Rugby games are typically 80 minutes long, divided into two 40-minute halves. The game begins with a kickoff and ends with the final whistle. The timekeeper, usually the referee, keeps track of the time and can stop it for various reasons, such as injuries or penalties. The clock is stopped during these breaks in play and can add time to the end of the game to make up for any stoppages. This added time is called injury time or stoppage time.
In addition to the 80-minute game time, teams are allowed a certain amount of time for substitutions, which varies depending on the level of play. At the professional level, teams are allowed up to 8 substitutions per game, and each substitution can take up to 1 minute. This means that the total game time can be extended by up to 8 minutes.
In Rugby Union, the game is divided into two 40-minute halves, with a 10-minute halftime break in between. The teams will switch ends of the field at halftime. There is also an allowance for injury time at the end of each half, which is added on by the referee to make up for any stoppages in play. The injury time is not pre-determined and can vary from game to game. The game will end when the referee blows the final whistle, regardless of how much injury time has been played.
In Rugby League, games are also 80 minutes long, but are divided into four 20-minute quarters. There is a halftime break of 10 minutes between the first and second quarters, and a break of 15 minutes between the second and third quarters. The teams will switch ends of the field after the first and third quarters. There is also an allowance for injury time at the end of each half, which is added on by the referee to make up for any stoppages in play. The injury time is not pre-determined and can vary from game to game. The game will end when the referee blows the final whistle, regardless of how much injury time has been played.
Rugby Sevens is shorter version of Rugby Union. The match is divided into two seven-minute halves, with a two-minute halftime break. The clock stops for injuries, penalties, and time-outs, but it does not stop for conversions or scrums. Each team is allowed three substitutions per match.
In youth rugby, the length of the game can vary depending on the age group. For example, in U-12 and U-14 rugby, the game is typically 40 minutes long, divided into two 20-minute halves. At the U-16 and U-18 level, the game is typically 60 minutes long, divided into two 30-minute halves.
Overall, the length of a rugby game can vary depending on the level of play and the specific rules of the competition. However, most rugby games are 80 minutes long, divided into two 40-minute halves, with a halftime break and an allowance for injury time. The game ends when the referee blows the final whistle, regardless of how much time is left on the clock.