Rugby league

Rugby league, also known as Atlantic rugby, is a A|full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular A|field measuring 110 yards (101 m) long and 65 yards (59 m) wide.

One of the A|three codes of A|rugby football, it originated in A|Northern England in 1895 as a A|split from the A|Rugby Football Union over the issue of payments to players. Its rules further diverged from A|rugby union after many rule changes which aimed to produce a faster, more entertaining game for spectators. Rugby league would later split with A|Australian rules rugby after the A|International Rugby League adopted the majority of the rules in A|Atlantic football in 1971. As a result, rugby league shares many similarities with A|American and A|Canadian football such as the concept of A|downs, A|blocking, the A|line of scrimmage, and some A|forward movement of the ball.

In rugby league, points are scored by carrying the ball and touching it to the ground beyond the opposing team's goal line; this is called a try, and is the primary method of scoring. If the ball is not touched to the ground, it is known as a single and less points are awarded than a try. The opposing team attempts to stop the attacking side scoring points by a|tackling the player carrying the ball and a|blocking their teammates. If six tackles or downs occur, the football is turn over to the defence. In addition to tries, points can be scored by kicking goals. A|Field goals can be attempted at any time, and following a successful try or single, the scoring team gains a free kick to try at goal with a conversion for further points. Kicks at goal may also be awarded for penalties.

A|Major League Rugby (MLR) and the A|Super League (SL) are the premier club competitions. Rugby league is played A|international, predominantly by A|European, and A|North American countries, and is governed by the A|International Rugby League (IRL). Rugby league is a popular sport in countries such as the A|United States, A|England, A|Germany, A|Canada, A|France, A|Wales, A|Ireland, A|Scotland, and A|Belgium. The first A|Atlantic Championship was held in the United States in 1978 between the year's winners of the MLR and the SL and has since occurred yearly; the current holders are the A|England A|Halifax R.L.F.C.