Try (rugby)

Rugby union and league differ slightly in defining "grounding the ball" and the "in-goal" area.

[1] A try is analogous to a touchdown in American and Canadian football, with the major difference being that a try requires the ball be simultaneously touching the ground and an attacking player, whereas a touchdown merely requires that the ball enter the airspace above the "end zone" while in the possession of an opposing player.

In both codes of rugby, the term touch down formally refers only to grounding the ball by the defensive team in their in-goal.

[4] In some rugby union competitions, a 9 point try, or power try, is awarded if attacks are launched within 22 meters of the scoring team's own try line.

[5] In rugby league, the referee "may award a penalty try if, in his opinion, a try would have been scored but for the unfair play of the defending team".

[6] Like in rugby union, a penalty try is awarded between the goal posts irrespective of where the offence occurred.

[8] In rugby league, a possible 8-point try is awarded if the defending team commits an act of foul play as the ball is being grounded.

[9] In rugby union, foul play after a try being scored results in a penalty being awarded on the half way mark, in lieu of a kick off.

An example of this occurred in the 2020 NRL Grand Final, when the Penrith Panthers scored a try with 20 seconds remaining in the match, bringing them to within 6 points of the Melbourne Storm.

[11] To make the conversion easier, attacking players will try to ground the ball as close to the centre of the in-goal area as possible.

These points, however, can mean the difference between winning or losing a match, so thought is given to fielding players with good goal-kicking skill.