Also called rugger, Rugby football. Usually rugby a form of football, played between two teams of 15 members each, that differs from soccer in freedom to carry the ball, block with the hands and arms, and tackle, and is characterized chiefly by continuous action and prohibition against the use of substitute players.
a town in Warwickshire, in central England.
a coeducational preparatory school in Rugby, England, founded in 1567.
Also called: rugger. a form of football played with an oval ball in which the handling and carrying of the ball is permitted
another name for Canadian football
Probably earlier than 1835–40 Rugby for def. 1; Middle English Rokeby, Rookby, Old English Rocheberie, possibly earlier Hrōcaburg, Hrōceburh (unrecorded) “Hroca's fort,” influenced by Old Norse býr “town, settlement”; see also borough ( def. )
How does rugby compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
In rugby, players pass an oval ball and tackle each other to score points, all while wearing minimal protective gear. Rugby is a high-energy sport that originated in England. In rugby, two teams compete to carry, pass, or kick the ball to score points by grounding it in the opponent's goal area or kicking it through their goalposts. Unlike American football, rugby players don't wear much protective gear, which makes the game intense and physical. Rugby is known for its teamwork, strategy, and the camaraderie among players, making it a popular sport worldwide.
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They will be at full volume this month when the island's capital Port Moresby is the venue for four Rugby League World Cup matches, as PNG co-hosts the tournament with Australia and New Zealand.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in a dramatic Rugby League World Cup opener in Sydney, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring a hat-trick to see the hosts snatch victory late on.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Stewart, from Londonderry, won four caps for Ireland between 1999 and 2000 and was a founding member of Ulster Women's Rugby but, in 2003, she died after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
However, none of this has been confirmed by the club nor Prem Rugby.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
At night I lie in bed thinking about Tom Brown and his adventures at Rugby School and all the characters in P. G.Wodehouse.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
Children, so mad about rugby league that they will fashion a ball out of anything they can find, run alongside the team bus, eager to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Whatever happens at this World Cup, rugby league shows no signs of losing its appeal in Papua New Guinea.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Meanwhile, it emerged over the weekend that Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam did not select three of his key players because of the state of the pitch in north London.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Wales and Bristol star Louis Rees-Zammit has called for an end to artificial playing surfaces in top-flight rugby.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
I’d gotten more bloody noses playing rugby than I could count.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
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