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Rugby Try. Photo by Philippa Rose-Tite on

Points & Scoring: How To Score In Rugby

The game of rugby has always been associated with alot of action and suspense for both the players on the field and fans on the terraces. If you are a lover of the game, you will find it interesting seeing 30 or 14 players, depending on the version of the game, running across the field and tearing each other just to get possession of the ball.  For newcomers in the game, it is different from many other sports in terms of scoring and ultimately winning the game. 

Understanding how points are scored is key to any rugby enthusiast. Apart from a try which is worth five points, there are several other ways in which you can earn points in the game of rugby.

Rugby’s ultimate goal is to score. Players, coaches, and fans all need to understand how to score as this will create more interest in watching and interpreting the game.  In this article we will be educating the reader on the Points & Scoring: How to Score In Rugby.

1. A Try Is The Most Common Way To Score points In Rugby

As indicated above, the game of rugby is about passion and excitement with players tearing each other with the aim of winning possession of the ball and earn points. The players will fight for ball possession and pass the ball to each other until they cross the opponent’s goal or the last line. This is what is referred to as a try and is worth 5 points and an advantage to get extra points on the same.  It is usually considered the most common way to score points in rugby.

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2. A Conversion Earns The Team Two Extra Points

With 5points from a successful try, we are not done yet with earning points. The scoring team  has a chance to earn extra points through a conversion that will earn them  2 extra points. This is done by kicking the ball in between the posts from anywhere within the line that the try was converted. So, we can actually say that  a try and conversion kick is worth a total of 7 points. 

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3. A Conversion Is Taken From ThePosition Where The Try Was Scored

For a conversion to be valid, it must be made in from a perpendicular line that crosses the try line where the try was scored. The player kicking the ball for a conversion is tasked with placing it through the goalposts at the top. In the teams we have players who have been specially trained to undertake this task and are usually given the task of kicking the ball.

4. Penalties Play A Role In Earning Points

Penalty. Photo by Hanson Lu on

As players continue to tear into each other to win the ball, there are occassions when a player may break the rugby rules and is usually penalized as a result. This is what is referred to as a penalty and the other team has an opportunity to get three points through a drop kick across the goalpost. This gives an advantage to the team with ball possession.

A point to note is that penalties more often than not turn out to be crucial, particularly in the dying minutes of the game, as they may decide the fate of the game.

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5. A Penalty Is Taken From 12 Yards

Rugby Ball. Photo by Edgar Pimenta on

By now we know that a penalty kick is also awarded when an offence punishable by a direct free kick is committed by a player in their own penalty area. For purposes of the reader we can also add that the rules of the game dictate that the kick  must be taken from the penalty mark, which is 11 m (12 yards) from the goal line and centered between the touch lines. Many games have been won in this manner.

7. A drop goal Is Another Way of Earning Points

A drop goal simply means kicking the ball in between the goalpost . It is usually as a result of a player commiting an offense inside their own penalty area that is punishable by a direct free kick. The penalty mark. The point where the drop goal is taken is situated between the touch lines and 11 meters (12 yards) from the goal line. A successful drop goal earns the team three points.

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8. A Drop Goal Must Cross Over The Goalpost

Rugby post. Photo by Thomas Serer on

Some rugby players will tell you that a drop goal is not one of the easiest ways to earn points in rugby. As mentioned above, to score a drop goal, one must drop kick the ball over the crossbar and between the goalposts. This means dropping the ball and kicking it as it contacts the ground, as opposed to a deadball situation. The ball must go over and through the goalpost after being kicked to be considered successful.

9. An Advantage Is Given After A Successful Conversion

According to the rules of rugby, if the drop goal attempt is successful, The team with the advantage restarts play with a kick from halfway. However, if the kick is unsuccessful, play continues and the offside rules for a kick apply. Defenders may tackle the kicker while he is in possession of the ball, or attempt to charge down or block the kick. Unlike a conversion the ball is not kicked at a stationery position. Some teams use this opportunity to buy some time particularly if they are leading and is a cause of frustration to the opponensts.

10. Points Can Be Awarded Without The Ball Crossing The Line

Rugby enthusiasts should also know that there are extraordinary situations where a team can also be awarded points without kicking the ball.  In occasions when a try would have been scored, but for an infringement from the opponent stops the game, the referee is allowed to award seven points to the team with the advantage, even without the ball crossing the line. Though teams will often try to avoid this kind of errors, it still happens in some rare occasions.