of the sport as in Beach Soccer, but leagues are common across Europe, and the sport is particularly popular in Italy. Casual games are played across the world using different sets of rules, but organized leagues use a field that is a fraction of the size of a standard rugby field, far fewer players on each team, shorter matches, and a simplified scoring system.

Rules

Field Dimensions

The size of a Beach Rugby field depends on the decision of the league. The field is between 30-50 meters long, 20-35 meters, wide, and the in-goals are 3-7 meters deep. There are no goalposts on the field, and the lines are usually marked with some sort of tape or rope.

Number of Players

Depending on the league and the field size, either 5 or 7 players are allowed on the field for one team at once. Between 3 and 7 reserves are allowed, again, depending on the league. Substitutions are often done "on-the-fly," similar to ice hockey or futsal.

The Ball

A standard rugby ball is used, but many leagues will use a size 4 ball instead of size 5, the size used in all levels of field rugby above youth. A rugby ball is ellipsoidal in shape, made of synthetic leather panels that have small dimples to enhance handling.

coring

Most leagues use a "one try, one point" scoring system, since there are no goalposts on the field. Occasionally, a sudden-death extra time period is used to resolve matches drawn at the end of regulation, but not all leagues use this rule.

One Italian league used a system where the in-goals were divided into five equal rectangles. A try scored from the outer rectangles was worth 3 points, from the central rectangle was 5 points, and from either of the two intermediate rectangles was worth 4 points. However, there is no evidence that this league still exists.

Timing

Leagues use either two 5 or 7 minute halves (with a 1 or 3 minute interval for halftime) as the length of a single match. Extra time may be played if the league calls for it.

ee also

*Touch Rugby
*Rugby league
*Rugby union

External links

* [http://www.beachrugby.nl/ Ameland Beach Rugby Festival (128 teams in all classes)]
* [http://www.beach-rugby.eu/ TACKLE Open Beach Rugby Festival]
* [http://www.beach-rugby.net/ TACKLE Lignano International Beach Rugby Cup (Italian/English)]
* [http://www.domeus.co.uk/groups/beach-rugby Beach Rugby Cup Community]
* [http://www.beachrugby.eu/ European Beach Rugby Committee]
* [http://www.beachrugby.it/ TACKLE Beach Rugby Italian Series]
* [http://www.sru.org.sg/beachrugby/ Beach Rugby in Singapore]
* [http://www.rugbyuniononline.com/ www.rugbyuniononline.com - the essential rugby website, beach rugby section]
* [http://www.theromantics.de TheRomantics.de] - German Beach Rugby Team
* [http://orcs.kiev.ua/ ОРКИ КИЕВ] - Kiev (UKRAINE) Beach Rugby Team