How many points is a rugby try?

A try is the primary method of scoring in both major codes of rugby, but its value differs between rugby union and rugby league. The World Rugby Laws Committee at World Rugby sets the rules for rugby union and assigns five points to a try. The International Rugby League Rules Committee at International Rugby League governs rugby league and assigns four points to a try. These differences shape tactics, player roles, and the pace of matches across regions where each code predominates.

Scoring differences between union and league

In rugby union, the five-point try elevates the reward for penetrating defenses and grounding the ball in the in-goal area. World Rugby explains that the try remains the most valuable single scoring play, followed by the conversion kick worth two points and penalty and drop goals worth three points each. This scoring balance encourages a blend of tactical kicking, set-piece dominance, and open-field running. In contrast, rugby league’s four-point try, with a two-point conversion and generally lower values for other scores, tends to emphasize continual possession, structured sets of tackles, and quicker repeated attempts to score. The International Rugby League Rules Committee at International Rugby League designs the scoring to favor a faster, more continuous flow, reflecting the code’s historical evolution from contested scrums and rucks toward simplified possession rules.

Causes and historical context

The different values arise from historical developments and rule-making choices by each sport’s governing bodies. Rugby league split from rugby union in 1895 over professionalism and rapidly adapted rules to increase spectator appeal and scoring frequency. The scoring changes enacted by rugby league’s administrators were intended to reward continuous attacking play and reduce stoppages. Rugby union, preserved and standardized later by what is now World Rugby, retained higher value for the try to balance the strategic complexity of the sport, including contests at the breakdown and set pieces.

Consequences for play and culture

The point difference has practical consequences. Teams in union may opt for territory and penalties when tactical kicking yields opportunities for three-point penalties or for the five-point reward of a successful attack. In league, coaches often prioritize structured offensive sets and rapid recycling because each try carries relatively less individual point value but is pursued more frequently. These tactical distinctions also shape local cultures: rugby union is traditionally strong in New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, and France where club and national identity are tied to a broader set of playing skills and traditions, while rugby league holds deep roots in northern England and eastern Australia where a faster, crowd-pleasing style of play has become culturally central.

Environmental and territorial nuances influence playing styles as well. In wet, cold climates where handling is harder, teams may rely more on territory and kicking, which can make the relative value of a try more strategically significant. In contrast, regions with strong grassroots league structures produce specialists in quick play-the-ball and set completion, reflecting the scoring incentives created by the International Rugby League Rules Committee at International Rugby League and the historical choices that shaped the two codes.