GLOSSARY
Advantage - unlike most other sports, referees can play advantage after a foul for what can seem an eternity, but once he calls "advantage over" then that's that.
All Blacks - the national team of New Zealand.
Ankle Tap - a tackle, usually of the last-ditch variety, which involves a dive and a slap to the attacker's ankle which, if properly executed, will result in his legs colliding with each other. Also known as a Tap Tackle.
Ball Back – If the Ball enters Touch, then play is restarted by a line-out at the point where the ball left the field of play. The exception to this is if the ball is kicked into touch on the full. In this case, a line-out is taken from the point from where the ball was kicked from, and not from where it entered touch.
Backs - the group of players normally numbered Nos. 9 to 15 who do not participate in scrums and line-outs, except for the scrum-half.
Barbarians - the name of invitational rugby teams, the most famous based in the UK, drawing the finest players from around the world together to play matches against international teams. Also called the Baa Baas.
Binding - the careful method players grip and grasp each other to form a secure scrum, ruck, or maul. This is a critical skill to ensure the safety of players.
Bledisloe Cup - the annual competition between the national teams of New Zealand and Australia. Now held during the Tri-Nations.
Blindside - from a set piece, ruck or maul, the short side of the field.
Bonus Points – A method of deciding table points (the points that determine league standings) from a rugby union match. It was implemented in order to encourage attacking play throughout a match, to discourage repetitive goal-kicking, and to reward teams for “coming close” in losing efforts.
1 Bonus Point is awarded for scoring 4 (or more) tries and 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or less).
Blitz Defense – is a defensive technique similar to the defense used in rugby league. It relies on the whole defensive line moving forward towards their marked man as one, as soon as the ball leaves the base of a ruck or maul. The charge is usually led by the inside center.
The idea of this technique is to prevent the attacking team gaining any ground by tackling them behind the gain line and forcing interceptions and charged down kicks. However, the defending team can be vulnerable to chip kicks and any player breaking the defensive line will have lots of space to play because the defense are running the other way and must stop, turn and chase.
Blood Bin – aka Blood Replacement, a [player who has a visible bleeding injury may be replaced for up to fifteen minutes (running time not game time). During which he or she may receive first-aid treatment to stop the flow of blood and dress the wound. The player may then return to the pitch to continue playing.
Box-Kick – This is a kick taken from behind a scrum, normally by the scrum-half, in which he turns away from the scrum facing the touchline, and kicks the ball back over the scrum into the clear “box” of space behind the opposition to allow his own team to chase through and regain the ball in undefended territory.
Breakdown – The Breakdown is a colloquial term for the period immediately after a tackle and the ensuing ruck. During this time teams compete for possession of the ball, initially with their hands and then using feet in the ruck. Most referees will call “ruck” or “hands away” as soon as a ruck is formed. Most infringements take place at the breakdown, owing to the greater variety of possible offenses at a breakdown, for example handling the ball in the ruck, killing the ball, offside at the ruck and so on.
Calcutta Cup - the annual match between England and Scotland each year during the Six Nations Championship. The trophy is made from the silver rupees remaining after the Calcutta Rugby Club disbanded in the 1920s.
Cap - anytime a player plays in a match he/she is technically awarded a cap but the term is mostly used to note the number of official games a player has appeared for his/her national team against another national team. A cap is an honor, there is typically no physical item awarded, although originally there was.
Caution – a player who deliberately or repeatedly infringes the laws is cautioned and shown a yellow card. A Cautioned player is suspended from play for ten minutes.
Center – they are the players wearing shirts with the numbers 12 and 13. They are divided into inside and outside center.
Charge Down - the blocking of a kick by an opposition player.
Chip Kick - a short shallow kick usually delivered over the head of an onrushing defender to be quickly retrieved or caught by the kicker or one of his/her supporting players.
Clearance Kick - a kick of the ball into touch which relieves pressure on a side under heavy attack.
Conversion - a kick at the posts after the awarding of a try, scoring two points if successful. The kick must be attempted directly from a spot perpendicular to the spot where the try was awarded. Usually taken with a place kick, it can be rushed when the kicker makes a move towards the ball. If taken as a drop kick it is uncontested.
Counter Rucking – If a team (usually the team that took the ball into contact) has secured the ball at a ruck, and the other team manage to force them off the ball and secure possession themselves, the defending team is said to have “counter-rucked”.
Crash Tackle/Crash Ball – It is an attacking tactic where a player receives a pass at pace and runs directly at the opposition’s defensive lin. The crash ball runner attempts to commit tow of more opposing players to the tackle, then attempts to make the vall available to team-mates by off-loading in the tackle or recycling the ball quickly from the ruck.
By committing players to the tackle, the crash ball runner creates holes in the opposiotion’s defense, thereby creating attacking opportunities for team-mates.
Drop Kick / Drop Goal – A drop kick is when a player kicks the ball from hand and the ball touches the ground between being dropped and kicked. If a drop kick goes through the goal postsl then it results in a drop goal.
Dummy Pass/Runner – a feigned pass intended to deceive an opponent about to make a tackle. The dummy runner is the offensive player who runs forward looking like they will receive a pass from the ball carrier but the ball is passed to another player at the last second, in hopes that the defensive team will commit one or more players to defending the dummy runner.
Dump Tackle – a tackle technique where the tackler wraps his arms around the ball carrier’s thights and lifts him a short distance in the air before forcibly driving him to the ground. The tackler must go to the ground with the ball carrier for the tackle to be legal. This technique is useful to completely stop the opponent in his tracks. The tackler must bring the ballcarrier to the ground safely and remain in control throughout the tackle or it could result in a penalty to the tackler.
Eagles - the national team of the United States of America
Ellis, William Webb - the person, as a student at Rugby School, credited with inspiring the modern game of rugby football in 1823, although the famous story of the incident where he "picked up the ball and ran" did not emerge until four years after his death.
Feed - the rolling of the ball into the scrum by the scrum-half.
Five Meter Scrum – when an offense occurs between the five meter line and the try line, or a player carries a ball over their own try line and touches the ball down, the referee will award a scrum on the five meter line; this is to prevent all but the most brutal packs form driving the ball over the try line within the scrum.
Flanker – Also known as the breakaways or wing forwards. They are the players wearing shirts with the numbers 6 and 7. They are the players with the fewest set responsibilities. The player should have all around attributes: speed, strength, fitness, tackling and handling skills. Flankers are always involved in the game, as they are the real ball winners at the breakdown, especially the number 7. The two flankers do not usually bind to the scrum in a fixed position. Instead, the open side flanker will attach to the scrum on whicheve side is further from the nearer touchline, while the blindside flanker attaches himself to the scrum on the side closer the touchline.
Fly Half – they are the player wearing shirt number 10. This position is one of the most influential on the pitch. The fly-half makes key tactical decisions during a game. Generally a fly-half is alwo the goal kicker due to excellent kicking skills.
Forward Pass - all passes must go backwards, and this is an illegal pass where the ball goes forwards. The penalty is a scrum in favour of the other side, unless it is deemed intentional and the opposing team is awarded a penalty.
Fourth Official – is a match official who controls replacements and substitutes. He may also substitute for the referee or touch judge in case of injury.
Foul Play – the deliverate infringement of the laws of the game.
Free Kick - an uncontested kick awarded to a team usually for a minor penalty by the other team. The kick cannot be taken directly at the posts except by a drop goal.
Front Five - a common collective name for the front row (props and hooker) and second row (locks) forwards. Also known as Tight Five (wearing shirts numbered 1-5)
Front Row - the common name for the prop #1 jersey/hooker #2 jersey/prop #3 jersey combination at the front of a scrum.
Fullback – the player wearing jersey number 15. They act as the last line of defense against running attacks by the opposing three-quarter backs. The full back is expected to field high kicks form the opposition, and reply with a superior kick or a counterattack. The full back is sometimes the specialist goal-kicker in a team, taking penalty and conversion kicks.
Full time – the term used for the end of a match.
Garryowen – or an up and under kick, is a high short punt onto or behind the defending team. Named after the Irish club which originated the play
Goal from mark – an antiquated method of scoring and is not part of the modern game of rugby.
Goal – a goal is scored when a player kicks the ball through the palne bounded by the two uprights and above the crossbar. A drop goal or penalty goal count for three points and a conversion kick counts for two.
Goal line, Try line – two solid, straight white lines (one at each end of the pitch) stretching across the entire width of the pitch passing directly throught th egoal posts which defines the boundary between the “field of play” and the “in-goal_. As the goal line is defined as part of the “in-goal” attacking plaers can score tries by placing the ball win downward pressure onto the goal line itself. The base of the goal posts and post protectors are also defined to be part of the goal line. It is also sometimes refered to as the “try line” although that term does not appear in the laws of the game.
Grubber - a kick of the ball which causes the ball to bounce and roll along the ground.
Haka – a traditional Maori dance performed by the All Blacks, the international rugby union team of New Zealand, and sometimes by other Southern Pacific teams. It is performed immediately prior to the match and serves as a challenge to the opposing team.
Half-back - the back wearing No.9 who normally feeds the ball into a scrum and retrieves the ball at the base of scrums, rucks, and mauls. Can also be called the Scrum-half.
High Ball - a ball kicked very high into the air placing any player attempting to catch it under extreme pressure by on rushing opposition players.
High tackle – is a tackle that occurs over the line of high tackle. As concern for head injury increases the line of high tackle has dropped from shoulder height to nipple line. Tackles above this line are extremely dangerous and depending on the severity of the tackle will result in a penalty and most likely a yellow or red card for the offending player.
In 2023, the RFU has introduced a trial lower high tackle line, the natural waist (belly button), to see if lowering the line would lower the number of head injuries. This is only a trial and will only affect youth and club teams in the UK.
Home Nations – England, Wales, Scottland, and Ireland.
Hooker – the player with the number 2 on their shirt. The hooker is the middle player in the front row of the scrum, the player uses his or her feet to “hook” the ball back to their team. Hookers also typically throw the ball in at line-outs.
Injury Time - in top-class rugby, the referee publicly stops and starts time for more lengthy interruptions (injuries, referrals to the TV referee) so that even when the allotted 40 minutes have expired, play continues until the time for these stoppages is added. At club level, injury time is often a far less easily defined beast.
Jumper - a common name for a rugby jersey. Also the name of a player in a lineout, usually at the 2, 4, and 6 positions, jumping to catch or intercept the throw.
Knock On - losing, dropping, or knocking the ball forward from a player's hand resulting in the ball being awarded to the other team in a scrum.
Kick-off – a coin is tossed and the winning captain either chooses which direction his team shall play or elects to take the kick that starts the game. Both halves of the match are started with a drop kick from the center-point of the halfway line.
The kick must cross the opposition’s 10 meter line, unless played by a memver of the receiving team. The opposition are nowt allowed to encroach beyond the 10-meter line until the ball is kicked.
IF the ball does not travel 10 meteres, goes straitght into touch, or goes over the dead ball line at the end of the pitch, the opposing team may accep the kick, have the ball kicked off again, or have a scrum at the center.
After a score, the game is restarted from the same place under the same restrictions, with the conceding team drop-kicking the ball to the scoring team.
Late tackle – it is illegal to tackle a player who does not have the ball, if the tackler tackles a player who has already unloaded the ball (pass or kick) it is considered a late tackle and a penalty is awarded to the non-offending team.
Lifting - the act of lifting the lineout jumper into the air in order to more easily catch or intercept the throw.
Lineout - the set play re-starting play after the ball has been taken out or kicked to touch. Both sets of forwards will line up opposite each other with the side with throw calling a play. The throw must be directly down the middle of the two lines.
Lock – players with the shirts 4 and 5 are known as locks or the second row. Typically they are very tall, athletic and have an excellent standing jump along with good strength, as they are typically lifted in the line-outs.
Loose Forwards - common names for the flankers (numbers 6 and 7) and No. 8 in a forward pack.
Mark - the place indicated by the referee where the scrum should form; also a player inside his own 22 can, on catching a ball kicked by the opposition on the full, call for a "mark". If the referee agrees, the player can then re-start play in much the same way as if he had been awarded a free-kick.
Mulligriber – a style of kicking where the ball is directed towards the ground and forced to bounce. Often used in situations where either the ball needs to be placed in a specific position or to intentionally stop the opponent from being able to catch the all on the full.
Maul - typically after a runner has come into contact and the ball is still being held by a player once any combination of at least three players have bound themselves a maul has been set. The primary difference from a ruck is that the ball is not on the ground.
The offside line becomes the last foot of the last man on each side of the maul, players can only join in from behind that team-mate. Anyone who comes in formt he sides will be penalized by the referee. Hands are allowed to be used in the maul. If either team deliverately collapses the maul then that side will be penalized by the referee.
Number 8 or Eightman – the players wearing the number 8 jersey. It is the only position that is known only the shirt number. Number 8s must have a good tactical awareness in order to coordinate scrums and ruck moves with the scrum-half. IF the ball is at his feet at the back of a scrum, ruck or maul, it is normally the number eight’s decision whether to pas the ball out or drive the breakdown on in order to make ground.
Offsides - during rucks, scrums, lineouts, and mauls an imaginary line is present over which any player crossing before the set piece is completed commits a penalty.
Onside – a player is onside whenever he or she is behind the relevant offside line for the particular phase of play. Players who are onside take an active part in playing the game.
Open side – the broad side of the pitch in relation to a scrum or a breakdown in play. The openside flanker is expected to cover the opposing team openside at scrum and breakdown. It is the opposite of blindside.
On the full – if the ball is kicked into touch without first bouncing inside the field of play it is termed as ball is kicked into touch on the full.
Pack - another name for all the forwards usually when they are bound for a scrum.
Penalty - any number of infractions or violations which award the other team a kick.
Penalty Kick - an uncontested kick awarded to a team for a major infraction by the other team. The kick can be taken directly at goal and scores three points is successful If the ball is kicked to touch, then the throw-in is awarded back to the team which kicked the ball out of bounds.
Penalty Try - the awarding of a try due to a blatant or repeated violation by an opposing side that prevents an obvious try from being scored.
Pill - a nickname for a rugby ball - widely used in the southern hemisphere.
Pitch – the field
Place Kick - a kick of the ball resting on the ground, placed in an indention in the ground, from a small pile of sand, or from a kicking tee. Place kicks are used to start each half, for penalty kicks at goal, or for conversion
kicks after a try has been awarded.
Phase – the time a ball is in play between breakdowns.
Professional Foul – a deliberate act of foul play, usually to prevent an opponent scoring.
Prop – players wearing shirts with the numbers 1, who stands on the left side of the hooker and is referred to as the Loose Head, and 3, who stands to the right side of the hooker and is known as the Tight Head. The role of both the props is to support the hooker in the scrum and to provide support for the jumpers on the line-out. The props provide the main power in the push forward in the scrum, they are typically very strong and big.
Pumas - the national team of Argentina
Pushover Try - a try scored by the forward pack as a unit in a scrum by pushing the opposition's scrum pack backwards across the tryline while dragging the ball underneath them. Typically scored from a 5m scrum, the try is usually awarded when the No.8 or scrum-half touch the ball down after it crosses the try line.
Red Card - a player can receive one of these from the referee, sending him off for the remainder of the game, for persistent breaching of the rules or for serious foul/dangerous play. The player may not be replaced and the team will play with one less player on the field.
Ruck - typically after a runner has come into contact and the ball has been delivered to the ground once any combination of at least three players have bound themselves a ruck has been set. The primary difference from a maul is that the ball is on the ground.
RWC - short for Rugby World Cup. Tournaments played every four years.
Rugger - colloquial name for the game.
Scrum - the formation used in the set play re-starting play after a knock-on or forward pass. The forwards from each side bind together and then the two packs come together to allow the scrumhalf with the feed to deliver the ball to the scrum. A scrum can also be awarded or chosen in different circumstances by the referee.
Scrum down - the coming together of the scrum.
Scrum-half - the back wearing No.9 who normally feeds the ball into a scrum and retrieves the ball at the base of scrums, rucks, and mauls. Can also be called the half-back.
Scrummaging - the process of setting and completing a scrum
Sevens - a form of rugby union invented in Scotland and played with only seven total players, usually three forwards and four backs. Each half typically last only seven minutes but can be longer. The lack of numbers usually results in a free-flowing game. In 2016, sevens became a summer Olympic sport.
Sin Bin - the naughty corner where all players who have been yellow carded sit all alone for 10 minutes.
Sipi Tau – a Tongan war dance performed by the Tongan National Rugby Union team before each of their international matches.
Six Nations - the annual tournament from January through March between the national men's teams of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy
Springboks - the national team of South Africa
Super 14 - the annual tournament between the best provincial teams of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Tackle - when one or more opposition players (tackler(s)) grasp onto the ball carrier and succeed in bring him/her to ground and holding them there. After a brief hold, the tackler(s) must release the tackled player who must then immediately release or attempt to pass the ball so that play can continue.
Take - a well executed catch of a kicked ball.
Tap Tackle - see Ankle Tap.
Tap Penalty - a quickly taken penalty where a player taps the ball a couple of inches with his foot and immediately catches it and surges forward, done to catch the opposition unawares.
Tens - a form of rugby union played with only ten total players. Each half typically last only 10 minutes but can be longer. Games are almost always played during tournaments.
Test or Test Match - the name typically used for matches between two national teams. The match can also be called an international.
Tight Five - a common name for all of the front (props and hooker) and second row (locks) forwards. Also known as Front Five
TMO – Television match official, commonly called the video referee.
Touch, touchline - the out of bounds line that runs on either side of the pitch. The non-contact version of rugby is also commonly called touch.
Touch judge - an official posted on each side of the pitch to mark the spot where balls go out of touch and to judge kicks at goal. The touch judge is also instrumental in pointing out any serious violence infractions not seen by the referee and in major matches is in radio contact with him.
Tri-Nations - the annual competition between the national men's teams of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Try - a score of five points awarded when the ball is carried or kicked across the tryline and touched down to the ground by a player.
Try line - the goal line extending across the pitch.
Tunnel - the gap between the front rows in a scrum or the gap between the two lines of forwards in a lineout.
Turnover- when one side takes possession of the ball from their opponents.
22 Metre Drop Out - see Drop Out.
Union - another name for the most popular form of rugby featuring 15, 10, or 7 players per side. The local, provincial, or national organizing body for rugby competition is also often called a union.
Up and Under - a tactical kick which is popped very high but not far, allowing the kicker and supporting players to easily run underneath it for recovery. The kick is intended to put heavy pressure on any opposition player attempting to catch the ball. Also called a Garryowen.
Use it or Lose it – If the maul stops moving forward the referee will often shout “use it or lose it” to the team in possession of the ball. This means they must pass the ball inin a five-second time period. If they do not the referee will call a scrum and the team not in possession at the beginning of the maul will be given the feed.
Wallabies - the national team of Australia.
Weakside - see Blindside.
Webb Ellis Trophy - the trophy awarded to the winners of the Rugby World Cup, named after William Web Ellis.
Wing – the players wearing shirts numbered 11 and 14. They are divided into left and right wingers. Wingers must be fast runners and agile in order to evade tackles and have excellent ball handling skills in order to pas receive the ball at pace.
Wheel – A scrum that has rotated 90 degrees or more is said to have wheeled.
World Rugby - the ruling body for Rugby Union worldwide and has primary responsibility for setting and adjusting the laws of the sport and running the Rugby World Cup tournaments for 15s and 7s every four years.
Yellow card - a player who receives a yellow card from the referee has to leave the pitch for ten minutes at sit in the Sin Bin. This is usually given for dangerous, persistent or cynical breaches of the rules. If the offence is more serious then he can be red carded.
XV - a common identifier for the first fifteen selected players of a club or team. A team can also use XV in their name, pronounced as fifteen.