A Lil' History

The Johnson City Rugby Football Club was established in 1981 by an Englishman, Peter Cholerton, who immigrated to this area. He recruited men from the local community and East Tennessee State University. Over the years the "Pumas" have had numerous sponsors and varying degrees of success. The "Pumas" are part of USA Rugby, USA Rugby South Conference, and the Midsouth Union, which means we are a nationally sanctioned club. Our matches are played from Tennessee all the way to Florida and from the coast to the Mississippi River. Local News networks have covered our home matches, expanding our popularity locally.

About the Game

Rugby is a popular game played by men and women of every race and creed, from under age five to well over fifty, in over 100 countries of the world. In a few of those countries it is the national sport -- some say religion.
Rugby is the last true amateur sport. Players pay for their own equipment and travel expenses. Rugby players enjoy the fun, camaraderie, and social events following the hard played matches. Players range from 5 feet to almost 7 feet tall and can weigh as little as 120 pounds to over 300 pounds. Players do not need to be the fastest, or the strongest on the field to win. The best players have a balance of skills that bring the team's effectiveness up as a whole. Because of this, there is a place for players of all levels of experience and ability, and all are welcome.
The basic game involves 15 players, though seven-a-side tournaments are also popular.
The object of the game is to score as many points as possible by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding an oval ball in the scoring zone at the far end of the field -- called the in-goal area. Grounding the ball, which must be done with downward pressure, results in a try (worth 5 points). After a try a conversion may be attempted by place kick or drop kick. If the ball passes over the bar and between the goal posts the conversion is successful and results in a further 2 points. Points may also be scored from a drop kick in general play (worth 3 points) and a penalty kick (worth 3 points).
The ball may not be passed forward (though it may be kicked forward) and players may not receive the ball in an offside position, nor may they wait in such a position. Players may not be tackled without the ball. Play only stops when a try is scored, or the ball goes out of play, or an infringement occurs. When the ball goes out it is thrown back in at a line-out where the opposing "forwards" line up and jump for the ball. Infringements result in a penalty, or free kick, or scrum. In a scrum the opposing forwards bind together in a unit and push against the other forwards, trying to win the ball with their feet. Substitutions are only allowed in case of injury and there is no separate offensive and defensive unit.