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
History of rugby union in Scotland launched and the trophy is known as the "Melrose Cup" in memory of Ned Haig's invention. In 1895, there was a schism within the game of rugby in neighbouring England which saw the sport divided into rugby union which remained amateur and rugby league which permitted payments to players. However, no such split took place in Scotland where the clubs continued to play rugby union. Fourteen Scottish players would cross over and play rugby league in England before amateurism was abandoned. While rugby league is not as popular as rugby union in Scotland, it has maintained a continuous presence for