What is the best way to understand rugby?

[Shimonhon]

Today I checked out a book from the library about rugby hopping it would finally enlighten me to this mysteriously violent sport. However the book just confused me farther, using "hooker" or "half-scrum" in other definitions don't work well when you don't know what they are either. I need an explanation of rugby for complete idiots of the game, where can I get that?

[Chrizzzie]

Give this book a try: http://www.amazon.com/Rugby-Union-Du...8635572&sr=8-3

I had it in my begin days of Rugby and it's a huge recommendation.

Also please understand that it's not a violent sport. Might be a rough sport but definable no violence.

Where do you live? You can always go to your local rugby club to ask for more explanation. Rugby fans are very much prepared to explain the basics.

[Scrumhit]

I've been looking for help to learn about rugby as well. This site seems to be the best

http://understandrugbyunion.blogspot.com/

[Grieving]

Also if you want all the officials rules you can goto the IRB official website.

[algi]

...violent sport.

It is not,just looks like to unexperienced eyes.Let's call it tough.

[Cornelio]

It is not,just looks like to unexperienced eyes.Let's call it tough.

Well said algi, I agree 100%.
Of course, being a contact sport, Rugby Union can also become pretty rough sometimes, but I'd say there is no place in it for violence as a purpose.
There's a beatiful quote from Françoise Sagan, a famous female French novelist and a rugby fan, that imho sums it up quite well: "It is not because it is violent that I like rugby. It is because it is intelligent".

I need an explanation of rugby for complete idiots of the game, where can I get that?

The book suggested by Chrizzie, Rugby for Dummies, is excellent indeed, and if you're going to read just one book, that would be also my choice.
There's another book by Peter McKenna, a former Irish rugby player, which is a good one: its title is "Rugby explained". It was published in 2007, but unfortunately it seems out of printing: maybe it can be purchased on Amazon marketplace.
On the web, a good resource is the Beginner's guide to Rugby Union, a 16-page pdf produced by the International Rugby Board.
The BBC website has several pages about the laws of Rugby Union, with some good images and videos to better explain them: you can start from here and here.

[dids858]

and for balance http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugb...nt/4216664.stm