Leisure Kicks - The essencial sport and leisure guide

Rugby League is a full contact game involving two teams of 13 players - seven backs and six forwards - on a rectangular grass field played over two 40-minute halves. The objective is to carry or kick the ball towards the opposing team's goal-line where points are scored by grounding the ball; this is called a try. The team can add a conversion, worth two points, if they successfully kick the ball between the uprights and over the crossbar.

When in possession, a team has six opportunities or tackles to advance upfield. If they are caught in possession on the sixth tackle or lose the ball, it is handed over to the opposition. Players are not allowed to pass forward: if they do, or drop the ball, a scrum is awarded. This consists of the two sets of forwards crouching down and locking together while the ball is fed through their legs.

Penalties, worth two points if kicked at goal like conversions, are awarded for foul play. A field goal, which is a drop kick which goes through the posts and over the crossbar, is worth one point.

Each side is allowed four replacements which can be interchanged a maximum of 12 times.

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Rugby League will be ushering in a new era in 2015