<h3>Understanding the game of rugby</h3><p><strong>Rugby</strong> is a team sport played with an <strong>oval ball</strong>. Teams score by carrying and grounding the ball in the opponent's in-goal area or by kicking it through the goalposts. A <strong>rugby union</strong> team has 15 players (rugby league has 13). A match has two halves of about 40 minutes each, controlled by a <strong>referee</strong> who enforces the rules.</p><p><strong>Scoring:</strong> a <strong>try</strong> is worth 5 points (grounding the ball in the in-goal area); a <strong>conversion</strong> kick after a try adds 2 points; a <strong>penalty kick</strong> is worth 3 points; and a <strong>drop goal</strong> from open play is worth 3 points. Two important rules: the ball may only be <strong>passed backward or sideways</strong> — forward passes are not allowed — and <strong>tackles</strong> must be made <strong>below the shoulders</strong>, as high tackles are illegal. A player is <strong>offside</strong> if they are ahead of the ball when a teammate plays it.</p><p>A common skill is the <strong>spin pass</strong>: hold the ball on the seams, stand sideways to the target, and twist the wrists so the ball spins, travelling farther and more accurately. <strong>Safety</strong> matters greatly: players wear mouthguards and scrum caps, learn safe tackling below the shoulder line, keep good fitness and hydration, warm up and cool down, and respect officials and opponents.</p><div class="callout"><strong>Kenyan context:</strong> Kenya has a proud rugby sevens tradition, and the annual Safari Sevens in Nairobi draws large crowds. Local school teams practise the spin pass and safe tackling so that talented young players can one day represent the national side.</div>