Comparison of Gaelic football and rugby union first binding to the players. The level of tackling allowed in Gaelic football is more robust than in association football, but less than rugby union. Shoulder to shoulder contact and slapping the ball out of an opponent's hand are permitted, but the following are all fouls: Gaelic football allows "shepherding" or blocking, limited to use on players in possession of the ball. Blocking is illegal in rugby union. In Gaelic football the penalties available (in increasing order of severity) are: Rugby union is played between two teams – the one that scores more points wins the game. Points can be
Rugby union in Tokelau Rugby union in Tokelau Rugby union is a popular sport in Tokelau. Like many other Pacific nations, Tokelauan rugby is a popular, but often not formally organised sport. Tokelauans due to their small numbers, and scattered island population, have often preferred rugby sevens to the XV game, although Tokelau did play rugby 15s at the 1983 South Pacific Games, including a creditable 15–28 loss to , a much larger Pacific nation. Rugby sevens has been a sport in the South Pacific Games since the late 1990s. There is also a semi-formal league structure. Tokelau's main problems are related to population