This section is targeted at people new to the game of rugby league and will hopefully provide an in depth education to the rules and the sport in general.

The aim of the game is simple: score more points than the other team. This applies to most sports really. Each team is given six tackles or chances to score. If, after six tackles, they have not scored, the ball is handed over to the other team who then get the chance to score with their six tackles. But rugby league is slightly more complicated than this.

Time

A game of rugby league consists of two halves of 40 minutes, with injury time added on at the end of each half. In between the two halves, there is a 10-minute break after which both teams change ends and attack the half they were defending. A hooter or whistle will indicate the start and finish of the half. Play is only allowed to continue after the whistle or hooter sounds if the ball is still in play. The half will immediately end once a tackle is made or the ball goes over the sideline or dead ball line (the furthest line at the end of both ends). However, time can be extended for a penalty kick or a kick at goal. In that case, the half will end when the next ball goes out of play or a tackle has been made.

Ball

Rugby league is played with an oval shaped ball, which can be found in many sizes.

Kick off

Rugby league is played on a pitch which is no more than 100m in length and 68m in width. The pitch is covered in several markings to indicate the different lines in the game. You have lines for the 10 m, 20m, 30m, 40,  goal lines, dead lines half-way line.

The three most important lines are the goal lines, deadlines and the half-way line. There are also several 10m markings from the touchline on the pitch to show where scrums and re-starts should be taken.