April 3, 2009

The Navy Men's Rugby Team will play host to Army on Saturday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth under 18. Midshipmen and Cadets will be admitted free. There is also a $5 charge for parking at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

To help fans learn more about the sport, navysports.com will be running rugby facts of the day this week leading up to Saturday's game.

A rugby ball is made of leather or other similar synthetic material. It is easy to grip and does not have laces. Rugby balls are made in varying sizes (three, four or five) for both youth and adult players. Like footballs, rugby balls are oval in shape, but are rounder and less pointed than footballs to minimize erratic bounces.

Rugby has 15 players on each team. Everyone on the pitch plays offense and defense, and the number of each player signifies that player's specific position. Jersey numbers above 15 are worn by substitute players. Players numbered one through eight are forwards, typically the larger, stronger players of the team whose main job is to win possession of the ball.  They would be the equivalent to American football linebackers and linemen. Players numbered nine-15 are backs, the smaller, faster and more agile players. Their main role is to exploit possession of the ball won by the forwards. Backs may be equated to running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks in American football.