Yes there are two different types of Rugby. Rugby League and Rugby Union. For example in the League game the ballcarrier is tackled by two or three opposition players and then they retreat to 10 metres away and the tackled player plays the ball back (backheels it) to a dummy half or acting dummy half who runs the play from there. League tends to be alot more physical and dangerous. In union the fitness and body types needed are different. There is more sustained physical contact and more need for raw power and strength in the forwards than there is in league.

Essentially, in League the forwards have to have the strength to beat two or more men on their own - mauls are not allowed in League. (NB: A maul is a technique in Union whereby the ball-carrier gets his teammates to bind onto him and drive him forward. It ceases to be legal once the maul has stopped - ie there is not forward momentum - or the maul collapses. If it collapses, the ball must be played as normally would be done, by placing on the ground behind you.). Rugby League's main positive attributes for forwards are power, strength and aggression. Union's forwards are perhaps a little bit more subdued, but still very physical and strong. Also, League's backs have to be very wary - their halfback or 5/8 may decide to kick the ball at any stage. Kicking in Union is allowed, but very rare in comparison to League. I am a huge fan of League, and only a moderate Union fan. But I find that Rugby League is fatser and more physical than Union.

League has less players than Union. League has 13 players. There is 15 on a Union team. In League you have six tackles to get the ball as close as you can to the oposition end. After each tackle the person tackled will play the ball back to dummy half. If you are caught on the sixth tackle the ball is handed over to the opposition. Most times the ball will be kicked after the fifth tackle although sometimes it might be kicked earlier for variation. In Union when you are tackled you need to let go of the ball straight away or you will be penalised. Also, the scoring is different. In League you get four point for a try and two points extra for converting the try. In Union it is five points for a try. It is still two points for the conversion.

And there is also variations of Rugby Union in Sevens and Tens. However, the rules are very similar to Rugby Union except there are 7 or 10 players on a team!

yeah,there is rugby union(15 a side,10 a side and 7 a side)and rugby league(13 a side and 7 a side) -new zealand are domminating right now in 15s -???????????? is dominating right now in 10s -Fiji and New zealand are on top of the rankings in 7s -Australia is dominating in rugby league at the moment and ????????????? are the best at 7 a side rugby league.

Some of the guys in my area got togeather and devised a form of Rugby for people who are not as big or physical as professional Rugby players but wanted to play Rugby. As most of us were Indian ( There is an Indian Rugby Union side) we came up withe the name Hath Gili literally means Hand ball Differences form COnventional Rugby No Scrum, No Ruck or Maul Tackles can only be one on one. If a player is coming at you, he must be turned over by grabbing him around torso. If you are behind, you can tap his ankle or jump at his waist ( grab), and pull him down. If he manages to keep ball on the ground below him, he has 10 seconds to release and pass( backwards from the ground ) to a team mate. The tackler must release and step 3 paces back. The person who he passes onto must be given a further ten seconds to run with ball by the orginal tackler. This does not apply to anyone else taking him down. If he is turned or the ball is not on the ground, he has to ( like tag Rugby) pass the ball immeadiatley or give it to the tackler to resume play. Failure gives other side free kick. Similiarities Other than taht just like Union, including Line outs and scores 7 Aside only. Two Full backs ( who are only allowed in their half, re defending and kicking ( eg out of touch)) two mid fielders, and three forwards. Game begins with a kick forward. Passes only backwards. If referee unclear whose ball it is after a tackle, can restart play via Line out, with all players in line out except the Full backs who stay loose. Such a situation takes the line out always at centre line, with referee throwing ball between them. Otherwise Lineouts as in Union. Play is 25 mintues each way. So it is a notch up from Touch Rugby. As I said it is for Fans, who perhaps are not that physical or have never played Rugby before. It is a game for fun. Serious Rugger Buggers will play Union of course.