How long does a rugby game last?
Rugby is a popular and kinetically charged sporting event that usually involves two teams of fifteen players that battle it out on the field. The main objective of a rugby game is to score more points than the opposing team by either scoring a goal or kicking the ball towards the opposite end of the field. But, how long does a game of rugby last?
Timings for a Game of Rugby
A game of rugby is made up of two equal halves, each lasting 40 minutes of active play. The clock is only stopped for any injuries that require attention from professionals, stoppages that have been requested by team officials or for any other extraordinary events.
In addition to the 40 minutes of active play, the referee can add further time for stoppages that have been caused by injuries, rule matters, time-wasting and foul play. This additional time, known as ‘injury time’, is usually added to the end of each half and can take around 20 minutes in total.
Halftime Interval
When the first half ends, there is an interval that lasts between 5-10 minutes. During this time, the teams can rest, recover and get ready for the start of the second half. This allows the teams to ensure that all players are in good health and don’t have any injuries.
Conclusion
So, in total, a game of rugby usually takes between 2 – 2.5 hours. This includes the time taken for active play, time-outs, stoppages, and the halftime interval. Of course, if the match needs to go into stoppage time, the final time can be longer.
Regardless of the length of the match, the excitement and camaraderie that comes with a game of rugby is second-to-none.
