Rugby Terms For Beginners: Understanding Rugby Union’s Jargon

Rugby is a sport that is steeped in tradition and history, and as such, it has its own set of unique terms and jargon that can be difficult for those new to the game to understand.

Luckily, I’ve been involved in rugby since I was around three years old (yes, really!). So, here’s your guide to all the phrases you need to know, from Scrums to Mauls and Rucks to Drop Goals.

Rugby Terms You Need To Know

Here are definitions of key terms in rugby to impress your rugby-mad friends.

What is a Scrum?

A scrum is a restart of play in rugby where the forwards of each team bind together and push against each other to gain possession of the ball. The scrum-half puts the ball into the scrum for the hooker to “hook” it back to his or her team and retain possession of the ball.

What is a Lineout?

A lineout is a restart of play where the ball is thrown in between two lines of players from each team, with the aim of jumping for the ball to gain possession. The hooker throws the ball and the rest of the forwards pack tend to compete for the ball.

What is a Maul?

A maul is a situation in rugby where a player carrying the ball is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the player’s teammates bind on the ball carrier to form a maul. They can look a bit of a mess, and as a scrum half, I tend to avoid them!

What is a Ruck?

A ruck is a situation in rugby where one or more players from each team are in contact, on their feet, over the ball which is on the ground.

They are particularly messy and have evolved a lot over the years. You’ll often see a penalty awarded to either side at a ruck or ‘breakdown area’, because it’s easy to make a mistake and do something against the laws of rugby there.

What is a Try?

A try is the primary means of scoring in rugby and is worth five points. It is scored by grounding the ball in the opponent’s in-goal area. It’s what everyone wants to do!

What is a Conversion?

A conversion is a kicking action taken after a try is scored, to convert the try into two points. They differ from penalty kicks, which are independent of tries.

What is a Penalty Kick?

A penalty kick is a kicking action taken to score three points, awarded for a serious infringement by the opposing team. Unlike a conversion, it doesn’t have to follow a try and can be opted for whenever a penalty is awarded to your team.

What is a Drop Goal or Drop Kick?

A drop goal is a kicking action taken to score three points, in open play, by dropping the ball onto the ground and then kicking it through the opponent’s goal posts.

What is a Yellow Card?

A yellow card is a caution given by the referee to a player for a minor infringement, resulting in the player being temporarily suspended from the game for 10 minutes.

What is a Red Card?

A red card is a dismissal given by the referee to a player for a serious infringement, resulting in the player being suspended from the game for the remainder of the match.

What is Offside in Rugby?

Offside in rugby is when a player is beyond the hindmost foot of a teammate and involved in the play.

What is a Knock On?

A knock-on is when a player intentionally or accidentally knocks the ball forward with their hand or arm.

What is a Forward Pass?

A forward pass is when the ball is thrown forward, rather than backward, by a player.

In conclusion, these are just some of the many specialist terms used in rugby, which you might not necessarily hear elsewhere.

What is a Goal Called in Rugby?

A rugby ‘goal’ is called a ‘try’. A try is scored when a player grounds the ball in the opponent’s in-goal area, also known as the try zone or the dead-ball area. It’s the most valuable way of scoring in a rugby game, it is worth 5 points, and everyone wants to get one!

What are 5 Important Rules For Beginners to Know in Rugby?

1. The ball can be passed in any direction, but it cannot be thrown forward.
2. A player must not tackle an opponent above the shoulders or use dangerous tackles.
3. A player who is in possession of the ball must not be caught or held by an opponent.
4. The ball must be released if a player is on the ground and opponents are trying to gain possession.
5. A scrum is used to restart play when the ball has been knocked out of bounds or a forward pass has been made.

These five rules are the most important in rugby, but there are many more that players, coaches and referees must be aware of to ensure the game is played safely and fairly.

What is a Rugby Restart Called?

A rugby restart is called a kick off. It occurs after many instances during the game, including a try and penalty kick.

What Phrases Do Rugby Commentators Often Use?

Rugby commentators often use a variety of phrases to describe the action on the field. Some examples include:

“He’s got a good step on him.” (referring to a player who is able to evade tackles with quick footwork)
“He’s a real workhorse.” (referring to a player who puts in a lot of effort and covers a lot of ground)
“He’s a real enforcer.” (referring to a player who is known for making strong tackles)
“He’s got a great turn of pace.” (referring to a player who can accelerate quickly)
“He’s got a great boot.” (referring to a player who can kick the ball well)
“He’s a real ball-player.” (referring to a player who is skilled at handling the ball)
“The forwards are really dominating the scrum.” (referring to the forwards exerting control during a scrum)
“He’s got a great defensive line” (referring to a player who is good at defending)
“He’s got a great line-out jump” (referring to a player who is good at jumping to catch the ball in a line-out)
“He’s got a great offload.” (referring to a player who can pass the ball while being tackled)
A “Gary Owen” refers to a type of kick also called an “up and under”, where the kicker kicks the ball high with the aim of chasing and retrieving it.
“That’ll have snow on it when it comes down” is a legendary phrase by commentator Bill McLaren who used it to describe high kicks out of hand.

What Do Rugby Players Call a Field?

Rugby players typically call a field a “pitch”. It refers to the playing surface on which the game of rugby is played. The pitch is typically made of grass and must be rectangular in shape and within certain dimensions as laid down in the laws of the game.

What Do Rugby Players Call Boots?

Rugby footwear is often referred to as: rugby boots, cleats, or togs, but they are used interchangeably and mainly depend on where you’re from.

If there’s a term you hear that you’re unsure about while watching a rugby match during the Autumn Internationals, Six Nations or Rugby World Cup, then don’t be afraid to ask your rugby mad buddies. There’s no shame in learning!