Newcastle upon Tyne will be the centre of the rugby league world come mid-October as the city hosts four matches in the Rugby League World Cup, including the tournament opener.
The World Cup orgainsers aim for St James' Park to be full when England kick-off against a much-fancied Samoa team on Saturday October 15. Kingston Park, the home of Newcastle's rugby league and union clubs, hosts three games.
While Newcastle is no stranger to rugby league - having hosted a string of Super League Magic Weekends - you might be unfamiliar - or at least less familiar - with the game than you are with football or rugby union. That doesn't matter, the tournament organisers would still love to see you there, and the England team could do with your support for their tough opener.
Read more: Kaiser Chiefs to play St James' Park as part of Rugby League World Cup build-up
If you are going or watching, you may want to brush up on the rules. The Rugby League World Cup has provided us with this guide.
A beginners' guide to rugby league
Here is a low down of the basics - the rules and regulations, and some of the reasons why you should get yourself to a game this autumn.
The aim of the game is to outscore the opposition. So, first things first, how can a team score points in rugby league?
- Try = 4 points
- Conversion = 2 points
- Penalty = 2 points
- Drop goal = 1 point
Now onto the more complex elements. For those who have never been lucky enough to experience a rugby league match, there may be a few moments in the match that surprise, or confuse you. So here are some key things to look out for:
Six tackle rule
An attacking team has a set of six chances to score, often referred to as six tackles. The referee keeps track of how many tackles have been performed in each set of six. When a side has used five tackles, the referee signals "fifth tackle" by raising an arm above his head with fingers spread, indicating that five of the tackles in the set have taken place and the next tackle will be the last. If a sixth tackle is made, a change-over takes place.
Uncontested scrums
Rugby league banned contested scrums in 1983, and since then, scrums have been used simply to restart the game, rather than contest possession. While the forwards are generally the biggest players in the team, the lack of scrums does mean that rugby league forwards tend to be extremely agile as well as powerful.
No line outs
When the ball goes into touch, a scrum restarts play. The lesser focus on contesting possession means that play focuses more on powerful running, hard tackling, forward progression and the contest for field position: as a result play stops much less frequently in rugby league, with the ball typically in play for 50 out of the 80 minutes compared to around 35 minutes for professional rugby union.
40/20s
There are few more exciting kicking moments in rugby league than the correct execution of a 40/20. The 40/20, meaning that the kick is taken behind the player’s forty metre line, bounces in the field of play and goes into touch inside the opponent’s twenty metre, gives a huge advantage for the kicking team, as it advances the ball forty metres down the field and offers a fresh attacking set.
Fast flowing, intense but friendly too
These rules and regulations have been curated over the years to ensure that fans can now enjoy the fast-flowing, high-intensity action that is promised in a rugby league match. Rugby league boasts some of the most knowledgeable and passionate supporters in sport, with tight-knit family-focused clubs creating a welcoming atmosphere for all in attendance.
As RLWC2021 comes to England, fans across the country will be treated to the pinnacle of the sport, as England try and bring home the Rugby League World Cup, in all three exciting codes of the game.
It is the perfect opportunity to experience the sport for yourself, and will be an unforgettable sporting experience for friends, families, existing fans, and future fans.
For the first time in history, the men’s, women’s and wheelchair rugby league tournaments will be played concurrently, giving fans the chance to experience a total of 61 matches to enjoy. Of those 61, Newcastle will play host to 4 crucial matches, all in the men’s tournament, including a block-buster opener, as England take on Samoa.
With a World Cup on your doorstep here in Newcastle at St James’ Park and Kingston Park, this is an unmissable opportunity to see some of the best athletes in the world compete in one of the world’s most exciting sports. To secure your tickets, visit www.RLWC2021.com/tickets
Read next:
