If your child is gaining and interest in rugby – either watching or playing – they may start using terminology that you don’t understand.
Here’s a few basic terms that will help you talk to them about the game, as well as enjoy watch a match with them too.
Try
A try is the primary method of scoring in rugby. It’s like a touchdown in American football.
When a player places the ball on the ground behind the opponent’s try line, their team earns five points.
It is important to remember the ball must always stay in contact with the player’s hand and be placed in a controlled manner.
Conversion
After a try is scored, the scoring team has the opportunity to kick the ball through the goalposts to earn an additional two points.
The point on the pitch where the conversion is kicked from is determined by where the try is scored on the field – it’s taken in a straight line perpendicular to the point of the try.
For example, if a try is scored under the goal post the ball is kicked right in front of the goal (an easy kick).
If the try is scored in the far corner of the pitch the conversion kick will be much more difficult.
Forward pass
One important thing you must know about rugby is that the pass can only be thrown (also known as passing) backwards.
Throwing (or passing) the ball forwards is against the rules and results in a penalty.
Offside
A rugby player is offside when they are ahead of the ball or in front of a teammate who last played the ball.
Being offside results in a penalty for the opposing team.
Penalty
When a team is awarded a penalty, they can choose to kick for a goal. If successful, the team earns three points.
Another alternative and much more common is kicking the ball as far down the pitch, closer to the opposing team’s try line however, the ball must go out of play to count and be awarded a lineout.
Lineout
A lineout is when the ball goes out of bounds and is used to restart play. Players from both teams line up perpendicular to the touchline, and a player from the team, usually the hooker (Number 2), throws the ball back into play giving both teams a chance to reach up and gain possession of the ball.
Knock-on
A knock-on occurs when a player accidentally drops the ball forward, leading to a stoppage in play and a scrum for the opposing team.
Scrum
A scrum is another method of restarting play after certain stoppages, such as a minor infringement or a knocked-on ball.
It involves the forward players from each team binding together and attempting to gain possession of the ball by pushing against each other.
Advantage
The referee may apply the advantage rule when a team infringes.
Instead of stopping play immediately, the referee allows the non-offending team to continue playing to see if they can gain an advantage from the situation; if they cannot, play is stopped and brought back to the original place of infringement.
Tackles
Tackles occur when a defensive player brings the ball carrier to the ground.
The tackled player must release the ball immediately or will risk producing a penalty, play then continues usually forming a ruck.
Ruck
A ruck occurs when a ball carrier is brought to the ground, and one or more players from each team bind over the ball. The players must use their feet to compete for possession of the ball, if a player is unstable or falls on top of the ruck the opposition is awarded a penalty.
Mauls
Mauls are similar to a ruck; however, a maul happens when a ball carrier is held by one or more opponents while at least one player from each team binds onto the carrier.
The maul moves forward until the ball is released or the maul collapses, usually resulting in a ruck.
These are just a few of the most common rugby terms you might encounter as a rugby parent. Familiarising yourself with these terms can enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the sport.
Concussion protocols
In recent years a lot of focus has been put on making rugby a lot safer for players, following reports of dementia and other long term side effects of repeated concussion with poor recovery management.
There are now strict protocols in place to check rugby players for head injuries, and they may not be able to play again for weeks after sustaining a knock to the head.
Red Card
If a player commits a very dangerous foul they will be shown a red card by the referee and be sent off the field of play. Their team will be reduced by one player for the duration of the game.
In professional rugby a red card will usually result in the player being banned for future matches. The duration of the ban will depend on the severity of their foul.
Sin Bin – Yellow card
A rugby player will be shown a yellow card by the referee if they have committed a serious or potentially dangerous foul, but which is not bad enough to receive a red card.
The player is sent off the pitch for 10 minutes, and will sit alone in what is known as the “Sin Bin”. At the end of the 10 minutes they can return to play.
If a player receives a second yellow card this will be upgraded to a red card and the player cannot return to the match.
Before you go…..
Now you know some of the key terminology, why not learn a bit more about the rules of rugby.
