The Pitch
Rugby is played on a pitch, more commonly known in the States as a field. While it can be intimidating to look at and understand, it’s fairly straightforward once you dive in.
The Rugby Pitch (Image Source: USA Rugby)
Rugby pitches are measured in meters rather than feet or yards. For a quick reference, 1 meter is equal to about 3.28 feet (roughly 3 feet 3 inches).
Rugby pitches can vary slightly in size, but most fall into the following dimensions. The field of play between the two try lines is about 100m long and no more than 70m wide. The try zones (shown above as in-goal) should not exceed 22m long. Unlike American football, goalposts are at the front of the try zone, not the back. In all, a rugby pitch can be around 140m long!
10-Meter Lines (Dashed)
In the middle of the pitch is the halfway line which has a space of 10m on either side. This 10m line is where players are positioned when receiving a kickoff.
22-Meter Lines
22m away from both try lines is the 22m line (easy, right?). This line can be compared somewhat to the red zone in American football.
5-Meter Lines and 15-Meter Lines (Dashed)
It can get a little confusing here. There are two kinds of 5m lines on the pitch, one vertical and one horizontal (parallel to the try line). The horizontal line is where penalty scrums are awarded. The vertical lines are for lineouts. A lineout must travel at least 5m before it is played and players must stand within 15m of the lineout if they are participating. The 15m lines also can be used to mark scrums, penalties, or free kicks.
Goal Line (Try Line)
The goal or try line is where rugby players are all trying to get the ball. To score, they must touch the ball to the ground behind this line. Simply running past it with the ball is not enough!
Touchline
These lines mark the boundaries of the field of play. If the ball crosses these lines it is considered in touch (or out of bounds). A player with the ball may be airborne with the ball and keep the ball alive as long as their feet do not touch the ground beyond the touchlines.