How long is a rugby game?
AHEAD of the Rugby World Cup semi-finals this weekend we will give you a rundown of all the basics you need to know.
From scrum lineouts to conversion kicks we have you covered.
How long is a rugby game?
It’s often unclear how long a game of rugby union can take.
While the game itself is shorter than football in terms of a match’s length, there are a wide range of factors that affect when a rugby match comes to a close.
In short – rugby is typically played in two halves, each lasting 40 minutes with a half-time break of roughly 15 minutes.
Making the duration of a rugby union match 80 minutes.
Yet it’s not uncommon for a rugby game to end up being upwards of 120 minutes – including half-time, simply due to the amount of stoppages.
How long is half-time in a rugby match?
Like with football the half-time break lasts no longer than 15 minutes.
Teams go into the changing rooms and coaches and players usually speak to discuss tactics on how to see the game out.
Matches have been won thanks to those half-time tactic discussions.
One of the most famous in recent history was Harlequins’ win over Bristol Bears in the 2020-21 Premiership semi-final.
Heading into half-time, Bristol were 28-5 up but in the second half, the Quins came powering back.
The London club ended up winning the match 43-36 to book their spot in the final.
Speaking on his half-time talk Quins’ general manager Billy Millard told BBC 5 Live: “At half-time, there was a bit of belief that if we could get some momentum, the pressure would turn, but you just couldn’t predict how it would turn out.
“It feels a little bit surreal, but it feels pretty amazing,”
What factors can affect match length?
According to World Rugby, these are some of the key elements that can influence how long a rugby game lasts.
Stoppage Time: In rugby, the referee has the authority to pause the clock during stoppages, such as injuries, substitutions, or consultations with the video referee (TMO – Television Match Official).
Scrum Resets and Lineouts: The intricate nature of set pieces like scrums and lineouts can also affect the length of a rugby game.
If these formations become unstable or result in penalties, the referee may order resets, leading to additional playing time.
Penalty Kicks and Conversions: When a team is awarded a penalty kick or a conversion after scoring a try, the time taken for the kicker to set up and take the kick is not included in the regular game clock.
Extra Time: In certain rugby competitions, such as knockout stages or finals, if the scores are tied at the end of regular play, extra time may be played to determine the winner.
The duration of extra time varies depending on the competition and is often determined by the organizing body.
England take on South Africa in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup 2023 on 21 October 2023.