RUGBY BASICS
Rugby is the predecessor to American Football, with rugby originating in England in 1823 at the Rugby School (thus giving the game its name).  It all started when young William Webb Ellis picked up the soccer (football) ball during a game and began to run with it.  The game has evolved since then.

Rugby is a full contact sport, played on a field a 100 meters long, 70 meters wide, with 15 players on each side. This is Rugby Union, the main form of rugby played around the world.

Rugby Rules for Beginners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiOpAvEdHQo (this clip does a great job of  summarizing the game)

Rugby Union is what Fresno RFC plays.  Rugby Union is an international game, with long story of traditions.

There is also a sport called Rugby League which evolved out of Rugby Union in the 1890s, but is played with 13 players, however the rules differ between the two games. In Rugby League the scrums are uncontested, in rugby league posession of the ball can be kept up to a max of six tackles (think of downs in American Football). There are a number of other differences as well.

Rugby 7s is a variation of Rugby Union. Rugby7s was first developed in Melrose, Soctland in 1883.  The 7s game has also evolved from then.  Rugby 7s is played on a full size field pitch (100m long, 70 wide). However each team  has only 7 players on the field vs. the traditional 15, and the half's are 7 minutes vs 40 minutes, as it is in a regular rugby game. The same rules apply, however the lineout, scrums, etc have to be modified do to the limited numbers. Rugby 7s is a fast, and quick game. Rugby 7s has been added to the Olympic Games.  In 1997 Fresno RFC took 2nd in the nation in Rugby 7s.

Rugby is not Australian Rules Football!

HERE ARE SOME MORE RUGBY BASICS TO GET YOU STARTED:

Rugby 101 Pt 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQyCcageGg 

Rugby 101 Pt 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvGMDEOOp8k 

Rugby Promo: http://youtu.be/35OhUzGOXbM

Note, there is no substitute for actual practice!!!