Try Meaning in Rugby Union

A try is the primary way of scoring points in rugby union, worth five points. It is achieved when an attacking player is the first to ground the ball in the opponents’ in-goal area. Unlike American football, where simply crossing the plane is enough, in rugby, the ball must physically touch the ground while the player is in control of it. Scoring a try also grants the team a ‘conversion’ attempt for an extra two points. For example, after a series of powerful rucks, a flanker might pick the ball up and dive through a gap to press the ball down. Tries are the most exciting part of the game and often involve incredible team coordination or individual brilliance. They can be scored through long-range sprints, powerful forward drives, or clever kicks into the corner. The term comes from the early days of the sport when crossing the line gave you a ‘try’ (an attempt) at kicking a goal. Today, the try itself is the most valuable scoring act on the scoreboard.