Rugby Union

Rugby Union is a full contact sport that is played with fifteen players on each side. It originated in Britain in the early 1800s. Since then it has become a global sport and is played at amateur, professional and international level. Every four years the Rugby World Cup is contested. The Rugby World Cup is the fourth most watched sporting event in the world, behind the Soccer FIFA World Cup, the Summer Olympics and the Tour De France.

The Premier professional competitions for rugby union include Super Rugby in the Southern Hemisphere and the Heineken Cup in the Northern Hemisphere. Internationally, the Tri-Nations and Six Nations takes place annually.

Rugby Union Links:

Here are some links to use a resource for understanding some of the rules around Rugby Union, such as the scrum and lineout.
The Rugby Scrum
Rugby Lineout
Super Rugby
Rugby 7s

Rugby Union versus Rugby League Links

Both rugby union and rugby league are played with the same ball on the same sized field. There are a lot of similarities in much of the game play and the two sports looks very similar to a casual observer. However, ther are many differences between rugby and league. Here are some links and resources to help compare the two sports.
Rugby Union versus Rugby League
Rugby Union versus Rugby League: The Technical Issues
Rugby Union versus Rugby League: The Cultural Divide
Rugby League vs Rugby Union

Rugby Union versus Rugby League Ezine Articles:

Rugby League and Rugby Union - The 40-20 Versus the 22 Metre Rule
Kicking the Ball Out in Rugby Union and Rugby League
The Scrum in Rugby Union and Rugby League
The Ruck and the Tackle Ball in Rugby Union and Rugby League