Rugby Tips

Going to shoot rugby for the first time tommorow and was wondering if anyone had any tips. Best places to shoot from, focal length needed (Ive got 320 and should be able to stand on the side lines), ect.

Thanks!

I shoot rugby pretty often, using a 70-200mm.

I normally stand half way between the 22 metre line and the goal line.

It helps if one team is clearly stronger than the other, so you can decide which end of the field to stand at.

Don't be afraid to do a bit of walking up and down the touchline. With longer lenses shots from behind the goal line can be very effective.

Thanks davethjnz

I need some tips too - there's a final I'm going to in a few weeks time...

Use manual, center point, f2.8/f4, meter for faces, etc etc.

With a crop body, 200mm will let you shoot to about the 50. Beyond that, just enjoy the game or I suppose you could crop the pants off the image if you must shoot. Shooting from behind the try line gets you the best running shots. Shooting from touch between the try line and the 22 will get good tackle shots. Sometimes I'll stand by the goal post when they're near the 50, but I play for the team, so that option may not be open to you and you may not want to risk it.

One area where shooting rugby differs from soccer is that the support aspect is critical, and people who understand the game want to see that. Whereas you'd want to shoot portrait and very tight in soccer because it's all about some prissy hooligan's individual glory , you'll find it's sometimes better to shoot landscape and a bit looser to get the pop-pass, switch or the two+ guys ready to ruck. I feel that lineouts are overplayed unless you can get a reaction to a dropped ball or trick play. For scrumhalfs, a capture of the defender clobbering the other scrumhalf is great, but a normal service is just to be expected and nothing special.

Dan- wrote in post #7705732
One area where shooting rugby differs from soccer is that the support aspect is critical, and people who understand the game want to see that. Whereas you'd want to shoot portrait and very tight in soccer because it's all about some prissy hooligan's individual glory , you'll find it's sometimes better to shoot landscape and a bit looser to get the pop-pass, switch or the two+ guys ready to ruck. I feel that lineouts are overplayed unless you can get a reaction to a dropped ball or trick play. For scrumhalfs, a capture of the defender clobbering the other scrumhalf is great, but a normal service is just to be expected and nothing special.

So true- quite new to shooting rugby.

Being an ex South African living in Auckland I think I have a pretty good understanding of the game which of course also helps.

I will post a couple of the weekend's shot in the sports section within the next day or 2