Rugby is a sport that is more popular in other countries, but over the years it has been growing even more in Brazil. Its history began in the 19th century in England and it became known for being a dynamic, physical and strategic game.
In this sport, two teams compete to score points by carrying, kicking or passing an oval ball to the opponent’s goal line. There are several types of rugby, so it’s ideal that the basic principles and terms used in the game are known, both by those who play and those who watch.
That’s why we’ve created the rugby glossary, bringing you the main terms that describe the sport and their meanings. Check it out!
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Rugby glossary: complete list
- Opening
- Away
- Ward
- Yellow
- Start
- Forward
- Field
- Goal kicks
- Conversion
- Drop Goal
- Rehearse
- Corner
- Fixed formation
- Mobile Training
- Forward Pass
- Strike
- Haka
- Hooker
- Inversion of Positions
- Line-Out
- Maul
- Penalty
- Placement
- Props
- Ruck
- Scrum
- Sin-Bin
- Third Line
- Try
- Advantage
- Wing
Rugby glossary: learn more about the terms
Opener
In rugby, the openside is one of the most important positions, responsible for organizing the attack and distributing the ball among the line players.
Holding back
Offside is an infringement committed in rugby when a player stands in a position that illegally impedes or interferes with the play of opponents.
Wing
In rugby, wingers are the players who play at the ends of the field. There are wingers in the third line of defense and wingers in the back line, who are well known for their speed and ability to finish off plays.
Yellow
The yellow card is shown to a rugby player as a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct or repeated infringements. When it happens, the player must leave the field for 10 minutes, leaving his team one player short.
Tackle
The breakaway is a quick, explosive movement made by a player in order to gain ground or escape from the opposing team’s marking.
Forward
The forwards are the players who stay in the front line and are responsible for forming the scrum and winning possession from rucks and mauls. They are the strongest and most robust of the teams.
The pitch
The rugby pitch has specific dimensions, with a length of up to 100 meters and a width of up to 70 meters. The scoring areas, or in-goals, are located at the ends.
Goal kick
In rugby, a goal kick is an attempt to score points by kicking the ball between the posts of the opponent’s goal, either after a penalty or a try.
Conversion
A conversion takes place after a try has been scored. The team that scored has the opportunity to kick a conversion, i.e. a goal kick for additional points.
Drop Goal
A drop goal in rugby is a way of scoring points by kicking the ball through the opposition goalposts during the game, after letting it bounce on the ground.
Rehearse
In rugby, a try is a try scored when the ball is placed on the ground inside the opponent’s in-goal area.
Corner kick
A corner in rugby means putting the ball back into play after it has gone out over the sideline. The ball is kicked between two lines of players from both teams.
Fixed Formation
Fixed formations in rugby include the scrum and the line-out, which are structured methods of restarting the game after certain interruptions.
Mobile Formations
Mobile formations, such as rucks and mauls, occur during the game and are competitions for possession of the ball between players.
Forward Pass
A foward pass is a pass forward. It is an infraction when the ball is passed towards the opponent’s goal line, which is against the rules of rugby.
Tackle
A tackle is a type of foul that results in a penalty against the offending team. It can include actions such as dangerous tackles or unsportsmanlike behavior.
Haka
The haka is a traditional Maori war dance and is performed by the All Blacks, New Zealand’s rugby team, before their matches.
Hooker
The hooker, in rugby, is the player responsible for hooking the ball into the scrum, and is usually the team’s number 2.
Position reversal
Position reversal is a strategy in which players change positions during the game to confuse the opposing defense.
Line-out
In rugby, the line-out is the formation used to restart the game after the ball has gone out along the sideline, where the players jump up to catch the dropped ball.
Maul
A maul happens when the ball carrier is held by one or more players, and one or more of his own players also join in, but the ball does not touch the ground.
Penalty
In sport, a penalty is awarded to the opposing team after a serious infringement. They can then kick the ball away or attempt a goal kick.
Tackling
The tackle is the action of knocking down the opposing player who has possession of the ball. It is one of the main defensive techniques in rugby.
Props
The props, in sport, are the number 1 and 3 players, who form the first line in the scrum, and are responsible for bearing the weight of the formation.
Ruck
A ruck, in rugby, happens when the ball is on the ground and players from both teams gather over the ball to try to win it with their feet.
Scrum
In rugby, the scrum is a formation used to restart the game, when the forwards of both teams come together in a compact formation and compete for possession of the ball.
Sin-bin
The sin-bin is the area where players sit temporarily after receiving a yellow card in a rugby match, serving a 10-minute offside penalty.
Third row
The third line is made up of players numbered 6, 7 and 8, who are responsible for both defending and attacking and are highly mobile on the pitch.
Try
A try is the main way to score points in rugby, and happens when the ball is pressed against the ground inside the opponent’s in-goal area.
Advantage
The advantage is a rugby rule that allows play to continue after an infringement, giving the non-offending team the opportunity to gain an advantage in the game.
Wing
The wings are the players numbered 11 and 14, positioned at the ends of the back line, known for their speed and ability to finish off plays.
Rugby glossary: complete list
- Opening
- Away
- Ward
- Yellow
- Start
- Forward
- Field
- Goal kicks
- Conversion
- Drop Goal
- Rehearse
- Corner
- Fixed formation
- Mobile Training
- Forward Pass
- Strike
- Haka
- Hooker
- Inversion of Positions
- Line-Out
- Maul
- Penalty
- Placement
- Props
- Ruck
- Scrum
- Sin-Bin
- Third Line
- Try
- Advantage
- Wing
Rugby glossary
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