Lesson 2 of 5 · Learn Major League Rugby
Lesson 2: The Playing Area and Equipment
Understanding the field helps you follow the action much more easily.
The Pitch (Field):
- Rectangular shape, up to 100 metres long (try line to try line) and up to 70 metres wide
- Each end has an in-goal area — typically 6–22 metres deep — where tries are scored
- H-shaped goalposts stand at each end, with a crossbar 3 metres high
The Ball:
- Oval shaped — this unique shape affects how it bounces and is passed
- Can be kicked in any direction
- Can only be passed laterally (sideways) or backward — never forward
Key Lines to Know:
- Try line — cross this with the ball grounded to score a try
- Touch line — the out-of-bounds sideline; when the ball crosses here, play stops
- Dead-ball line — the back edge of the in-goal area
In MLR, there are also two marked lines near the posts in the in-goal area that create a special scoring zone — more on that in Lesson 3!