Conversion (rugby)

A try is a way of scoring points in rugby union and rugby league football. A try is scored by grounding the ball (the ball must be touching the player when coming into contact with the ground) in the opposition's in-goal area (on or behind the goal line). Rugby union and league differ slightly in defining 'grounding the ball' and the 'in-goal' area.

The term try comes from try at goal, signifying that originally, grounding the ball only gave the opportunity to try to score with a kick at goal.

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 in the in-goal area and an attacking player who is in the field of play or in-goal (the official name of the extra point in American football according to NFL rules is the try). In the laws of both codes of rugby, the term touch down formally refers only to grounding the ball by the defensive team in their in-goal. Although occasionally people refer to a try as a 'touchdown', the correct usage for the action is 'grounding the ball'.

There are differences in the fine detail of the laws and their interpretation between the two rugby codes. These are the common aspects, while the differences are treated below.

In rugby union, a try is worth five points, in rugby league, four. Although a try is worth less in rugby league, it is more often the main method of scoring due to the smaller value of a goal kick and surety of possession. In rugby union, however, there is heavier reliance placed on goals to accumulate points at elite levels due to the significant value of goals and the defending team's skills.

In rugby union, the value of a try has varied over time, from none to five points. In rugby league, the original value was three; this was increased to four in 1983.

The Welsh Rugby Union is planning to trial a change in the scoring value in the 2015–16 Welsh Premier Division (the level below Pro12). Under the trial plan, which must still be approved by World Rugby, a try would be worth six points instead of five, with penalty tries worth eight points with no conversion attempt taken. In addition, penalties and drop goals would be reduced from three points to two.

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