How Rugby is Scored

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025 admin

Rugby can look like chaotic mayhem to the uninitiated, but beneath the powerful runs and crunching tackles lies a clear and structured scoring system. The main goal is simple: score more points than your opponent. However, how you score those points is what makes the game so dynamic and strategic.

Whether you’ve stumbled upon a game on TV or are heading to your first match, this guide will break down every way a team can put points on the board.

The Main Objective: What is a Try?

The most important and valuable score in rugby is the try. A try is the primary objective of the attacking team.

How it’s scored: A player scores a try by carrying the ball into the opposition’s ‘in-goal’ area (the area behind the posts) and grounding it with downward pressure. The player must have control of the ball as it touches the ground. Simply running into the zone isn’t enough; the ball must be intentionally placed on the ground.

A try is celebrated wildly because it is the biggest single score and, crucially, it gives the scoring team a chance to earn even more points.

The Bonus Points: Kicking for a Conversion

After scoring a try, the team is awarded a free kick to attempt a conversion. This is an opportunity to add “bonus points” to the initial try.

How it’s scored: The kick is taken from a point on the field that is in line with where the try was scored. This means if a try is scored in the corner, the kick is much more difficult than if it’s scored under the posts. The kicker (often a specialist) must kick the ball through the upright posts and over the crossbar. If successful, the conversion points are added.

Scoring from a Penalty: The Penalty Goal

Throughout the game, the referee will award penalties against teams for breaking the rules (e.g., being offside, tackling improperly). When a penalty is awarded, the non-offending team’s captain has several choices, one of which is to go for points.

How it’s scored: If the penalty is within kicking distance, the captain may opt to attempt a penalty goal. The team’s kicker places the ball on a kicking tee and attempts to kick it through the posts from the spot where the infringement occurred. It’s a common way to keep the scoreboard ticking over, even when you can’t break the opposition’s defence to score a try.

The Tactical Kick: Scoring with a Drop Goal

The drop goal is the most difficult and often the most spectacular way to score points. It can be a match-winning moment of individual brilliance.

How it’s scored: A drop goal can be attempted at any time during open play by any player. To be successful, the player must drop the ball onto the ground and kick it on the half-volley (at the very moment it bounces off the turf). The kicked ball must then travel through the uprights and over the crossbar, just like a penalty or conversion. It’s a high-risk, high-reward tactical play.

The Automatic Score: Understanding the Penalty Try

A penalty try is a special score awarded by the referee. It is given when a team would have probably scored a try but was prevented from doing so by an act of foul play from a defending player.

For example, if an attacker is about to score and is tackled high from behind without the ball, the referee can award a penalty try. It’s designed to ensure the illegal act doesn’t benefit the defending team. In modern rules, a penalty try is automatically awarded as the maximum value (the try plus the conversion), so no conversion kick is attempted.

Crucial Differences: Scoring in Rugby Union vs. Rugby League

This is the most important thing for a new fan to understand. There are two main “codes” of rugby: Rugby Union (the game with 15 players per side, most common internationally) and Rugby League (the game with 13 players per side, very popular in Australia and the North of England). The way you score is the same, but the points awarded are different.

Here’s a direct comparison:

Scoring Action	Rugby Union Points	Rugby League Points
Try	5 points	4 points
Conversion	2 points	2 points
Penalty Goal	3 points	2 points
Drop Goal	3 points	1 point
Penalty Try	7 points (automatic)	8 points (automatic)

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Not sure which one you’re watching? A quick way to tell is to count the players or check the score—a 3-point penalty or a 5-point try means you’re watching Rugby Union.

For more on the specific rules, check out the official sites:

Key Takeaways

Use this checklist to remember the main scoring methods:

✅ Try: The #1 objective. Get the ball down in the opposition’s in-goal area.
✅ Conversion: The bonus kick after a try.
✅ Penalty Goal: A kick at goal awarded after the other team commits an infringement.
✅ Drop Goal: A skillful kick from open play.
✅ Check the Code! Always remember that point values are different in Rugby Union and Rugby League. A converted try is 7 points in Union but only 6 in League.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Scoring in Rugby

Q: What is the most valuable score in rugby? A: A converted try. In Rugby Union, it’s worth 7 points (5 for the try + 2 for the conversion). In Rugby League, it’s worth 6 points (4 + 2). A penalty try is worth the same value but is awarded automatically.

Q: Can you score directly from the kick-off? A: No. A player cannot directly score a drop goal from a kick-off or a restart. The ball must first enter open play.

Q: What is the difference between a penalty and a free kick? A: Both are awarded for infringements. However, a team cannot kick for a goal from a “free kick.” They must either tap the ball to start play or kick it out of bounds to gain territory.

Conclusion

While the rules of the breakdown and scrum can seem complex, the scoring system in rugby is refreshingly straightforward. It rewards positive, attacking play (the try) while also allowing for tactical point-scoring through skillful kicking. By understanding the five main ways to score—and the crucial difference between Union and League—you’ll have a much deeper appreciation for the strategy and excitement unfolding on the pitch. Now, you’re ready to follow the action and understand exactly what’s at stake with every play.

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