Rugby
field dimensions do vary, especially in lower grades. Check out the
field, does it measure up? How it might affect your game and the
result...
Rugby
field dimensions in metres
Rugby field
dimensions... ...must be as close as possible
to the figures given above.
No minimum figures are
given. If you want to see the actual official dimensions you`ll find
them
in IRB Law 1 The Ground
Length
of the field
The maximum
length of the "field
of play" is 100
metres. That`s the distance between the two goal lines.
You know what your maximum sprint distance will be!
Take
field length and field position into account when you decide on your
next actions.
You can break a defence with rugby
sidesteps... ...but it is best to do it near their
end of the field... ...so you are likely to get a try... ...and
there is less chance of being run down... ...after you have
made the break.
At
higher levels
in the sport the length would usually be the maximum. At lower levels it may
be worth
checking the dimensions of the field you are about to play on.
Length
variations
are likely to be small, but could
affect the quality of your decisions and
accuracy of your kicks... ...
both in general
play and shots for goal. The chip kick may not be as easy on a
shorter pitch...
The 10 metre line is relative
to the
half-way line. If you`re playing away and you`re on the opposition 10
metre line you may be 5
to 10 metrescloser
to or further from the opposition tryline than on your
home ground.
Position
of the half-way line
Yes it is in the middle of the field!
But
it`s relative
No
matter what the rugby field dimensions are, the half-way line is drawn
so that
it is exactly mid-way
between the goallines.
Width
of the field
The maximum
width of the field is 70
metres.
Again at lower levels it may
be worth
checking the dimensions of the field you are about to play
on.
Fields
significantly narrower or
wider than you are used to could really affect your game and
you should be aware
of how todays pitch compares with your own.
On a narrower field you
may feel cramped.
The rugby
jink may come in more useful. If you are used to
using wide open spaces to run around the opposition
you`ll have to straighten
your attack. But you`ll find it easier to defend.
On a wider field, be
aware. There`ll be more
ground to cover in defence. In attack you`ll be
used to having to run straight on a narrower field and will probably use the extra width well. A
bouncing
grubber kick put through the defence could be good
Dimensions
of in-goal
area
The in-goal
area has no set dimensions.
The width may vary from field
to field. It is always the same width as the whole field.
The
depth may vary.
The actual depth may depend on the amount of space available or on the
prefernces of the home team.
The
maximum
depth of the in-goal area is 22
metres. The law says it must be a minimum of 10 metres "where
practical". It
can make a big difference when
you attempt to score
tries.
With deep in goal areas you can
even use... ...evasion techniques (rugby sidesteps) to get a try nearer the posts. This will
make it easier for the player... ...taking the place kick
to convert the try and score more points.
Check the field you
are about to play on. If your team regularly scores tries
by kicking
into the in-goal area and running in to ground the ball using the rolling
grubber kick... ...you may be affected by a smaller than
usual in-goal area.
Posts
Rugby
field dimensions include the posts - 5.6 metres wide.
The top edge of the cross bar
is 3.0 metres from the ground.
The minimum height of
the posts
is 3.4 metres.
We
used to call the goal
posts... ... "the
sticks"... ..."He/she sidestepped the fullback... ...and
put the ball down under the sticks".
When
you are kicking
for any type
of goal
(conversion, penalty or drop goal) the ball must pass over the
cross bar and between the posts.
Here`s
a
video clip where the ball did just that before being blown back over by
the wind. The points were awarded - because it had gone over.
Would
you believe it!
Other rugby field details
You may also be interested in other field information. ...like the playing surface, the lines and the rules