Rugby 101
Samantha Ward • June 27, 2025
Rugby 101
As we gear up for the Legacy Cup, we want to make sure you’re fully prepared, so we’ve put together a quick Rugby 101 guide to help you get started!
1. How do you score points in rugby?
There are four ways to score points: A try (5 points) is scored by grounding the ball in the opponent's in-goal area - also called the try zone. A conversion (2 points) is kicked after scoring a try. Teams can also kick penalties (3 points) for serious rule violations, or score drop goals (3 points) by drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar during play (this method doesn’t happen as much, but when it does it’s very cool!)
2. Why can't players pass the ball forward?
Rugby's fundamental rule is that you can only pass backward or sideways to teammates. This creates rugby's unique flowing style where teams must work together creatively to advance. When players throw the ball forward, it's an infringement that gives possession to the other team.
3. What’s a scrum, and what’s going on in there?
A scrum is one of rugby’s ways of restarting play. Eight forwards from each team grab each other’s jerseys, bind together and compete for the ball by trying to push the other team backwards. It restarts play after minor infringements (like a forward pass.) The team awarded the ball (pro tip: look at the direction the referee’s arm is pointing) gets to put the ball into the scrum. The team that gets to put the ball in is trying to push hard to keep the ball, while the opposition is doing their best to push back as hard as possible to steal it the ball from them.
4. What’s all this kicking going on, and why are they doing it?
Smart kicking is a key tactical weapon! Players might punt (drop and kick before the ball touches ground) for territory, kick high for their own teammates to catch it and continue to advance, or use other tactics and techniques to keep play dynamic and exciting. Good kicking can relieve pressure, create attacking opportunities, and even score points.
5. What are those jumping contests at the sideline?
That's a lineout! When the ball goes into touch (out of bounds), teams line up opposite each other where the ball was marked when it left the field of play. The referee will put a flag in the air showing where the ball left the field, and then point in the direction of the team who gets to throw it back in. The team who gets possession will throw the ball straight into the space between the two lines of players (into the “tunnel.) You’ll see some players lifting other players - “lifters” lift the “jumpers” into the air on both teams to try and catch the ball. And, if the team that wasn’t awarded possession is able to catch the ball from the team that threw it in, the lineout has been “stolen!”
6. How long does a rugby match last?
Rugby matches consist of two 40-minute halves with a 15-minute half-time break. Unlike other sports, the clock keeps running during most play, creating that incredible continuous action, changes of possession, and the strategic battles that evolve over the course of a game that make rugby such an amazing game to watch!
7. What happens when a penalty is awarded?
When teams commit serious infringements, the referee awards a penalty to the opposing side. This gives teams valuable options: kick for goal (3 points), kick for better territory, tap and run to continue attacking, or kick into touch for a lineout. Penalties often decide close matches, so understanding when and why they're awarded adds to your enjoyment of the game.
8. Does rugby have cards like soccer does?
Yes, but they work a little differently. If a player commits a foul and the referee decides to award a yellow card, the player who committed the foul has to leave the field for 10 minutes before being allowed to return – AND, the team losing the player has to play shorthanded the whole time. If a player commits a really serious offense and the referee awards a red card, that player is sent off and cannot return to play, and the team losing the player has to play shorthanded for the rest of the match!

Denver Onyx are headed to the Legacy Cup! Denver Onyx have secured their spot in the Legacy Cup on Saturday, June 29 at 2PM CT in Eagan, Minnesota . Get your tickets now to watch the Onyx compete live!
Our broadcast partnership with DAZN is being paused, with both sides aligned on the need to reassess the broadcast strategy moving forward. We appreciate DAZN’s early commitment, however challenges have meant we are pausing all broadcasts while we evaluate how to deliver the fan experience we promised. We are actively pursuing an alternative with the intention of being back on air as soon as possible for the remainder of the regular season and Legacy Cup. We will share updates as they become available.
Women’s Elite Rugby’s national championship will be held in Eagan, MN WHAT: The 2025 Legacy Cup , the national championship for Women’s Elite Rugby , is set for Sunday, June 29 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. The two title contenders will be determined at the conclusion of WER’s regular season and will then play for the Legacy Cup. The start time of the Legacy Cup will be announced at a later date. Ticket presale will open to WER insiders on Monday, May 12th . Early access ticket sales will open to the general public on Monday, May 19th . Fans can sign up for the newsletter at www.womenseliterugby.us/newsletter for access to the presale. Legacy Cup visual assets for media are here . “We are proud to bring Women’s Elite Rugby to the heart of the Midwest where the passion for the sport runs deep. The 2025 Legacy Cup will be a celebration of how far the league has come in our inaugural season and a powerful platform for the growth of the game,” said Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf, WER President . WHERE: TCO Stadium in Eagan, MN 2685 Vikings Cir Eagan, MN 55121 *Attached to the Minnesota Vikings headquarters and training facility WHEN: Sunday, June 29 Time TBA For media members interested in attending the Legacy Cup, please fill out the credential form HERE and your request will be vetted in a timely manner. If you are interested in speaking to a WER representative about the Legacy Cup, please contact Sam Pell at wer@lindarothpr.com . For the latest news and updates surrounding the league, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram , X and LinkedIn . About WER Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is the first American professional women’s rugby league. The mission of the WER is to be the defining standard of rugby in the United States. WER is structured on the stable foundation of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), a national, amateur pay-to-play model, high level rugby competition established in 2009. With the creation of Women’s Elite Rugby, world-class women’s rugby will be ushered into the next stage of its evolution and will take women’s rugby in the United States to new heights.
Fans will be able to watch all WER games live and on-demand for free only on DAZN UNITED STATES (March 20, 2025) – Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) , the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States, is proud to announce a groundbreaking media partnership with DAZN, the leading global sports entertainment platform, to bring all the action from the inaugural 2025 season to fans across the country and around the world. With this partnership, DAZN’s platform becomes the only place for fans to enjoy all Women’s Elite Rugby games live and on-demand for free, alongside an exclusive, new mid-week highlights program. Women’s Elite Rugby joins DAZN’s extensive offering of women’s sport content, enjoyed by fans worldwide. DAZN holds the largest portfolio of women’s football rights in the world including the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Liga F, Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga, Arkema Première Ligue and Serie A Femminile. DAZN also broadcasts top-tier women’s basketball, tennis and volleyball competitions in select markets. “We are thrilled to enter into this media partnership with DAZN,” said Jessica Hammond-Graf, President of Women’s Elite Rugby . “This collaboration marks a major milestone for Women’s Elite Rugby as we continue to grow the sport and provide a platform for our talented athletes headed into our inaugural season. With the combined reach of DAZN, we are excited to deliver top-tier women’s rugby to a global audience and bring the game to new fans around the world.” The first game of the WER season is Saturday, March 22 with the New York Exiles hosting the Boston Banshees at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon at 3pm (EST). The regular season will run March 22 through June 14 with matches being played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets, please visit the WER website: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/2025-schedule . "DAZN’s partnership with Women’s Elite Rugby means that fans around the world eager to watch the inaugural season of this exciting competition can do so for free, alongside other premium women’s sports,” said Esmeralda Negron, Co-CEO of Women’s Sports at DAZN . “DAZN is committed to growing the reach and popularity of women’s rugby, having already set the standard for sports entertainment and the global broadcasting of premium women’s football." DAZN’s unrivalled scale, global footprint, and significant women’s sport audience is uniquely positioned to help build an engaged fanbase for Women’s Elite Rugby, with both DAZN and the league committed to growing the product through collaborative marketing efforts.  For members of the media interested in speaking to a WER representative about the broadcast rights deals and any other topics regarding the league, please contact Sam Pell at wer@lindarothpr.com . For the latest news and update, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn . About WER Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is the first American professional women’s rugby league. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with their inaugural season starting in March 2025 centering six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Bay Area, and Twin Cities featuring 180 athletes. The mission of the WER is to be the defining standard of rugby in the United States. WER is structured on the stable foundation of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), a national, amateur pay-to-play model, high level rugby competition established in 2009. With the creation of Women’s Elite Rugby, world-class women’s rugby will be ushered into the next stage of its evolution and will take women’s rugby in the United States to new heights. For further information visit: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/ . About DAZN As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide. DAZN is the global home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, as well as the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, LALIGA, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more, including FIFA Club World Cup 2025. DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. DAZN is a global, privately-owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com .
Partnership Elevates Women's 15s Rugby to New Heights, Aligning with World Rugby Standards  UNITED STATES — USA Rugby and Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) are excited to announce the formalization of a historic sanctioning agreement ahead of WER’s inaugural 2025 season, marking a major milestone in the development of women’s 15s rugby in the United States. This official sanctioning confirms that WER will operate in alignment with World Rugby’s highest standards and regulations on the professional level, paving the way for a new era in professional women’s rugby. The partnership between USA Rugby and WER underscores both organizations' commitment and collaborations on long-term success for professional women’s rugby in the U.S. WER’s season also marks an thrilling start to a benchmark year for women’s rugby as new and veteran USA Eagles take the field in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup in 2025.
Pinto Capital is a sports M&A financing company, specialising in brokering sports investments UNITED STATES – Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is delighted to announce the appointment of Pinto Capital LLP as strategic finance advisors and partners as the league progresses into Series A. With the boom of women’s sports valuations in the United States and in the United Kingdom creating exciting new opportunities, Pinto Capital is the ideal partner to support WER’s continued growth for many seasons to come. Pinto Capital is a sports M&A financing company, specializing in brokering sports investments, founded by former investment banker and hedge fund owner Laurie Pinto. Pinto Capital has been responsible for brokering ownership deals across the sports spectrum from the Premier League to the National League as well as wider work in (the) Bundesliga, USL and more. In October 2024, Pinto Capital announced the first sale ever of a county cricket team to an international group, after advising and brokering the sale of Hampshire County Cricket Club to GMR Global Pte Ltd. In January, it was also announced that Pinto Capital LLP started working with Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC) to explore financing options to fund the County’s future development plans. “We are extremely excited to be working with the team at Women’s Elite Rugby to help drive the commercialisation of the sport as a whole,” said Pinto Capital Founder Laurie Pinto. “Rugby is one of the leading women’s sport - from rising social media stars to growing grassroots participation - and we look forward to taking it to new heights.” Working with WER was the perfect fit for Pinto Capital, with the growing interest and popularity of women’s rugby among the masses. Coming off the 2024 Paris Olympic Games where the USA Eagles took a Bronze medal, interest in women’s rugby spiked in the US with USA Club Rugby noting a spike of 64% in registered members for the 2024-2025 season. Men, women, non-binary and gender-diverse individuals all saw an increase in participation and registration within the organization after the Paris Olympics with women making up 45% of new players . Women’s rugby valuation is on the rise as businesswoman and entrepreneur Michelle Kang, who has invested in various women’s sports entities including the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Washington Spirit, donated $4 million to USA Rugby 7s team. In the UK, women’s rugby is also growing with Sports England highlighting that the number of women playing rugby has grown from 25,000 to 40,000 from 2017 to 2022 . Particularly, US superstar IIona Maher has seen her stardom pay off overseas, since joining the Bristol Bears, she debuted to a sold out crowd of 9,240 fans which was double their previous crowd. Maher’s valuation continues to soar as she recently signed a multi-year deal with Adidas , demonstrating that rugby players can be featured on the world stage as global ambassadors alongside other sport athletes. Launching its inaugural season in March 2025, Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is set to be an exhilarating new league featuring six professional teams competing across the U.S. The first game of the WER season is Saturday, March 22 with the New York Exiles hosting the Boston Banshees at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon at 3pm (EST). The regular season will run March 22 through June 14 with matches being played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets, please visit the WER website: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/2025-schedule . “We are thrilled to have Pinto Capital on board with us at WER,” said WER President Jessica Hammond Graf. “Pinto Capital brings a wealth of experience having worked with premier leagues and teams around the world. We have no doubt that our partnership together will elevate our league to new levels that assist us in furthering our mission to provide a world class rugby league for our athletes, coaches and fans.” For media members interested in speaking to a WER representative about Pinto Capital LLP and any other topics regarding the league, please contact Sam Pell at wer@lindarothpr.com . For the latest news and update, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn .  About WER Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is the first American professional women’s rugby league. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with their inaugural season starting in March 2025 centering six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Bay Area, and Twin Cities featuring 180 athletes. The mission of the WER is to be the defining standard of rugby in the United States. WER is structured on the stable foundation of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), a national, amateur pay-to-play model, high level rugby competition established in 2009. With the creation of Women’s Elite Rugby, world-class women’s rugby will be ushered into the next stage of its evolution and will take women’s rugby in the United States to new heights. For further information visit: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/ .
This is a subtitle for your new post
UNITED STATES (March 10, 2025) – Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is thrilled to announce a new multi-year partnership with Destination Sport Group , as the leading sports travel management company becomes the Official Travel Partner of the premier women’s rugby league in the United States. Destination Sport Travel, the group’s specialist travel management division, will provide proactive support to WER and its six clubs, coordinating flights, accommodation and logistics for travelling teams, alongside business travel support for staff and executives. Launching its inaugural season in March 2025, Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is set to be an exhilarating new league featuring six professional teams competing across the U.S. The first game of the WER season is Saturday, March 22 with the New York Exiles hosting the Boston Banshees at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon at 4pm (EST). The regular season will run March 22 through June 14 with matches being played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets, please visit the WER website: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/2025-schedule. As the partnership evolves, Destination Sport Group will also work with WER to create touring opportunities for grassroots rugby-playing organizations and fan travel experiences via its inspiresport and SportsBreaks brands. “Women's Elite Rugby is thrilled to partner with travel industry leader Destination Sport Travel for all of our travel needs for the season,” said Jessica Hammond-Graf, WER President. “This collaboration will not only provide seamless travel solutions for our teams, but it also demonstrates DST's commitment to rugby and the growth of women's sports. We are proud to call them our partners as we launch our inaugural season.” Destination Sport Group operates across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, establishing itself as a global leader in sports travel management. The company boasts significant involvement in professional rugby globally, including existing partnerships with Major League Rugby and elite clubs, national teams and governing bodies around the world. President of Destination Sport North America, Jeremy Parkins, added: “We are proud to be a major partner of rugby’s global footprint. Our partnership with Women’s Elite Rugby continues to exemplify our priority in the growth of Women’s sports and the sport of Rugby. In North America, we’re committed to playing our part through our successful partnership with Major League Rugby and we are eager to replicate this success with Women’s Elite Rugby.” For media members interested in speaking to a WER representative about the partnership with Destination Sport Group or any other topics regarding the league, please contact Sam Pell at wer@lindarothpr.com. For the latest news and update, follow WER on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. About WER Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is the first American professional women’s rugby league. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with their inaugural season starting in March 2025 centering six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Bay Area, and Twin Cities featuring 180 athletes. The mission of the WER is to be the defining standard of rugby in the United States. WER is structured on the stable foundation of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), a national, amateur pay-to-play model, high level rugby competition established in 2009. With the creation of Women’s Elite Rugby, world-class women’s rugby will be ushered into the next stage of its evolution and will take women’s rugby in the United States to new heights. For further information visit: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/. About Destination Sport Group Destination Sport Group (DSG) is a global leader in sports travel, offering a range of best-in-class services to teams, governing bodies, organisations and fans worldwide. Comprising seven specialist divisions, DSG offers a comprehensive solution including travel management for elite sports organisations, fan travel experiences, youth sports tours, branded travel and hospitality experiences, and mass participation event travel. With 400+ employees across UK and Europe, North America, Middle East, Asia and Oceania, Destination Sport Group combines local insights with global expertise.
Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) Releases Venues, Schedule, and Tickets ahead of Inaugural Kickoff in March
Written by Allison Smith, WER
Written by Ro Lane, WER
