If you've ever watched a rugby match and heard the crowd erupt when someone crashes over the line, you've probably wondered what that's all about. In rugby, scoring a 'try' is the moment everyone waits for. It’s more than just touching the ball down; it grabs the most points out of all the ways to score. Fun fact: players and fans never call it anything else—it’s always a ‘try,’ no nicknames or fancy alternatives.
Understanding a try isn’t just about knowing the points; it’s about grasping the heart of rugby’s action. Getting a try is not easy. Defenders do everything to stop those attacks, and when a player finally reaches the try line and grounds the ball, that’s when you see real excitement—sometimes even a dog (like my Bruno) goes wild at home. Whether you’re brand new or you've seen a match or two, knowing what a try is gets you right into the spirit of rugby. And trust me, once you’ve seen a well-worked try, you never forget it.
- What Exactly Is a Try in Rugby?
- How a Try Impacts the Scoreboard
- Where the Name "Try" Comes From
- Other Key Rugby Scoring Terms
- Common Misconceptions About Tries
- Tips for Spotting and Enjoying a Good Try
What Exactly Is a Try in Rugby?
A rugby try is the main way to score in rugby. It’s when a player gets the ball over the other team’s goal line and touches it down on the ground in what’s called the “in-goal area.” Sounds simple, but it’s tough—defenders do their best to keep attackers out, and things get physical fast.
For the try to count, the player actually has to press the ball onto the ground with clear control. If you’ve watched, you’ll see the ref get really picky—just dropping the ball or losing grip at the last second means no points.
- Where: The ball must be grounded in the in-goal area (past the try line, between the touch lines and up to the dead ball line).
- Who: Any player from the attacking team can score a try, including those big guys in the front or the lightning-fast wingers.
- How Many Points: In both rugby union and rugby league, a try is worth 5 points, though in league it’s 4 points.
Check out this quick breakdown:
| Rugby Type | Points for Try | What Happens Next? |
|---|---|---|
| Rugby Union | 5 | Chance for 2-point conversion kick |
| Rugby League | 4 | Chance for 2-point conversion kick |
Why so strict about the touch down? It goes back to the roots of rugby rules. Back in the day, you had to actually ground the ball to earn a shot at kicking for points, and that’s stuck around. So every time a try is scored, it’s a highlight moment—you’ll know it’s real when you see the player slam the ball down and teammates go wild. Without tries, rugby just wouldn’t be the tough, fast, point-chasing game we all know.
How a Try Impacts the Scoreboard
So, what’s the big deal about a rugby try? For starters, it’s worth the most points of any single play in rugby union or rugby league. In rugby union, a try gets your team 5 points. Rugby league is a bit different—it’s 4 points there. Either way, crossing the try line and grounding the ball gives your team a serious boost.
After a try, there’s another chance to add more points: the conversion kick. This is an attempt to kick the ball through the uprights from a spot in line with where the try was scored. In rugby union, a successful conversion gives you 2 extra points, bumping a try-plus-conversion combo to 7 points. In rugby league, it works the same way, so you can end up with 6 points for a full set.
| Type | Try Points | Conversion Points | Total Possible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby Union | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Rugby League | 4 | 2 | 6 |
This rugby scoring system means that tries have the power to turn matches around fast. A team behind on the scoreboard can catch up in just a few minutes with a couple of good tries and conversions. That’s part of what makes rugby so exciting: no lead feels truly safe.
There are other ways to score—like penalty kicks and drop goals—but none of them get fans on their feet like a well-worked try. Next time you’re watching or checking the rugby fixtures, keep an eye on those tries. They’re almost always the plays everyone ends up talking about afterward.
Where the Name "Try" Comes From
Ever wondered why scoring in rugby is called a "try" and not just a goal or a touchdown? The answer goes all the way back to the early days of the sport in the 1800s. Back then, the rules were a mix of rugby and soccer, and you actually had to do more than just cross the line with the ball.
Originally, when a player grounded the ball in the in-goal area, it didn’t score any points by itself. Instead, it gave the team the ‘try’—meaning the opportunity or ‘try’—to kick at goal. If you made the kick, you got the points. If you missed, well, at least you got the attempt. That’s where the name stuck, even though the rules changed later.
Here's a quick cheat sheet on the history of the rugby try name:
- 1850s: A ‘try’ let you try to kick a goal after grounding the ball.
- 1875: Tries started to count for points in their own right, not just as a chance to kick.
- Modern rugby: A try is now the main way to score—no need for the extra kick to get points (though conversions still add more).
It’s one of those little facts that makes rugby scoring unique compared to American football or soccer. Nobody else uses the word "try" this way with the same history. So, next time you hear someone shout, “That’s a great try!”, you know they’re talking about a deep tradition that goes back over 150 years.
Other Key Rugby Scoring Terms
Alright, so you know what a rugby try is, but the game doesn't stop there. There are a few other ways to rack up points in rugby, and you'll hear these terms all the time—especially when the scoreboard gets tight.
Here are the main scoring plays you’ll want to know to keep up:
- Conversion Kick: After a try is scored, the team gets a shot at a conversion. This is a kick at goal, taken from a spot in line with where the try was scored. If the kicker makes it, the team grabs two extra points. It’s not a guarantee—especially if the try was scored near the sideline, making the angle tricky.
- Penalty Kick: When the other team breaks the rules, the ref might award your team a penalty kick. Nail it between the uprights, and you get three points, which can be huge if tries are hard to come by.
- Drop Goal: Here’s a move that can surprise everyone—when a player drops the ball onto the ground and kicks it as it bounces up (during open play), it’s called a drop goal. Score those three points and watch the fans go nuts, especially when time is running out.
Just so you can track how the points stack up, check out this quick comparison:
| Scoring Method | Points |
|---|---|
| Try | 5 |
| Conversion | 2 |
| Penalty Kick | 3 |
| Drop Goal | 3 |
Understanding these rugby scoring terms isn’t just for sounding smart at the pub—it actually helps you watch the game and know what’s at stake with every whistle and kick. The best teams mix things up: try, penalty, or even a cheeky drop goal when needed. Next time you watch a rugby fixture, keep an eye out for which tactic a team uses to grab those all-important points.
Common Misconceptions About Tries
People who are new to rugby often get a few things mixed up about what a rugby try really is. Some folks think a try and a touchdown must be the same because of American football, but they’re totally different. In rugby, you can’t just cross the line—you actually have to press the ball down on or behind the try-line for it to count. If you don’t ground it, no try. No sliding over and tossing the ball for style points!
Another misconception: some think a try is worth seven points straight up. Not quite. A try snags five points, and you get a shot at a conversion kick for two extra points. So, every time you see the scoreboard tick up by five, that’s just for the try itself—not the follow-up kick.
Here’s a quick rundown to clear things up:
- Try = 5 points. Always.
- The conversion (extra kick after the try) adds 2 more points if it’s good.
- No other move in rugby is called a try—it’s a unique term in the rugby scoring world.
- You can’t score a try by throwing or dropping the ball over the line. You have to be in control and intentionally ground it.
There’s also a mix-up about who can score a try. Some assume only the tough forwards do it, but honestly, anyone on the team—including fast backs or even the big guys—can get one if they’re quick and make the right move.
| Rugby Scoring Action | Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| Try | 5 |
| Conversion Kick | 2 |
| Penalty Kick | 3 |
| Drop Goal | 3 |
Being clear on what counts as a rugby try helps you keep up with the action, spot mistakes in bar conversations, and actually enjoy the matches without scratching your head all the time. Next time you’re watching with mates, you’ll have the right facts at your fingertips.
Tips for Spotting and Enjoying a Good Try
Want to catch the real magic behind every rugby try? Let’s break it down so you know exactly what to watch for next time you check out the action. Spotting a good try isn’t just about seeing points go up; it’s about seeing teamwork, skill, and quick thinking up close. Here’s what to look out for:
- Watch the Build-Up Play: Tries rarely come out of nowhere. Usually, you’ll spot a few solid passes, a quick break from a back, or a powerful push from forwards. Teams set up their tries, so keep an eye on players supporting each other and smart moves leading up to the line.
- Look for Offloads and Line Breaks: If a player bursts through defenders or pops the ball off with one hand just before being tackled, chances are a try is coming. Those moments always get fans talking.
- Notice the Defense: Great tries often beat great defense. If a player manages to dodge two or three tacklers or powers through a tough wall of bodies, that’s a try worth shouting about.
- Celebrate Skillful Finishes: Some tries go down in history for the flips, dives, or even crazy athleticism. Players need to ground the ball cleanly in the in-goal area, so wild finishes can be risky but unforgettable.
If you want to go even deeper, here’s a fun fact: In the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the average number of tries per match hit 5.5. This means there’s always action to watch out for!
| Rugby Tournament | Year | Average Tries per Match |
|---|---|---|
| Rugby World Cup | 2023 | 5.5 |
| Six Nations | 2024 | 4.8 |
Of course, players all around the world learn from the best. As Jonny Wilkinson once said:
“Scoring a try comes from instinct, but it’s built on hours of practice and teamwork.”
So next time you’re watching a rugby fixture, keep your eyes peeled for those telltale moves. The rush of a team working together to break the line or a winger flying down the edge is what makes the game so addictive. Once you start spotting what leads up to a brilliant try, you’ll appreciate every moment—trust me, even the family dog might get in on the excitement.
