New to rugby and still learning the terms? Here’s our list of the most commonly used rugby terms.

Rugby Terms

Conversion: a kick taken after a try is scored to convert it into a goal.

Drop goal: a type of scoring in which a player kicks the ball over the crossbar and between the goalposts in open play.

Forward pass: a pass made by a player in the direction of the opponent’s goal line.

Knock-on: when a player loses the ball forward and it touches the ground or another player before being caught.

Lineout: a method of restarting play after the ball has gone into touch, where players from both teams form parallel lines and the ball is thrown in between them.

Maul: when one or more players from each team, on their feet, close around the ball carrier and drive them towards the opponent’s goal line.

Offside: a player is offside if they are in front of a teammate who is carrying the ball or if they are in front of the ball when it is kicked.

Penalty kick: a kick awarded to a team as a result of a rule infringement by the opposing team.

Ruck: when one or more players from each team, on their feet, close around the ball on the ground and try to win possession.

Scrum: a method of restarting play after a minor infringement or a knock-on, where players from each team pack closely together with their heads down and try to push the other team backwards.

Tackle: when a player is held by one or more opponents and brought to the ground.

Try: a score worth five points awarded when a player touches the ball down in the opponent’s in-goal area.