Samoa Rules
Encyclopedia
Samoa Rules is a game derived from Australian rules football
and rugby union
that is occasionally played in Samoa
.
Unlike Australian rules football, player movement is restricted to zones (similarly to Rec Footy
). There is a line across the centre that backs and forwards can not cross. Onballers are allowed to go anywhere. Forwards can only operate in their attacking half, the backs in their defensive half. Like Gaelic football
, players are permitted to bounce the ball only once while running, in order to encourage kicking.
fields, sometimes a single one, or two side by side. This means the pitch is rectangular, rather than oval, like an Aussie rules one.
, known originally as the Bulldogs and since 2008 as the "Kangaroos".
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
that is occasionally played in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
.
Rules
Generally the rules are taken from Aussie Rules, but each team consists of 15 players, like rugby union.Unlike Australian rules football, player movement is restricted to zones (similarly to Rec Footy
Rec Footy
Recreational Football is a non-contact version of the Australian rules football game sanctioned by the Australian Football League...
). There is a line across the centre that backs and forwards can not cross. Onballers are allowed to go anywhere. Forwards can only operate in their attacking half, the backs in their defensive half. Like Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, players are permitted to bounce the ball only once while running, in order to encourage kicking.
Pitch
The game is played on rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
fields, sometimes a single one, or two side by side. This means the pitch is rectangular, rather than oval, like an Aussie rules one.
History
The Vailima Six-Shooters' Championship began in Samoa in 1998 under these rules, becoming known as Samoa Rules. A number of Samoa Rules players went on to represent Samoa in the Samoan national Australian rules football teamSamoan national Australian rules football team
The Samoan national Australian rules football team and represents Samoa in the team sport of Australian rules football. The team is selected from the best Samoan born players, who are currently mostly players from the Samoa Australian Rules Football Association.Samoa debuted internationally at the...
, known originally as the Bulldogs and since 2008 as the "Kangaroos".