Scrum down, young ruggers!
Ready to ruck and roll through the rough and tumble lingo of rugby?
With 30 crunching terms that’ll have you talking like a seasoned flanker, you’re about to blitz the conversation and score big in rugby chatter.
Lace up, it’s game time!
Must-Know Rugby Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Blindside
- Breakdown
- Conversion
- Drop goal
- Flanker
- Grubber
- Hooker
- Lineout
- Maul
- Offload
- Prop
- Ruck
- Scrum
- Tackle
- Try
- Wing
- Back row
- Box kick
- Center
- Dummy
- Knock-on
- Lock
- Pitch
- Sin bin
- Fullback
- Garryowen
- Up and under
- Wing forward
- Yellow card
- Red card
Table of Contents
- #1 Blindside
- #2 Breakdown
- #3 Conversion
- #4 Drop goal
- #5 Flanker
- #6 Grubber
- #7 Hooker
- #8 Lineout
- #9 Maul
- #10 Offload
- #11 Prop
- #12 Ruck
- #13 Scrum
- #14 Tackle
- #15 Try
- #16 Wing
- #17 Back row
- #18 Box kick
- #19 Center
- #20 Dummy
- #21 Knock-on
- #22 Lock
- #23 Pitch
- #24 Sin Bin
- #25 Fullback
- #26 Garryowen
- #27 Up and Under
- #28 Wing Forward
- #29 Yellow Card
- #30 Red Card
- FAQ
#1 Blindside
A side of the field that is narrow and typically used for strategic plays; it’s also a position for a flanker who lines up on the side of a scrum opposite to where the ball is thrown in. This term reflects the element of surprise in attack or defense.
#2 Breakdown
An area of play that occurs immediately after a tackle and before a ruck is formed, where both teams compete to secure the ball. Contested fiercely, it is a critical phase in the game where matches can be won or lost.
#3 Conversion
A kick at goal awarded after a try is scored, worth an additional two points if successful. Taken from a spot in line with where the try was scored, it challenges kickers with varying angles and distances.
#4 Drop goal
A method of scoring three points by dropping the ball onto the ground and kicking it as it bounces through the uprights. Often used opportunistically, a successful drop goal can be a game-changing play.
#5 Flanker
A player position in rugby, part of the back row in the scrum; renowned for their high work rate, flankers are key to winning possession and are often involved in the breakdown. There are two flankers on a team, usually designated as ‘blindside’ and ‘openside’.
#6 Grubber
A grubber is a type of kick in rugby where the ball is kicked so that it rolls and bounces along the ground. It is often used to advance the ball past defenders, creating opportunities for chasing players to regain possession closer to the try line.
#7 Hooker
The hooker is a central player in the front row of the scrum. This position is crucial for winning possession in the scrum, as the hooker uses their feet to ‘hook’ the ball back towards their team. Hookers are also integral during lineouts, often tasked with throwing the ball in.
#8 Lineout
A lineout is a method of restarting play in rugby that occurs when the ball has gone out of bounds over the sideline. Players from each team line up parallel to each other, and the hooker throws the ball down the corridor between these lines. Players lift teammates to catch the ball and gain possession.
#9 Maul
A phase of play where a ball-carrier and at least one other player from each team are bound together, standing on their feet, moving towards a goal line. Mauls often occur after a player is tackled but not brought to ground.
#10 Offload
A skillful pass made by a player in possession of the ball just before they are tackled, allowing for continuous play and momentum by avoiding a ruck or maul situation.
#11 Prop
Refers to the two forwards wearing jerseys number 1 and 3, positioned in the front row of the scrum. They are pivotal for providing stability and power in scrummaging, rucks, and mauls.
#12 Ruck
A phase of play where one or more players from each team, who are on their feet, close around the ball on the ground. Players must enter from their own side to contest or protect the ball.
#13 Scrum
A method of restarting play involving players packing closely together with their heads down, trying to gain possession of the ball. It’s a key element of Rugby, combining strength, technique, and teamwork.
#14 Tackle
A fundamental defensive action where a player brings an opponent carrying the ball to the ground, stopping their forward progress and often leading to a ruck or turnover.
#15 Try
A try is the primary way to score points in rugby, worth five points. It is scored when a player places the ball down in the opposition’s in-goal area (end zone). Following a try, the team has the opportunity to kick a conversion for an additional two points.
#16 Wing
A wing is a player position in rugby, typically one of the fastest players on the team, positioned on the far left or right of the field. Wings are crucial for finishing offensive plays and scoring tries, often receiving the ball after it has been passed down the line away from opponents.
#17 Back row
The back row consists of the numbers six, seven, and eight in the scrum, typically comprising two flankers and the number eight. They are crucial in linking the forwards and backs during open play.
#18 Box kick
A tactical kick performed by the scrum-half, who kicks the ball high and short from the base of a ruck or scrum. It’s used to gain territory or to put pressure on the opposing backfield.
#19 Center
Centers are the players wearing the number 12 (inside center) and 13 (outside center) jerseys. They are key members of the backline, responsible for both defense and creating opportunities through running and passing.
#20 Dummy
A deceptive move where a player pretends to pass the ball but keeps it, attempting to fool the opposition. It’s an effective way to create space and advance the team.
#21 Knock-on
Occurs when a player accidentally pushes the ball forward with their hands or arms, resulting in a stoppage in play and a scrum awarded to the non-offending team.
#22 Lock
Locks are tall, powerful players usually wearing jersey numbers four and five. They are the engine room in the scrum, providing power from behind and are also important targets in the lineout.
#23 Pitch
The pitch in rugby refers to the playing field. It is a grassy area that is 100 meters long and about 70 meters wide, with H-shaped goalposts at each end.
#24 Sin Bin
In rugby, the sin bin is a temporary holding area for players who have committed an offense warranting a yellow card, not serious enough for a red card. Players sit out for a designated time period, normally 10 minutes, before returning to the game.
#25 Fullback
The fullback is a defensive position in the backline, responsible for covering the rear of the action and often the last line of defense. They must excel in catching high balls, tackling, and counter-attacking with strategic runs or kicks.
#26 Garryowen
A Garryowen, also known as an “up and under,” is a high, hanging kick intended to put pressure on the receiving team. It allows the kicking team’s players to contest for possession as the ball comes down.
#27 Up and Under
Similar to a Garryowen, an “up and under” is a tactical kick where the ball is kicked high and shallow toward the opposing team. Its purpose is to force errors from the opposition under the high ball or regain possession.
#28 Wing Forward
The wing forward, or flanker, operates on the side of the scrum, playing a crucial role both in securing possession at the breakdown and in providing support and aggression in open play. There are two flankers on a team, typically categorized as blindside and openside.
#29 Yellow Card
A yellow card in rugby is a disciplinary action taken by the referee against a player for serious but not flagrant fouls. The player receiving a yellow card is sent to the sin bin and must leave the pitch for ten minutes, leaving their team temporarily one player short.
#30 Red Card
A red card is issued for particularly dangerous or deliberate fouls and results in the player being ejected from the game without the possibility of substitution. This leaves the team permanently one player short for the remainder of the match and often significantly impacts the game’s outcome.
FAQ
What are some Rugby terms for beginners?
“Scrum,” “Tackle,” and “Try” are some Rugby terms beginners should start with. They represent a fundamental set of game actions and scoring methods in Rugby.
What are some funny Rugby terms?
“Hooker,” “Grubber,” and “Garryowen” are some funny Rugby terms. Their unusual names bring a lighter tone to the game, each describing positions and kick types with quirky flair.
What is a famous Rugby phrase?
“A game of two halves,” is a famous Rugby phrase, often used to describe the unpredictable nature of Rugby, where the outcome can drastically change after halftime.