What is a Penalty Try in Rugby?

Rugby is a complicated and physical sport. There are two rugby codes: rugby union and rugby league. Both sports have five ways to score points. In rugby, points are gained from scoring tries, converting tries, penalty goals, drop kicks, and penalty tries. The points values differ between the two codes, but penalty tries are the maximum points a team can score in one play.

In rugby league and rugby union, the attacking team is awarded a penalty try if the referee deems a probable try has been prevented through foul or illegal misconduct by the defending team. What is a penalty try in rugby, you might ask. SportsBoom unwraps this rare scoring form in rugby union, rugby league, and Sevens rugby.

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Rugby Football: A Short History of the Sport

Rugby union broke away from association football in the mid-nineteenth century. By the late nineteenth century, rugby split into two different codes. Disagreements of opinions on the laws of the game and the ethical dilemmas regarding amateur and professional rugby saw the emergence of rugby league. 

The rules and laws of both codes are vast. However, rugby union is incredibly complicated because many laws are open to interpretation by the match officials. Rugby union is stop-start, while rugby league is more free-flowing. There are fewer stoppages in rugby league because there are no set pieces.

The points-scoring systems are the same across rugby union, rugby league, and rugby sevens. However, the values of tries, penalties, drop kicks, and penalty tries are different between rugby union and sevens, rugby league. Only the conversion values are the same. Moreover, both codes award automatic scores to the value of a converted try, seven in rugby union and six in rugby league.

The officials can also add another penalty after the penalty try for serious foul play or cheating occurred before, during, or after the attacking team scored. Rugby union awards many more penalty tries than rugby league because of set pieces. Continuous infringements during the attacking side’s scrum, lineout, or driving maul will end in a penalty try.

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How is a Penalty Try Awarded in Rugby Union?

World Rugby (WR), the international governing body for rugby union, stipulates in Law 8.3 that "a penalty try must be awarded between the goal posts if foul play by the opposing team prevents a probable try from being scored or scored in a more advantageous position. Referees award penalty tries under the posts regardless of where the defending side’s infringement occurred. 

In rugby union, the lawbook states that a penalty try must be given when, “in the opinion of the referee, a try probably would have been scored (or scored in a more advantageous position) if not for an act of foul play by an opponent.” Furthermore, World Rugby rules that a player guilty of a professional foul or misconduct must be cautioned (yellow carded) and - temporarily - suspended for ten minutes or sent off (red card).

 Referee Nika Amashukeli awards a yellow card to Freddie Steward of England//Getty

Before January 1, 2017, the conversion had to be taken from in front of the posts following the awarding of a penalty try. Since New Year's Day 2017, the conversion is not taken. Instead, the attacking team gets an automatic seven points (a goal), where it was five before. Furthermore, the offending defending player should be suspended for ten minutes or sent off. 

In rugby union, foul play by the defending side after a try result in a penalty on the kick-off point on the halfway line. This is rare in rugby football because the yellow or red card is often a sufficient punishment. The most common occurrence for awarding penalty tries in rugby union is repeated scrum infringements and collapsing the driving/rolling maul near the try line.

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How is a Penalty Try Awarded in Rugby League?

The Rugby Football League (RFL) govern rugby league. Under ‘Scoring Law 3 (d) – penalty try’, 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.” Unlike rugby union, there are fewer penalty tries in rugby league. This is due to the lack of set pieces in the 13-man game. 

Penalty tries are awarded for foul or dangerous play by the defensive team as they defend their goal line. As in rugby union, a penalty try is awarded under the poles irrespective of where the offence occurred. Six points are automatically added to the attacking team’s score.

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An eight-point try is awarded if the defending side commits an act of foul play while the attacking team is scoring a try. The referee awards the try, and conversion is taken, in line from where the try was dotted down. A penalty kick is then taken from in front of the posts as an additional punishment for the foul play.