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Step 1
See if there is continuous action. Football is a series of individual plays that start and stop based on a play clock. When a play is over, the ball is placed at a line of scrimmage the players regroup. However, in rugby, as in soccer, there is continuous action and no play clock.
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Step 2
Note if the ball is passed forward. In football any player behind the line of scrimmage may pass the ball forward or backward and players in front of the line of scrimmage may pass the ball backward. A key difference in rugby is no player may pass the ball forward at any time and any player may pass the ball backward at any time. However, in rugby the ball may be kicked forward.
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Step 3
Watch for blocking. In football a key strategy is to block members of the other team to prevent them from tackling the ball carrier. In rugby, blocking is not allowed. A penalty is charged when a player blocks another player or when a ball carrier tries to use members of his team as protection from members of the opposing team.
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Step 4
Wait for a tackle and see what happens. In both sports the key strategy is to tackle the ball carrier to stop his advancement toward the goal. However, the difference in football is when a player is tackled the play is over and the ball is placed down at the site of the tackle, while in rugby when a player is tackled the play continues and the tackled player must immediately give up possession of the ball.
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Step 5
Look at the players to see if they are wearing protective gear. In football, players almost always wear helmets, and pads protecting their legs, arms and upper bodies. However, the difference in rugby is the players usually wear no protective gear at all. Because when a player is tackled in rugby, he gives up the ball, tacklers are not as intent on stopping forward progress and therefore tackling is usually less severe and dangerous in rugby.
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Step 6
Know the difference in how the players score. In football, scoring is done by a player entering the goal with the ball, followed by an attempt at extra points for either kicking the ball through the goal posts or an attempt to allow another player to enter the goal with the ball. In rugby, players must touch the ball down to the ground of the goal to score, followed by an attempt at extra points by kicking the ball through the goal posts. In both sports, kicking the ball through the goal posts before making a goal is also worth points.
