Correct: A. A phase of play where the ball carrier and players from both teams bind and compete for the ball on their feet

A maul forms when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and at least one teammate binds on - the ball is retained off the ground. Unlike a ruck the ball can be handled in a maul. A maul that stops moving is penalised.

Correct: B. A touring side of the best players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland that tours major rugby nations every four years

The British and Irish Lions is a touring rugby union side composed of the best players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland that tours every four years - alternating between South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The Lions tour is one of rugby's most prestigious events.

Correct: B. It serves as a physical and psychological statement of identity and challenge to opponents

The Haka performed by the All Blacks is both a cultural expression of Mori identity and a psychological statement challenging opponents. It demands that the opposing team witness the All Blacks' collective intent and unity before battle.

Correct: C. 4 points

In rugby league a try is worth 4 points (compared to 5 in rugby union). A conversion in rugby league is worth 2 points and a penalty goal is worth 2 points. A drop goal in rugby league is worth 1 point.

Correct: C. Players must be behind the ball or behind the hindmost foot of the ruck/scrum when play is in their half

In open play offside in rugby union means players must be behind the ball when it is played by a teammate. At set pieces (rucks, scrums, mauls, lineouts) there are specific offside lines that players must not cross before the ball emerges.

Correct: A. Rugby union became professional in 1995 - before that all players were amateurs receiving no payment

Rugby union became professional in August 1995 when the International Rugby Board declared the sport open - meaning players could be paid for playing. Before this all rugby union players were strictly amateur. Rugby league had been professional since its formation in 1895.

Correct: B. England

Rugby league originated in England in 1895 when 21 northern clubs broke away from the Rugby Football Union primarily over the issue of payments to working-class players who needed compensation for missing work to play. The new code developed different rules from union.

Correct: A. A try given when a referee believes a try would have been scored but for foul play

A penalty try is awarded when the referee decides a try would certainly have been scored had foul play not prevented it. A penalty try is automatically placed between the posts and no conversion attempt is needed - 7 points are awarded directly.

Correct: A. When any of England, Scotland, Wales, or Ireland beats the other three Home Nations in the same tournament

The Triple Crown is an unofficial honour awarded to any Home Nation (England, Scotland, Wales, or Ireland) that beats the other three in the same Six Nations tournament. France and Italy cannot win the Triple Crown as they are not Home Nations.

Correct: B. A rule allowing the referee to withhold a penalty decision when the non-offending team keeps possession or territory

The advantage law allows the referee to withhold a penalty or scrum decision temporarily when the non-offending team retains possession or gains territory. If the advantage materialises (the team scores or gains significan't ground) the referee calls advantage over and play continues without the original infringement being penalised.

Correct: C. Locks (numbers 4 and 5) are in the second row of the scrum providing power while flankers (6 and 7) operate at the sides of the scrum with more freedom to contest the breakdown

Locks (second row forwards, numbers 4 and 5) form the second row of the scrum providing power and stability. They are also the primary lineout jumpers. Flankers (6 and 7) attach to the sides of the scrum and have the most freedom to roam the field contesting at breakdowns.

Correct: B. A deliberate kick that goes out of bounds into the sideline creating a lineout for the kicking team (when kicked from outside the 22) or the opposing team

Kicking to touch means deliberately kicking the ball out of play into the sideline. From the kicking team's 22-metre area a kick to touch gives the kicking team the lineout. Outside the 22 the lineout goes to the opposing team unless the ball bounced before going into touch.

Correct: D. The predecessor to the Rugby Championship between Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa (1996-2011)

The Tri Nations was an annual international rugby union competition between Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa from 1996 to 2011. It was replaced by the Rugby Championship when Argentina joined in 2012. New Zealand won the Tri Nations the most times.

Correct: B. European club rugby union's premier competition featuring top clubs from England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Italy

The Heineken Champions Cup (formerly the European Cup and Heineken Cup) is the premier European club rugby union competition featuring top clubs from the English Premiership, French Top 14, and the United Rugby Championship. It was first held in 1995.

Correct: A. A try scored when the entire scrum pushes over the goal line

A pushover try occurs when the attacking team's scrum drives forward over the opposition's goal line with the ball still bound in the scrum. The ball is typically under the number 8 or a hooker who grounds it to score.

Correct: C. Twenty teams in four pools of five with the top two from each pool progressing to knockout quarter-finals

The Rugby World Cup features 20 teams divided into four pools of five. Each team plays the other four in their pool with the top two teams from each pool progressing to the quarter-finals. The knockout phase then determines the semi-finalists and ultimately the champion.

Correct: A. It was the first time a northern hemisphere nation won the Rugby World Cup

England's 2003 Rugby World Cup victory was the first by a northern hemisphere nation. They defeated Australia 20-17 in extra time in Sydney with Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal. Under coach Clive Woodward England had developed the most complete team in world rugby at that time.

Correct: B. The premier club rugby competition in the southern hemisphere featuring teams from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa

Super Rugby is the premier professional club rugby competition in the southern hemisphere featuring franchise teams from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa (with historical expansion and contraction including Argentina and Japan). It was launched in 1996 as Super 12 when rugby union became professional.

Correct: D. A professional rugby competition featuring clubs from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, and South Africa

The United Rugby Championship (URC) is a professional league competition featuring clubs from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, and (since 2021) South Africa. It replaced the Pro14 competition and is the primary club league for these regions.

Correct: A. The governing body for rugby union in Ireland representing both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as an all-island team

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) governs rugby union in Ireland and represents the entire island - both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Ireland national team includes players from both jurisdictions making it one of sport's rare all-island representative bodies.

Correct: D. The second tier below the English Premiership where promotion and relegation with the top flight exists

The Championship is the second tier of English rugby union directly below the Premiership. The top clubs from the Championship can be promoted to the Premiership while the bottom Premiership club can be relegated - though this direct promotion/relegation system has been periodically suspended and debated within English rugby.

Correct: B. 1995

Rugby union became a professional sport in August 1995 when the International Rugby Board declared the game open and permitted players to be paid. This followed the Rugby World Cup in South Africa and the threat of a breakaway professional competition.

Correct: C. When a defender blocks a kick with their body or hands near the kicker

A charge-down occurs when a defender blocks a kick with their hands, arms, or body close to the kicker. Unlike an offside violation which would be penalised the charge-down is legal if the defender was in an onside position when the kicker kicked. The charged-down ball is live and can be scored from.

Correct: A. An attempt to tackle using a straight, locked arm to the face or neck which is illegal because it risks serious neck injury

A stiff arm tackle or straight arm to the face/neck is illegal in rugby because the locked arm contact to the head or neck risks serious injury - particularly whiplash or neck fractures. It typically results in a penalty or yellow/red card depending on severity.

Correct: D. The annual World Rugby award for the best international player - Richie McCaw and Dan Carter have each won it three times

The World Rugby Player of the Year has been awarded annually since 2001. Both Richie McCaw (2006, 2009, 2010) and Dan Carter (2005, 2012, 2015) have won the award three times - the most of any player. The award is voted on by World Rugby's member unions.

Correct: B. Rugby union is continuous play without downs and play-stopping while American football uses a stop-start format with set plays between each down

Rugby union is a continuous flow sport where play only stops for infringements, the ball going out of play, or scoring. American football uses a completely different structure of discrete plays separated by huddles with teams having four downs (attempts) to advance 10 yards. The games share origins but evolved completely differently.

Correct: B. His performances at the 1995 World Cup introduced rugby to a global TV audience and made the sport commercially viable as a professional product

Jonah Lomu's extraordinary performances at the 1995 Rugby World Cup - watched by a global television audience - demonstrated that rugby union could produce transcendent athletic spectacle. His profile helped justify the professionalisation of the game and its commercial development.

Correct: C. Quickly maintaining possession after a tackle by rucking the ball and distributing it to continue the attack

Recycling refers to the process of maintaining possession after a tackle - the ball carrier is brought down, teammates bind and form a ruck, the ball is won and quickly passed to the next attacker. Fast ball recycling creates attacking tempo that defences cannot organise against.

Correct: A. Finishing third in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in their debut at that level of impact

Argentina finished third in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France - their best-ever World Cup result. They defeated France twice in the same tournament (in the pool stage and in the third-place play-off) demonstrating their emergence as a genuine world rugby force.

Correct: D. An annual fixture between England and Scotland

The Calcutta Cup is awarded to the winner of the annual rugby union match between England and Scotland. It is one of the oldest international rugby trophies presented since 1879.

Correct: D. South Africa

South Africa won the 2023 Rugby World Cup defeating New Zealand 12-11 in the final in Paris. It was South Africa's record fourth World Cup title. The Springboks became the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups having also won in 2019.

Correct: B. In rugby league play restarts with a play-the-ball after each tackle while union has rucks and mauls

In rugby league, a tackled player normally restarts play with a play-the-ball and the attacking team works within a six-tackle count. In rugby union, a tackle commonly leads to a contest for possession through a ruck or maul.

Correct: A. To hook the ball backward with their foot when it is fed into the scrum

The hooker is the player who wears number 2 in rugby union and plays between the two props in the front row of the scrum. Their primary job is to hook the ball backward with their foot when it is fed into the scrum by the scrum-half.