An Assembly for KS1 and KS2 about the rugby world cup.

1. NET

2. What Is Rugby?
Rugby is a team game where
two teams play against each
other. There are 15 players
in each team.
In rugby, an oval-shaped
ball is used. The players
must kick, carry and pass
the ball to one another.

3. Points are scored when a player puts the ball
down on the ground behind the other team’s
goal line.
This is called a try which is worth
five points.
Points are also scored by kicking the ball over
the crossbar of the goal. This is called a
conversion kick and it is worth two points.
Rugby is played on a field called a pitch.
At each end, there is a goal
shaped like the letter H.
This area is called
the in-goal
Goal line
What Is Rugby?
The aim is to score more points than the other team.

4. There are several ways that players can move the ball in
rugby.
They can run with the ball in their
hands until they are tackled, step
out of the pitch or cross the goal
line.
The ball can only move forwards if it is
Moving the Ball
They can pass the ball to any player on the field.
The ball can only be passed backwards.
It cannot be passed forwards.

5. Rugby involves various set pieces, such as scrums and
lineouts.
A scrum is formed when players
from both teams get together to
get the ball by pushing against each
other.
Special Plays
A lineout is formed when the ball goes
out of bounds, and players from both
teams compete to catch the ball when
it is thrown back into play.

6. What Is the Rugby World
Cup?
Each Rugby World Cup takes
place in a different country.
The Rugby World Cup is a big
competition, called a tournament.
It only happens once every four
years.
Twenty of the best countries
from all around the world will
play and try to win the
tournament.
This year’s tournament was held in France. It started on 8th
September and ended on 28th October 2023.

7. The tournament lasts for 2 months and matches take place
across the host country.
The final was held on Saturday 28th October 2023 at the Stade de
What Is the Rugby World
Cup?

8. Each team is placed into a pool of five teams and
play against the other four teams in their pool.
Tournament Pools
New
Zealand
France
Italy
Uruguay
Namibia
A
South
Africa
Ireland
Scotland
Tonga
Romania
B
Wales
Australia
Fiji
Georgia
Portugal
C
England
Japan
Argentina
Samoa
Chile
D
The top two teams in each pool go into the quarter-finals.
The winners of the quarter-final matches play semi-finals.
The final places between the winning teams from the semi-final
What Is the Rugby World
Cup?
There is 20 international teams taking part in the Rugby World Cup
2023.
Knockout
Stage

9. The trophy is named after a school pupil from Rugby School called
William Webb Ellis. People believe that he invented the sport of rugby
(over 100 years ago) by picking up a ball and running with it during a
The Winner’s Trophy
The winners will be given a special trophy, called the William Webb
Ellis Cup.
The cup is made of silver but
covered in a gold finish. It is
about 30cm tall.

10. The first tournament
was held in 1930 in a
country called
Uruguay.
Back then, only 13
teams played and the
winners were the host
country.
History of the Men’s World
Cup
Since then, the Men’s World Cup has been held every four years,
except for 1942 and 1946, when the tournament was cancelled
because of the Second World War.

11. England have made it to the
final four times since 1987,
winning it once in 2003.
Previous Winners
1987 1995 2003 2011
1991 1999 2007 2015
New Zealand
Australia
South Africa
Australia
England
South Africa New Zealand
New Zealand
2019
South Africa
South Africa and New Zealand
have both won the
tournaments three times.

12. The RFU Core Values
There are rules and values in lots of the things we do. Can you think of any special
values that your school has?
Talk About It
All the players and coaches in the England team follow a set of RFU core values. These
qualities are key to rugby, both on and off the pitch.
The RFU decided on the following key values:
Teamwork Respect Enjoyment Discipline Sportsmanship
Working as
a team is
important.
Mutual respect
forms the basis
of our sport.
We encourage
players to enjoy
training and
playing.
We obey the
laws of the
game.
We observe fair
play both on
and off the
pitch.

13. South Africa are the current champions as they won the
tournament in 2019, which was held in Japan.
Despite being ranked 2nd in the world, France are the
favourites to win the tournament this year.
Having the home advantage can often make a big
difference for the nation that hosts the tournament.
The Rugby World Tournament 2023 will take place in nine different stadiums
around France between 8th September and 28th October 2023.
Rugby World Tournament 2023
Ireland is currently ranked the number one
team in the world.
48 matches will be played in total across 51 days.

14. You can tell how many times a country has won the World
Cup by looking at each team’s football shirts. Brazil’s shirts
have five stars because they have won the World Cup five
times.
Before a World Cup match starts,
the players all shake hands with
each other. This is to show
respect.
At the Men’s World Cup
A special award given called the Fair Play Trophy. This is
given to the team who had the fewest yellow and red cards.
Yellow and red cards are given to players who break the
rules of football.

15. Amazing World Cup Facts
Brazil is the only team to take
part in every Men’s World Cup
since it began in 1930.
Pelé played for Brazil and they
won three Men’s World Cup
championships - he is the only
player to have done this.
No country has ever won the
Men’s World Cup three times
in a row.
The 2002 Men’s World Cup was the
first competition held in Asia. The
2022 competition will be the
second.

16. Fun Rugby Facts
The same whistle is blown for the opening match of every
World Cup Rugby tournament.
The biggest win in the tournament was by Australia
in 2003. They beat Namibia 142 – 0.
Top rugby players can eat up to 6000 calories a day to
ensure that their body has the fuel that it needs.
Rugby balls are an oval shape because they were
first made from pig’s bladders.
The last Women’s Rugby World Cup was in 2017. The next
one will be held in New Zealand in 2021.