From Victorian English schoolyards to packed stadiums worldwide, rugby has a story worth knowing. Tries, scrums, tackles and Grand Slams: how much do you really know?
10 questions on the rules of rugby union, the World Cup, the Six Nations Championship and the legends of the game. Forwards, backs and armchair fans, it's your turn.
Rugby is said to have started in 1823, when a pupil at England's Rugby School, William Webb Ellis, supposedly picked up a football and ran with it instead of kicking it. The story is almost certainly embellished, but it gave its name to the Webb Ellis Cup, awarded to the winners of the Rugby World Cup. Since then, rugby union has spread far beyond Britain: South Africa, New Zealand, France, Argentina and Japan now rank among the sport's biggest powers.
This quiz covers the basic rules (tries, conversions, scrums, tackles), major events like the World Cup and the Six Nations Championship, and the players who shaped the game's history, from the All Blacks to Les Bleus. Time to find out if you deserve the number 10 jersey.
Want to warm up before playing or double-check something? Open any question to reveal the correct answer and a short explanation.
Correct answer: 5 points
A try is worth 5 points. The conversion that follows adds 2 more, while a penalty or a drop goal is worth 3 points each. Since 2017, a penalty try has been worth a straight 7 points.
Correct answer: South Africa
South Africa beat New Zealand 12-11 in the final at the Stade de France on 28 October 2023. It was a record fourth World Cup title for the Springboks.
Correct answer: 15
A team fields 15 players: 8 forwards (numbers 1 to 8) who contest possession in the scrum, and 7 backs (numbers 9 to 15) who carry the ball forward.
Correct answer: Jonny Wilkinson
With 26 seconds left in extra time, Jonny Wilkinson slotted a right-footed drop goal to seal a 20-17 win for England. It remains the only World Cup title England's men have ever won.
Correct answer: William Webb Ellis
The story credits William Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby School. Historians have never been able to confirm it actually happened, but his name lives on in the Webb Ellis Cup, awarded to World Cup champions.
Correct answer: The haka
The Ka Mate haka has been performed by New Zealand representative sides since a tour in 1888-89. Since 2005, the All Blacks have had a second haka of their own, called Kapa o Pango.
Correct answer: 6
The tournament brings together England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. A team that beats all five rivals completes a Grand Slam, as France did in 2022.
Correct answer: Jonah Lomu
Jonah Lomu scored 7 tries in 5 matches at that World Cup in South Africa, including 4 in the semi-final against England. The tournament is also remembered for Nelson Mandela handing over the trophy while wearing a Springbok jersey.
Correct answer: 80 minutes
A match lasts 80 minutes, split into two 40-minute halves with a break of up to 15 minutes. Unlike American football, the clock keeps running throughout play.
Correct answer: 1987, New Zealand and Australia
The first edition took place in 1987, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. The All Blacks won that inaugural title, beating France 29-9 in the final in Auckland.