The Rugby Field
Everything is measured in meters! The outside dimensions are not greater than 144 meters (including Dead Ball line) and width is no greater than 70 meters. The halfway line is pretty self explanatory (marks the halfway point of the field). The 10 meter line is marked 10 meters from the halfway line on either side. The 10 meter lines mark the distance that a kickoff must go before the opposing team may gain posscession of the ball. The 22 meter line is measured from the try (a.k.a goal) line. The 22 meter lines mark the spot where play is restarted.
Now about the try zone (equivalent to that of an end zone in football). The goal post is 5.6 meters wide and 3 meters high at the crossbar (same as NFL Football dimensions). Post extened 18 feet high and the cross-bar is at 10 feet above the ground. The size of the try area is not less than 10 meters and can be no greater than 22 meters. If a ball is placed outside these boundaries the try does not count!
Scoring And It's History
Why are there goal posts? Well, the addition of the crossbar was accompanied by a rule that a goal could only be scored by the ball passing over the bar from a place kick or drop kick. This was done to make scoring easier from further out and also to avoid the flock of defenders standing in the goal mouth. So then how do you score? To score you must place the ball down in the Try Zone, hence the football term "touchdown." The ball must be under control when placed down. If you place a foot or hand under the ball it does not count. For example, Duckie stuck her foot out and placed it under the ball to prevent a try. The try did not count because the ball "did not touch the ground." Here is a video of what NOT to do. The ball was not under control here...
Rugby has changed many of it's Laws (Rules) throughout it's many years, and scoring has been involved in these changes. In early rugby played at Rugby School the only scores came from goals and there wasn't a point value associated with scoring. In 1845 a "Try at Goal" had to be earned by touching the ball down between the posts (which has changed today). The ball then was punted over the bar and between the posts without touching the dress or person of any player and in the face of on rushing defenders. In 1871, the first RFU (Rugby Football Union) Laws stated that "A match shall be decided by a majority of goals only." In 1875, when games would be finished without any goals being scored the team which had the most tries at goals would win. The Law was modified to "A match shall be devided by a majority of goals, but if the number of goals is equal or no goals be kicked, by a majority of tries."
In 1886 the rules accepted "A match shall be decided by a majority of points, a goal shall equal three points, and try one point. If the number of points be equal, or no goal kicked or try obtained, the match shall be drawn. Where a goal is kicked from a try the goal only is scored." Later penalty kicks were introduced, allowing teams disadvataged by illegal play to kick for a goal and score points if the kick was good.
In 1893 the scoring was much more like today's. A try is worth 3 points, a vonverted try 5 points, 3 for penalty goal, and 4 for a field goal. In 1958/1989 Penalty Try was introduced. Finally in April 1992 (International Rugby Football Board) increased the vaule of the try to 5 points. So today a try is 5 points, Conversion Goal is 2 points, Penalty Goal is 3 points, and a Dropped Goal is worth 3 points. The main prolblems associated with recording the history of scoring results primarily from the fact that each home union originally had its own laws although the RFU's law were usually adopted, there wasn't an International Board until 1890 and the IRFB's laws were not used for non-internationals until 1930!
