USARL 9s Tournament this Saturday

Teams from Boston through to Florida along returning champs the New Zealand Police will compete in the USARL's ultimate Pre-Season Tournament.

Texas Roadhouse will be Providing Concessions at the Game. Ladder 133 Bar & Grill will be holding the Post Match Function Award Ceremony with everyone gaining free entry. The function includes a $10 Backyard BBQ along with $3 Dollar Draft Beer Specials or $10 Dollar Domestic Bucket of Beer Specials.

Tickets are $5 each with gates opening at 9am -  Tucker Field Cumberland RI.

What is Rugby League 9s? Rugby league nines (or simply nines) is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league (13 a side), with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be completed in a day or over a single weekend. It has become more popular than the similar rugby league sevens (rugby league with seven players to a side), with many tournaments using nines to distinguish it from rugby union sevens.

The same as rugby league laws with the following exceptions.

• Each team is allowed a squad of up to fifteen players, with no more than nine players on the field at any time. Unlimited substitutions are allowed from a named bench of four players.
• The match lasts for 20 minutes, divided into two halves of 9 minutes. 2 minute interval allowing for the teams to change ends.
• Each half starts with a place kick.
• Scrums consist of no more than 5 forwards, with a maximum 3 in the front row and 2 in the second row. When the ball is in the scrum no more than 4 players from each team shall act as backs. The ball must emerge from behind the feet of the second row.
• Conversions after a successful try take the form of drop kicks. Players from the team that has conceded the score do not have to retire behind the try line but must not interfere with any conversion attempt.
• When points have been scored the team against which points have been scored will receive a drop kick from the team that scored (must travel at least 10 meters).