Rugby
Rugby union is a team game in which players carry, pass and kick the ball and score by grounding it in the opponents' in-goal, a try worth five points. The ball may be carried and kicked forward but never thrown forward. A fifteens match is two halves of 40 minutes, with eight players a side in the scrum.
New to rugby? Start here
Which to watch first, and how long
Start with Sevens. Fourteen minutes, open space and tries: the quickest way to learn rugby.
- Sevens
- Two halves of 7 minutes; a competition final may be two halves of 10
- Fifteens
- Two halves of 40 minutes, with a half-time of up to 15 minutes
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Rugby World CupThe top title in rugby union.Every 4 years · Holder: Fiji and Australia, both over New Zealand; Men: South Africa
- 2Olympic Games (rugby sevens)The top sevens title.Every 4 years · Holder: France beat Fiji 28–7 in the men's final
- 3Rugby World Cup SevensThe sevens world title.Every 4 years to 2022 (Cape Town); a 2026 edition not confirmed by World Rugby (to check) · Holder: Fiji and Australia, both over New Zealand
- 4Asian Games (rugby sevens)Asia's multi-sport title; for India often the most reachable major medal.Every 4 years · Holder: Men's sevens: Hong Kong · Women's sevens: Japan
India
India has not played at a Rugby World Cup, the Rugby World Cup Sevens or the Olympic Games [the three pages].
- Rugby World Cup Sevens: Has not played
- Rugby World Cup: Has not played at either World Cup
- Rugby at the Olympic Games: No medal; India has not played Olympic rugby
- Rugby World Cup Sevens: Has not played
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- New ZealandRugby World Cup: 9 golds, 2 silvers, 5 bronzes (latest 2025); Rugby World Cup Sevens: 3 titles, 2 times runner-up (latest 2022)
- EnglandRugby World Cup: 4 golds, 9 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2025); Rugby World Cup Sevens: 1 title, 2 times runner-up (latest 2018)
- FijiRugby World Cup Sevens: 3 titles (latest 2022); Rugby at the Olympic Games: 2 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 2024)
- South AfricaRugby World Cup: 4 golds, 2 bronzes (latest 2023); Rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games: 2 golds, 2 bronzes (latest 2022)
- AustraliaRugby World Cup: 2 golds, 2 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2015); Rugby at the Olympic Games: 1 gold (latest 2016)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | World Rugby, Laws of the Game: Rugby Union 2026, with the sevens variations |
| International federation | World Rugby |
| In India | Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU): recognised, on the MYAS list for 2026 |
The rules sets cover sevens and fifteens (written 2026-10-21).
Where and when it is played
On a full-size pitch. The big events: the Rugby World Cup every four years (fifteens, men and women), the Olympic Games every four years (sevens) and the Rugby World Cup Sevens.