How long is a rugby game? Duration of the game and break explained

A rugby game is one of the few sports that take quite a long duration during play. The appeal of the game is simple to grasp. Who cannot appreciate the toughness needed to play a fast-paced, hard-hitting match, with no timeouts and only a few minutes of half-time?

Rugby is a sport much played in Europe, South Africa and Australia, but it enjoys a passionate following worldwide. As a constituent of American football, rugby and football have numerous similarities.

What is rugby?

This is a contact-team sport first played between two opposing teams in England in the early 19th century. The ball is oval-shaped and appears much similar to an American football.

How long is a rugby game?

Rugby is an 80-minute game divided into two 40-minute halves. Like in soccer, the clock does not stop except when there is an injury or instant replay. As a result, the clock does not stop when the ball leaves the pitch or a goal is scored.

The length of a game does come with one restriction, though. A half could theoretically continue forever. The halves do not end until play stops once the timer runs out, unlike other sports where the match ends as soon as the clock reaches zero.

Therefore, despite the possibility that the clock at the end of the half could reach zero, the team in possession of the ball may still hold it. They can play as long as they have possession of the ball until they kick it out of play, score, or make an error.

No additional time is added, unlike in sports like football. For matches on TV, it may last much longer if commercials are aired during the game.

Different rugby games and their duration

Rugby games come in various formats, each with its own rules and guidelines. Let us examine each type and its associated lengths in more detail.

1. Rugby Union

More than 120 nations play this style of game, making it the most widespread. The most popular variation of this is rugby fifteens. A match is divided into two halves, each lasting 40 minutes, with a 10-minute break.

If there is a tie at the end of the match, extra time may be used to decide the winner. The Six Nations Championship is among the most well-known competitions of this kind.

2. Rugby league

This variant is played mainly in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Each team has 13 players, and there is a 10-minute break between each 40-minute half of the game. If there is a tie at the end of the match, extra time may be used to decide the winner.

3. Sevens Rugby

A faster-paced variation of the match known as sevens are played with only seven players on each team. Sevens are much played in tournaments, high schools and colleges, with different matches taking place in a single day.

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Other Sports

How long is a Sevens Rugby game? Matches are typically shorter, lasting 14 minutes with a 2-minute half-time break.

4. Rugby Touch

This is a non-contact variation with six players on each team. The average length of a match is between 20 and 30 minutes.

How long is a rugby game in the World Cup?

Rugby union is the type which is played during World Cups. Thus, a match is divided into two halves of 40 minutes each, with less than fifteen minutes break in between. The World Cup occurs every four years.

How long is a rugby field?

The maximum playing area is 120m long and 60m wide. The maximum length for each in-goal is 10 metres.

Although the size of the pitch can vary, it generally resembles a football pitch: it is rectangular in shape, has two end zones, and two sets of goal posts at either end of the pitch; the posts are positioned in front of the end zone rather than at the back.

How does the scoring work?

There are three different ways to score in rugby. First and foremost is what is referred to as a "try". It counts as a try when a member of the attacking team enters the opposing team's end zone and touches the ball to the ground.

This carries a five-point value. After the try, the winning team can add two more points by converting or scoring a "conversion."

Players can also score by executing a "penalty kick." A penalty kick is an attempt to kick for the posts, similar to a conversion. On the other hand, a penalty kick is taken at or directly behind the location where a penalty is awarded and is worth three points. This happens when a team is penalised by the referee for breaking the rules.

Making a "drop goal," as it is known, is the third and final way to score. Any time during the course of the game, a drop goal can happen and is worth three points. It occurs when a player kicks the ball through the uprights after dropping it to the ground.

You now know how long a rugby game takes. So, whenever you consider watching a game on TV or in person, get ready for a thrilling experience that will last for more than an hour.

Sports Brief published an article about the duration of a basketball match and more. Since James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891, the Canadian-American intended it to be a less injury-prone sport than football.

He set out rules that would later be modified with the continuity and development of the game. Click on the above link to read more!