The object of the game is for your team to score more points than the opposing team.

The game is played with two teams of 15, playing on a field that's 100 metre long between the goal lines.

In Rugby Union, you may run forwards with the ball, and you may kick the ball forwards.

But what's interesting about Rugby Union is that you can only pass the ball backwards or sideways.

You cannot pass the ball forwards, and doing so will result in your opponent being awarded possession.

The idea is to score points, and there are several ways to do this.

#1 A Try: You can run with the ball into the opponent's in-goal area and place the ball down onto the ground.

This is a try and is worth five points.

Unlike in American Football, the player must press the ball on the ground with downward pressure.

No downward pressure equals no try.

#2 A Conversion: After scoring a try you're awarded a conversion kick to add more points.

The kick is made from a spot 20 m from the goal line and perpendicular to the spot where the try was scored.

Kicking the ball between the posts and over the crossbar scores two points.

#3 A penalty:

If your opponent commits a foul, you may choose to kick the ball from the ground between the goal posts.

This scores three points.

#4 A Drop Goal:

You can also kick the ball between the posts at any time during open play.

To do this you must drop the ball on onto the ground first before kicking it. This also scores three points.

To stop you from scoring, your opponents will try and stop you by tackling.

Your opponent can grab you below the shoulder and pull you to the floor or stop you moving forwards.

In Rugby Union, once a player is tackled, the ball carrier MUST let go of the ball.

This usually results in players pushing each other away on the ground whilst a team mate tries to get possession of the ball.

Players from either team can get possession at this point.

This is known as a ruck and is an important part in the game.

To the untrained eye, it looks like a bunch of men rolling around on the floor, but in reality, they're trying to push their opponents away so that they can get the ball.

The maul is the other important part of the game.

This is essentially a ruck whilst standing up.

Players will usually push opposing players backwards in order to get better field position.

Unlike in American Football or Rugby League, there are no set limits for possession.

If a team can keep the ball for the entire game, they generally will.

The game is played in two 40 minute halves.

For a combined playing time of 80 minutes.

Team with the highest score after 80 minutes wins.

That's basically the gist of it, but there's a few other rules you'll need to understand before playing or going to a game.

For example, Knock-on:

Any player deflecting the ball forwards with their arms or body is committing a knock-on.

Remember, you're not allowed to pass the ball forwards, so you're not allowed to deflect it forwards either unless it's a kick.

Committing a knock-on will result in the other team being awarded a scrum.

Scrum: This is a method of restarting play, usually after a forward pass or knock-on.

The forwards of both teams line up and push against one another whilst the ball is rolled between them.

In general, any team can win possession of the ball at this point.

In Touch:

This is rugby terminology for "out of the playing area."

The outer lines of the field are touch lines, and any ball leaving the field of play is said to be "in touch."

Line-out:

This is another method of restarting play, usually when the ball has left the field in touch.

Players from each team line up 1 metre apart whilst the ball is thrown between them.

Players are allowed to lift teammates up to try and gain possession of the ball.

There are many other rules not discussed here, but as you watch or play rugby union, they will be very clear indeed.

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Ninh Ly, www.ninh.co.uk, @NinhLyUK