How to Score in Rugby: Tries, Conversions & More
So, you’re settling in to watch England Rugby take on their rivals in the Six Nations Championship, and you hear the commentators talking about tries, conversions, and penalty goals. You get the gist—the team with the most points wins—but you’re not entirely sure how they’re all scored or why some are worth more than others.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Rugby’s scoring system is elegant but can seem like a secret code at first. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to watch a match at Twickenham Stadium and not only know how the Red Rose has just scored, but you’ll understand the skill and strategy behind it. Whether it’s Marcus Smith slotting a tricky conversion or Maro Itoje forcing a turnover that leads to a penalty, you’ll see the game in a whole new light.
Let’s break down every way to put points on the board.
What You Need to Know Before We Start
Before we dive into the step-by-step of scoring, there are just two core concepts you need to grasp. Think of this as your quick pre-match briefing.
- The Objective: The primary aim is to score a try. Everything else in the game—the kicking, the passing, the big tackles—is generally in service of creating or preventing this opportunity.
- The Two Ways to Play: Rugby is unique because play is continuous, but scoring opportunities come from two distinct streams:
Set-Piece or Offence: When the other team breaks the rules, you are awarded a penalty or a free-kick. This gives you a static, strategic chance to score points via a kick at goal or by kicking for territory to launch an attack.
Got it? Right, let’s get into the main event.
Your Guide to Rugby’s Scoring Methods
1. Scoring a Try (5 Points)
The try is the cornerstone of rugby, worth the most points. It’s the game’s ultimate reward for ambition and attacking play.
How it’s done: A player must apply downward pressure with their hand or arm on the ball, while the ball is in contact with the ground, in the opponent’s in-goal area (the area between the try line and the dead-ball line). It sounds simple, but with defenders trying to drag you into touch, it requires immense strength and control.
What it looks like: Think of Ellis Genge powering over the line from close range, or a winger like Jonny May diving in the corner. The referee will often go to the Television Match Official (TMO) to check the ball was grounded properly—it’s that important.
Why it’s special: Scoring a try is a statement. It demoralises the defence and energises the whole team. For England Rugby, a well-worked try can shift the momentum of an entire Autumn Nations Series match.
2. Kicking the Conversion (2 Points)
After a try is scored, the scoring team gets a chance to add two extra points with a conversion kick.
How it’s done: The kick is taken from a spot in line with where the try was scored. So, if the try was scored right between the posts, the kick is easy. If it was scored right in the corner, the kick is from the sideline, making it much harder. The kicker must kick the ball over the crossbar and between the uprights.
The Strategy: This is where your goal-kicker’s nerve is tested. Players like Owen Farrell or Marcus Smith are vital here. Captains and coaches like Steve Borthwick will often instruct players to score under the posts if possible, especially in tight games, to secure the almost-guaranteed two extra points.
3. Kicking a Penalty Goal (3 Points)
When the opposition commits a penalty offence (e.g., being offside, not releasing the ball in a tackle), the non-offending team can choose to kick for goal.
How it’s done: The kick is taken from the spot of the infringement or directly behind it. The kicker uses a tee to place the ball and must kick it over the crossbar and between the posts, just like a conversion.
When it’s used: This is a huge tactical tool. If England are struggling to break down a stubborn defence, they can “take the points” to build a score. In a fierce contest like the Calcutta Cup, three points from a penalty can be the difference between winning and losing. It rewards discipline and punishes mistakes.
4. Scoring a Drop Goal (3 Points)
The drop goal is one of rugby’s most dramatic and skilful scores. It’s a kick at goal attempted during open play.
How it’s done: A player drops the ball onto the ground and kicks it just as it bounces up, aiming to send it over the crossbar and between the posts. It must be done in one fluid motion.
Why it’s iconic: It requires incredible coolness under pressure. A drop goal often wins tight, high-stakes games in the final moments. While less common today, it remains a potent weapon. The ability to slot a drop goal under pressure is a hallmark of a great rugby brain.
5. Awarding a Penalty Try (7 Points)
This is a special case, awarded by the referee when they believe a try would certainly have been scored if not for an act of foul play by the defending team.
How it’s done: The referee doesn’t need to see the ball grounded. If, for example, a defender deliberately knocks the ball down as it’s being passed to a player with a clear run to the line, a penalty try is likely. The referee will run under the posts and award seven points automatically.
The consequence: Not only is the try awarded, but the offending player is also shown a yellow card (sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes). It’s the ultimate punishment for cynical defence.
Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid
Chasing the Big Score: New fans often think tries are everything. While they are the aim, smart teams like Steve Borthwick’s England know the value of building a lead through penalty goals, especially in bad weather or against top defences.
Ignoring the Kicker: The goal-kicker is a key player. Their success rate from the tee (e.g., 5 out of 6 kicks) often decides close games. Watch their routine—it’s a masterclass in focus.
Missing the Set-Up: A penalty goal or conversion doesn’t just happen. Notice the work of the forwards in securing clean ball for the kicker, or the tactical penalty won at the breakdown by a flanker like Tom Curry.
Forgetting About Field Position: Not every penalty is kickable. Often, a team will kick for touch to set up a line-out deep in the opponent’s 22-metre area. This is a strategic decision to create a better chance for a try. The Rugby Football Union’s coaching philosophy heavily emphasises this kind of tactical kicking.
Confusing a Mark with a Penalty: If a player catches a kick inside their own 22-metre area and calls “Mark!”, they get a free-kick, not a penalty. You cannot kick for goal from a free-kick.
Your Rugby Scoring Checklist
Next time you’re watching England at Twickenham or in the Guinness Six Nations, use this simple checklist to follow the scoring action:
✅ Try (5 pts): Did an attacker ground the ball with control in the in-goal area? Watch for the referee’s arm pointing to the centre of the pitch and the TMO replay.
✅ Conversion (2 pts): After a try, watch the kicker. The kick is taken in line with where the try was scored. A successful kick adds two points to the five for the try.
✅ Penalty Goal (3 pts): Did the referee’s arm go straight up for a penalty? The captain can point to the posts. The kick is taken from the spot of the offence.
✅ Drop Goal (3 pts): Did a player drop and kick the ball in open play, sending it through the posts? It’s a moment of instant offence and often a game-winner.
✅ Penalty Try (7 pts): Did a defender’s foul play illegally prevent a certain try? The referee will award the seven points under the posts and issue a yellow card.
Understanding these scoring methods will transform how you watch the game. You’ll appreciate the grind of the forwards to win a penalty, the brilliance of a backline creating a try, and the ice-cool nerve of the kicker. Now you’re ready to enjoy every point the Rose scores, from a gritty penalty to a spectacular try.
Want to learn more about the foundations of the game? Check out our guides on basic rugby rules for beginners and how all the different rugby positions work. For all this and more, head back to our Rugby Basics hub.
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