Watching rugby matches may cause some observers to think about American football or soccer, and there definitely exists aspects of both sports in rugby rules. Teams of 15 players (in rugby union matches) or 13 players (in rugby league matches) attempt to advance the ball down field and score points by kicking a try, by grounding the ball inside the opponent's goal area, or by kicking a goal, when the ball is kicked over the crossbar and between the goal posts.

Opponents try to stop the attacking team by tackling the ball carrier. Once tackled, the ball carrier must pass or release the ball. The most well-known rugby formation is the scrum. Eight players on each team lock together, and the ball is thrown into the gap between the two lines of players.

A rugby ball, similar to the ball used in American football, weighs between 410 and 460 grams, and measures 580 to 620 millimeters in width and 280 to 300 millimeters in length. Many retailers sell rugby gear, including rugby jerseys, hats, shirts, cleats and game equipment.

Part of rugby's spread across the globe can be traced to colonial times. When the British Empire settled in various parts of the world, they brought rugby with them. Today, major international rugby competitions are watched by millions on TV, and events such as the Rugby World Cup – won by South Africa in 2007 – attract as much attention on the global sports stage as the Super Bowl and soccer's World Cup.