Rugby Touchdown: What It Is and How to Score One

If you’re new to rugby, the term "touchdown" might sound confusing because it belongs to American football. In rugby the equivalent is called a try

Understanding a try is the first step if you want to follow a game or start playing. A try happens when an attacking player grounds the ball on or behind the opponent's goal line. The ball must be pressed down with pressure from the player’s hands or body – just dropping it isn’t enough. Once the referee sees the ball on the ground, the try is awarded.

What a Rugby Touchdown Actually Is

A rugby try differs from an American football touchdown in three key ways:

• Grounding the ball: You must physically touch the ball to the ground, not just cross the line.
• Five points, not six: A try gives you five points, and you get a separate conversion attempt worth two more points.
• No forward pass: The ball must be moved laterally or backward before the try. Forward passes are illegal, so teams use clever running lines and support players.

Because of these rules, the whole team works together to create space and protect the ball holder as they approach the try line. The defense tries to tackle the ball carrier before they can ground it, often pulling in more players to form a lineout or a ruck.

Tips to Score Like a Pro

Want to increase your chances of crossing that line? Here are three practical tips you can start using right away:

1. Identify the weak side: Watch the defensive line and spot the side where the defenders are outnumbered. Attack that gap with speed and a supportive runner to the side.
2. Stay low and drive: When you get close to the goal line, lower your centre of gravity and use your legs to power through. A low body makes it harder for tacklers to bring you down.
3. Protect the ball: Wrap your arms around the ball tightly and keep it away from defenders’ hands. If you’re about to be tackled, the classic "ball‑in‑the‑arm" technique keeps the ball safe until you can ground it.

Practice these moves in training drills – short sprints into a tight space, one‑on‑one tackle scenarios, and simple grounding drills. The more you repeat them, the more instinctive they become during a real match.

Finally, remember the conversion kick. After a try, the kicker gets a shot at goal from a line straight out from where the ball was grounded. A successful conversion adds two points, so position matters. Teams often aim to ground the ball as centrally as possible to give the kicker a straight‑on angle.

With these basics in mind, you’ll understand what a "rugby touchdown" really means, why it’s valuable, and how to help your side score more often. Whether you’re watching a Premiership match or stepping onto the pitch for the first time, the try is the heart of the game – and now you know how to make it happen.