Rules of the game

The simple aim of Rugby League is to score more points than your opponents

A Rugby League match lasts for 80 minutes (two 40 minute halves). Timekeepers monitor this and sound a siren or hooter as a signal to the ref when the game is over.
You score tries (worth four points) by touching the ball down over your opponent’s try line. You can convert that to six by kicking a goal. The other means of scoring are a penalty goal (also worth two points) and a drop goal (worth one point).
There are two teams of 13 players with four reserves on the interchange bench. Each team can make a maximum of 12 changes involving any combination of players. Rugby League players have to be multi-skilled but some players do focus on roles within their teams including carrying the ball into the opposition line (forwards), attacking on the fringes (backs) and distributing the ball (hooker and half backs). All players work together in their team’s defensive formation.
The ball has to be passed backwards. It can be passed as many times as you like until a player is tackled in possession.
Each team has the ball for six plays (or tackles). After a tackle, the ball carrier plays the ball back along the ground to a receiver standing behind directly behind them. After the six plays are completed the team in possession must handover the ball to the opposition. Most teams elect to kick at this point in order to gain as much ground as possible.
Six players form a Rugby League scrum. They are a means of re-starting the game and create a good opportunity to attack. Scrums are awarded for knock-ons (losing the ball forward) or forward passes.
You are offside in Rugby League if you are within the gap maintained between the attacking and defensive sides by the referee or if you interfere with play after being in front of a team mate when they have kicked the ball in open play.
A 40-20 kick is when a player kicks the ball behind his own 40 metre line and it bounces into touch within the opposition’s 20 metre line. If this happens the side that kicked the ball get the advantage of putting the ball into the resulting scrum. A goal line drop out is taken from under your own posts if you have been forced to touch the ball down in your own in-goal area or put the ball out of play in this area.

Click here for the Official Laws of the game.

Rugby League - The Greatest Game of All!!!

Rugby League is played in 3 formats which cater to the age, experience and skill level of it's participants. Here at Cronulla Caringbah we field teams in each of these formats from Under 6 through to Under 18 and A Grade.

Mini Footy - for ages up to and including 8 years, with an option for 9 year olds if justifiable conditions exist.

Mini footy is the best way of getting into the wonderful game of rugby league without the big hits. If you are under nine, it is the perfect way to begin your quest for NRL stardom.

Instead of playing with 13 players, mini league is played with eight, with an additional 4 reserves. There is no kicking or big-hitting tackles.

It is really simple and a great way of learning all the basic passing, catching and running skills.

If you want to start playing mini rugby league feel free to get in touch with the Club today.

Click here to download the Mini Footy rule book.

Mod League - for ages 10-12 inclusive, with an option for 9 year olds if justifiable conditions exist.

Once you have learned the basic skills playing mini footy, it is time to move onto mod rugby league.

Mod league is slightly different to mini footy. Instead of playing with eight players, mod is played with 11. There are five forwards and six backs and there are five-man scrums for those of you who can't wait to get stuck in!

Mod rugby league is a step up from mini, but one down from the full 13-a-side version of the game.

Click here to download the Mod League rule book.

International - for 13 years and over. This is the full version of rugby league with 13 players a side and an additional 4 reserves.

Click here to download the International League rule book.