What Is a Rugby Touchdown Called? - Understanding the Try

When you hear the word “touchdown” you probably think of an American football field, but in rugby the equivalent score has a totally different name and a slightly different vibe. It’s called a Try the act of grounding the ball behind the opponent’s goal line to earn points. Understanding a try is the first step to getting why rugby fans get so loud every time the referee shouts “Try!”

What Exactly Is a Try?

A try happens when an attacking player places the ball on the ground in the opponent’s in‑goal area - that’s the rectangle behind the try line. The player must be holding the ball with both hands and apply downward pressure, just like you’d tap a soccer ball into a net, except you need to actually touch the ball to the ground. Once the referee is satisfied, they raise their arm and award points.

How Many Points Does a Try Earn?

In Rugby Union the 15‑a‑side code played at the World Cup, Six Nations and most professional leagues a try is worth five points. In Rugby League the 13‑a‑side version popular in Australia and northern England it’s worth four. Those differences can swing a close match, especially when you add the extra scoring chances that follow a try.

Step‑by‑Step: Scoring a Try

1. Break through the defense and get into the opponent’s in‑goal area.
2. Secure the ball with both hands - a single‑handed “pinch” won’t count.
3. Ground the ball by pressing it down onto the turf. If you’re tackled before the ball hits the ground, it’s not a try.
4. The referee confirms the grounding and signals the try. A quick video‑review system (known as the TMO) can be used for contentious calls.
5. After a try, the scoring team gets a chance at a Conversion a kick at goal that can add extra points. In Union the conversion is worth two points, in League it’s also two.

That extra two‑point kick is why teams often set up the try close to the posts - a straight‑on conversion is much easier than an angled one.

Other Ways to Score in Rugby

While the try is the headline act, rugby offers three other scoring methods that can change a game’s complexion.

• Conversion: After a try, a place‑kick or drop‑kick from a line perpendicular to where the try was scored. Successful kicks add two points.
• Penalty Goal: If the opposition commits a penalty, the non‑offending team can elect to kick at goal from the spot of the infringement. A successful penalty is worth three points in Union and two in League.
• Drop Goal: During open play, a player drops the ball and kicks it as it bounces off the ground. If it sails over the crossbar and between the posts, it’s three points in Union, one point in League.

All four methods - try, conversion, penalty goal, and drop goal - are part of the scoring vocabulary you’ll hear on a rugby broadcast. Knowing the point values helps you follow why coaches sometimes opt for a penalty kick instead of pushing for a try.

Union vs. League: Scoring Highlights

Both codes share the term “try,” but the surrounding rules differ enough to matter.

The table makes the differences crystal clear. In Union, a try is the most valuable single act, while in League the gap between a try and a penalty goal is smaller, so teams sometimes play a tighter, more tactical game.

Historical Roots - Why “Try”?

The word dates back to the early days of rugby in the 19th‑century British schools. Back then you didn’t get points just for grounding the ball; you earned the **right** (“try”) to attempt a kick at goal. As the rules evolved, the kick became a bonus rather than the main reward, but the name stuck. The term survived both codes and even made its way into the World Rugby (formerly International Rugby Board) rulebooks.

Real‑World Examples That Highlight the Try

During the 2023 Rugby World Cup the premier international tournament held every four years, New Zealand’s winger scored a spectacular try by leaping over two defenders, earning five points and setting up a simple conversion that pushed the score to 13‑5. In the 2022 Six Nations Championship the annual European Union competition, England’s full‑back grounded a loose ball inside the French in‑goal area, but a forward pass was spotted by the TMO, and the try was disallowed - a reminder that technique matters as much as power.

These moments illustrate why fans react with such intensity: a try can swing momentum, change the scoreboard, and even decide a tournament.

Common Myths About the Try

• Myth: You can score a try by simply dropping the ball over the try line.
  Fact: The ball must be grounded with clear downward pressure.
• Myth: A try is always worth the same number of points in every competition.
  Fact: Union and League differ, and historically the values have shifted (e.g., a try was only three points in Union before 1992).
• Myth: If a player is tackled right before the line, the try still counts if the ball crosses the plane.
  Fact: In Union, the ball must touch the ground; in League, crossing the plane before being tackled can be enough, but it still needs grounding.

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

• Try: Ground the ball in‑goal - 5 pts (Union) / 4 pts (League).
• Conversion: Kick after a try - 2 pts (both codes).
• Penalty Goal: Kick from a penalty - 3 pts (Union) / 2 pts (League).
• Drop Goal: Kick during open play - 3 pts (Union) / 1 pt (League).

Keep this cheat sheet handy the next time you watch a match - you’ll instantly know why the commentator is shouting “Conversion!” after a try.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now you know that the “rugby touchdown” isn’t a touchdown at all - it’s a rugby try. Whether you’re watching the Six Nations, the Rugby World Cup, or a local club match, the next time the referee lifts his arm you’ll understand exactly why the crowd erupts.