Rugby originated in 1823 in England during a soccer game when William Ellis decided to pick up the ball and run with it towards the opponents goal. Of course this wasn't the first time someone had picked up a ball but this was the first time when a game had resulted from it. It just so happens that this little encounter took place at a school for boys in England called, Rugby School. OK, enough history, on the positions of the game.
There are 15 players to a team. Each has a specific number for their position.
Figure 1
1- Loosehead prop- supports the hooker in the scrums and the jumpers in
the lineout.
2- Hooker- throws the ball into the lineout and win the ball when it is
fed into the scrum by hooking it back with his foot - hence the name.
3- Tighthead prop- supports the hooker in the scrums and the jumpers in
the lineout.
4- Second row- wins the ball in the lineout and provide the main impetus
to the scrum.
5- Second row- win the ball in the lineout and provide the main impetus
to the scrum.
6- Blindside flanker-winning the ball in loose play and supporting the
jumpers in the lineout.
7- Openside flanker- quickest of the forwards, he often provides an extra
man for his own backs in an attacking move
8- Number 8- Responsible for the crucial role of providing the scrum-half
with good ball from the base of the scrum or launching attacks from the same
position.
9- Scrum half- responsible for feeding the ball won by the forwards to
the backs, or recycling the ball in loose play.
10- Fly half- Key decision-maker who decides
whether to distribute the ball to the backs or kick for position
11- Left wing- get the ball and head flat-out for the try-line.
12- Inside center- knock holes in the opposition defence and provide the
defensive bulwark against attacks launched at his own backline.
13- Outside center- provides the link between midfield and
wingers/fullback
14- Right wing- get the ball and head flat-out for the try-line.
15- Fullback- responsible for the last line of defence against both
running attacks and tactical kicks
The forwards are numbers 1-8 and the backs are 9-15.
There are two ways you can move the ball: you may pass the ball back to another player, or you can kick the ball forward. When passing the ball to another player, you must make sure that you are passing behind you, otherwise, it is known as a forward pass and the ball is given to the other team. Also, if you accidentally hit the ball forward with anything other than your foot, it is known as a knock on. As a penalty for a knock on, a scrum is formed. A scrum is where the forwards form the figure you see in Figure 1. The backs (only numbers 10,12-14) line up diagonally off of the scrum half, which is number 9. The opposing team will mirror the figure and the scrum will lock into position. The ball is placed in the middle of the scrum by the scrum half and then the scrum is engaged. The forwards in the scrum push against the forwards from the opposing team.
There are three other asspects of the game that you should know. One is a lineout. A lineout is when 1-2 people are hoisted up in the air as the ball is thrown in. The "jumpers" must try to hit the ball over to their team. Another aspect of the game is a ruck. A ruck is when someone is running with the ball and they get tackled, people from their team and from the other team have to push against each other and try to get the ball, which is on the ground. The last thing to know about is a maul. A maul is when, just before a person is tackled with the ball, they turn and their team members push against them and try to gain yards (I think that is what you call it!) and the ball is in the are. So the difference between a ruck and a maul is that in a ruck, the ball is on the ground and in a maul, the ball is in the air.
OK so I pretty much got all of that from my knowledge of the game, so I might have gotten some things wrong and if I did, I am oh so very sorry!!
The parts that I didn't get from my own knowledge, I got from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/in_depth/rugby_union/features/guide_to_positions/default.stm
Well, enjoy your day!