What is the Big Difference Between Rugby Union & Rugby League?

If you’re a rugby fan or just starting to explore the rugby sport, you’ve probably encountered or read about Rugby Union & Rugby League.

But what sets these two apart? Rugby Union typically involves more players (15 per team) and focuses on strategic, slower-paced gameplay with scrums and rucks.

On the other hand, Rugby League has fewer players (13 per team) and emphasizes faster, more dynamic play with fewer stoppages and a focus on continuous action.

Although they may seem similar at first, the differences between the two offer unique experiences for both players and fans.

What is Rugby Union & Rugby League?

There are two most common forms of rugby: Rugby Union & Rugby League, each with its own rules, gameplay, and strategies.

While they bear some similarities, they are nevertheless differentiated sports, each with their own essence.

Rugby Union

Rugby Union is the older and more traditional of the two, represented by 15 players per team.

The game involves strategy, teamwork, and physicality, emphasizing set pieces like scrums, rucks, and lineouts.

Rugby Union comprises longer phases of play and much more structured gameplay, making it slower yet highly tactical.

It is popular in England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia.

Rugby League

Rugby League emerged from Rugby Union in 1895 when some clubs in North England broke away from it to form a distinctly different sport.

Rugby League teams are made up of 13 players and are marked by their faster pace and less stoppage in play.

The game involves fewer set pieces, no lineouts, and only limited scrums, making it more flamboyant regarding quick ball movement and dynamic running.

It is trendy in Australia, England, and New Zealand.

While both have the same origins, their play and culture offer players and fans very different experiences.

Tackling Rules

Union’s all about the continuity. After a tackle, it is up for grabs – quite literally.

Of course, the NFL has a “six tackles and you’re out” rule, similar to downs in American football but with a rugger twist.

The league’s tackle count leads to more structured play and tactical kicking.

Chaos after the tackle, Union’s Union’s post-tackle chaos? That is where you will find the so-called rucks and mauls.

Scoring

Two rugby players in action, with one player in a green jersey carrying the ball while being tackled by an opponent in white and blue. — Intense rugby action as a player breaks through a tackle during a game.

Rugby Union & Rugby League score tries, but they assign different values to them.

Rugby Union awards 5 points for a try and 2 points for a conversion kick.
Rugby League gives 4 points for a try and 2 points for a conversion.

Field goals, also known as drop goals, are worth 3 points in Rugby Union but only 1 point in Rugby League.

These slight differences in scoring may seem minor, but they significantly impact game strategies and tactics in each code.

The Playground

While Rugby Union & Rugby League share fields of the same size, their layouts and dimensions differ slightly.

Rugby Union fields are usually bigger to 100 meters from Try Line to Try Line, plus an additional 22 meters behind each in-goal area.

It can be 70 meters in width, allowing more room for tactical play and set pieces such as scrums and lineouts.

The field of Rugby League is somewhat small, extending up to 100 meters in length, compared to the fields of other rugby codes.

On the other hand, the in-goal areas are less deep, about 6 to 11 meters deep.

An illuminated rugby stadium at night, showing the playing field with goalposts under bright stadium lights. — A rugby stadium lit up for an evening match

Also, the field width is narrower at about 68 meters, which creates a faster version of the game with fewer set pieces and more running and tackling.

While both codes mark the field lines every 10 meters, Rugby League involves the 40/20 rule where a team benefits from kicking accurately within such zones.

These very minor differences in field size and layout change the overall pace, strategy, and style of play for each sport.

Set Pieces: The Art of Restarting Play

Set pieces play an essential role in the running of both Rugby Union & Rugby League as critical phases in restarting the game after such stoppages. Still, the type and importance differ between the two codes.

Scrums

Rugby Union: Scrums are an integral part of the game, requiring all eight forwards on a team. They are used to restart the game in case of minor infringements. Scrumming is also a very tactical game.

Rugby League: Scrums are very watered-down, usually involving fewer players, and often just used to quicken the restart of play after certain stoppages, like going out or on a kick.

Lineouts

Rugby Union: Lineout- the ball has gone into touch. Teams line up and jump to contest for the ball. It’s a highly specialized set piece and lots of coordination goes on among the players.

Rugby League: The most striking feature of Rugby League is the absence of lineouts, which only serves to quicken the pace of the game.

Kicking Restarts

Rugby Union: There are drop kicks to restart the game after the king of points that occurred, not to mention tactical kicking opportunities aplenty during open play.

Rugby League: Kicking does factor in, but there is a much greater emphasis on quick restarts, such as tap kicks, so the game moves along much more quickly.

These set pieces make the respective games adopt certain rhythms, with Rugby Union embracing structured and strategic restarts to its game, while Rugby League adopts a spectrogram of speed and continuous action.

The Big Leagues: Where the Pros Play

A rugby player in a red and white uniform holding a rugby ball, standing confidently on the field with a stadium full of spectators in the background. — A determined rugby player ready for action in a packed stadium.

There are two major leagues, one for Rugby Union and one for Rugby League, where the best professionals participate in each form of rugby.

For Rugby Union, the leading and most well-known leagues are the English Premiership, France’s Top 14, and Super Rugby, assembled with teams from different countries.

Union also participates internationally in events such as the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup.

While Rugby League’s most prestigious contests are the National Rugby League of Australia and New Zealand, and the Super League in Europe, primarily England.

Whereas Rugby Union boasts close to fifteen accredited countries with international standing, Rugby League has a flourishing and dedicated following within areas of Australia, England, and New Zealand, where their followers are hugely passionate.

Conclusion

While both sports have a common root, they have evolved into two distinctly different sports.

Each with its attractions and difficulties.

Whether one likes the strategic depth of UnionUnion or the rapid-fire action of League, few can deny that either sport provides exciting spectacles for players and fans alike.

Remember, watching and playing both is the best way to appreciate the differences. So grab a ball, get some friends together, and give both codes a go. You never know. Might just fall in love with rugby all over again. If you find this content helpful, check out our other recently published articles to learn more!