本文旨在分析探討橄欖球運動競賽在過去20年來的改變(1980-2000)，希望瞭解其中比賽內容的改變及差異，提供國內橄欖球運球運動教練與球員作為日後訓練方向與戰術策略調整之參考，並有益於橄欖球運動水的提昇。本文針對過去20年來不同時期32場國際大賽，透過文獻統計分析整理，結果歸納重點如下：一、目前的比賽進行時間增加5分鐘，半場休息時間自3分鐘增加到11分鐘。二、目前的比賽則減少了40次的比賽暫停機會，比賽進行時間則增加40％。三、每場比賽拉克／冒爾次數增加3倍。四、傳球次數增加兩倍，個人傳球次數更多前鋒和後鋒仍未彼此互換位置任務，前鋒仍進行較少的傳球，傳鋒的傳球數幾乎是其他14個球員的傳球總數。五、正集團的次數在過去20年來，自31次大幅降到19次。六、爭邊球的次數自52次降到37次。七、持球和踢球失誤在過去20年來已減半，逆轉攻勢情勢則可能少了4倍。八、球隊拿回持球權的機率比以前更高，目前的持比率，在潰散陣勢14次可有13次成功，在正集團陣勢，10次有9次成功，在爭邊球10次有8次成功。比賽中的持球爭奪則已減少。九、比賽中的挺進踢球次數減少，出現較少的罰踢，在80年代幾乎有60％的罰踢可得分。十、在80年代，罰踢得分是主要的得分武器。十一、比賽內容更緊湊。但在兩個不同的年代中，絕大部份的比賽贏球是由達陣得分。

This research is aimed to understand the Changes In The Playing of International Rugby Over A 20 Year (1980-2000) Period, The attached report comprises analysis of 16matches played in the early 1980s with corresponding matches played 20 years later. The matchers examined are given in a footnote to this page. The results are included in 11 sections: 1. matches now take 5 minutes longer..., half times has gone from 3 mins to 11 mins. 2. there around 40 fewer stoppages in the modem game, ball in play, is now over 40% higher. 3. there are 3 times more rucks/nauls per game. 4. there are twice as many passes. Individual passages of play are much longer. 4. forwards backs are still not interchangeable. 5. the number of scrums has reduced hugely over the 20 years-from 31 to 9. 6. the number of lineouts has gone down from 52 to 37. 7. the team in possession likely to retain possession more than ever fore, the team in possession now retain the ball. 8. the contest, for possession is now less of a contest. 9. there has been a reduction in the number of open play kicks. 10. in the 80s, penaity goals were the major scoring weapon. 11. matches were far closer. But in both eras, the vast majority of game were won by the team scoring the greatest number of tries.