Rugby Union is a complicated game with many rules, terms and positions. This glossary will be regularly updated to contain the most up-to-date rugby terminology and tactical guides.
Rugby Laws and Officiating
Term
Definition
Tactical Guide
The 50:22
A dangerous clear-out technique that is now banned due to the danger to the opponents’ knees and ankles.
The “Dupont Law”
A player who is in front of a kick must actively retreat, or they will be considered offside. Previously, players could remain stationary, but this law was adapted in 2024 and was named after Antoine Dupont, who was able to exploit the law.
20-minute Red Card
A red card for dangerous but not deliberate play. The offending team loses a player for 20 minutes of game time. After the 20-minute window, they can bring on one of their replacements, but the offending player cannot return.
The eyes in the sky who assists the officials by providing angles for match officials to look at on the big screen. They can also bring any incidents of missed foul play to the referee’s attention.
Crocodile Roll
A dangerous clear-out technique that is now banned due to the danger to the opponents’ knees and ankles.
Caterpillar Ruck
A ruck that gets extended by additional forwards to protect the scrum half while they perform a box kick.
Held Up
An attacking player crosses the line but is prevented from putting the ball down for a try by an opponent. Results in a goalline dropout.
A form of restart where the ball is drop-kicked from behind the defending team’s goal line. It is awarded by the attacking team getting held up over the line or the defensive team touching the ball down in their own in-goal area.
The Jackal
A turnover where the defensive player gets low over the ball after the attacker gets tackled. The defensive player either steals the ball or wins a penalty for ‘Holding on’.
Not Straight
A ball thrown into the lineout at an angle which gives the attacking team an advantage by being over to their own side. A scrum is awarded to the opposition.
Mark
A defensive player makes a clean catch from an opposition kick. They must call for a mark by shouting “mark” and raising a free kick signal after catching the ball. The player receives a free kick.
Set-piece and Tactical
Term
Definition
Tactical Guide
Bomb Squad/Pom Squad
A tactical decision to have a bench loaded with as many forwards as possible to give a fresh pack for the second half. South Africa made the ‘Bomb Squad’ famous with six or seven of their eight-player bench. England have recently tried to use the same tactics and have been nicknamed the ‘Pom Squad’.
Scrum
A way of restarting the game after a knock-on or forward pass. Eight forwards from either side push against each other for possession. The ball is placed in the middle and hooked back to restart.
Lineout
A form of restart for when the ball has crossed the touchline. The ball is thrown between two lines of players who lift teammates to claim possession. The ball must go at least five metres.
Maul
A physical contest where the ball is suspended off the ground. Similar in concept to a ruck. Once a maul is called, the ball must be used within five seconds of forward momentum being lost. Mauls can be planned as lineout moves or happen spontaneously when a tackler holds up the opponent before their knee touches the floor. If the ball cannot be played, a scrum for the opposition is called.
Lifting
Typically, in a lineout or from kick off, a player will get lifted in the air to give them an advantage when claiming the ball in the air. One player lifts from the front and one lifts from behind.
Wheeling
When a player (typically the prop) turns the scrum illegally.
Engagement
The point of contact between the two sides of the scrum. A referee will start a scrum with the instructions: crouch, bind and set.
A 21 play
A starter play where teams go the same direction twice off a set play before going back the opposite direction.
Attack
Term
Definition
Tactical Guide
Pod Systems
The tactical system of how the forwards spread across the field to support the backs in open play.
Offload
A player makes a pass as they are being tackled or in the moments after they hit the floor. Offloads can allow teams to attack broken defensive lines.
Dummy
A fake pass where a player pretends to release the ball, but holds onto it to fool their opponents.
Loop
A player passes the ball and then rushes around to collect the ball on the outside, running a curved line.
Gain line
The imaginary line that runs through the middle of each ruck. If teams can continuously get over the gain line, they are making forward progress up the pitch. If they are struggling to get over the gain line repeatedly, they may opt to kick.
Phase
The period between rucks. The play off a set piece is known as the first phase. A high phase count can indicate good control of the game, while a short phase count can indicate a team struggling to look after the ball.
Clean break
A player breaks through the defensive line and is able to continue.
Chip and chase
A short but lofted kick which the player intends to regather.
Contestable kick
A high kick that is within a teammate’s chaseable range to compete in the air.
Deep kicking
A long kick, focusing on shifting the territory battle. These long kicks can often be returned with a long kick, and ‘kicking battles’ can commence.
Grubber kick
A low kick along the ground, which uses the irregular bounce of the rugby ball to catch the defence off guard, who are trying to collect it.
Defence
Term
Definition
Tactical Guide
Blitz defence
A defensive system that pushes up quickly to give the opposition less time on the ball. Focuses on defending narrow channels and cutting off the ball before it reaches the wing.
Drift defence
A defensive system that pushes up slowly and ushers the opposition towards the touchline, forcing the attacking team to engage in contact.
Shooting
When an individual or group come up faster than the rest of the defensive line. If successful, they can cut off the ball quickly; if unsuccessful, it can leave the defence exposed with a gap in the defensive line.
Guard/Pillar/Post
A player who is the start of the defensive line, typically right beside the ruck, to prevent anyone from making a break near the ruck.
Bodyguard
A player who stands at the back of or side of a ruck to ‘guard’ the scrum half as they prepare to box-kick.
Choke tackle
A tackle that takes place higher around the body with the hope of keeping the opposition player off the ground and leading to a turnover for a maul that isn’t moving.
Folding
A defence’s ability to reform their defensive line on the other side of a ruck in open play. This is particularly important of first-phase ball.
Spacing
The distance between players in the defensive line. Spacing tends to be tighter around the ruck and wider the further you go away.
Dominant tackle
A tackle which forces the ball-carrier backwards, and the gain line is set behind where the tackle was
Chop tackle
A low tackle focused at hitting the tackler at knee level or below. This can help other teammates come in for a jackal opportunity.
Scoring and general terms
Term
Definition
Tactical Guide
Try
When the attacking team touch the ball down on or behind the defensive line, they are awarded five points.
Conversion
After a team scores a try, they are given a kick in line with where the ball is touched down. If they kick it over the horizontal bar and between the posts, they are awarded an additional two points.
Penalty goal
When awarded a penalty, attacking teams have the option to take a shot at goal. If the ball goes over the horizontal bar and between the posts, they are awarded three points. The kick must be taken from the point the penalty is awarded or directly behind it.
Drop goal
Three points are awarded for a kick in open play which is placed between the posts and over the horizontal bar. Before the ball is kicked, it must bounce.
Awarded when a penalty offence prevents the scoring of a probable try. The attacking team are automatically given seven points and doesn’t need to take the conversion attempt.
Sin Bin
A player can be sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes if they receive a yellow card. If a front row player goes to the sin bin, they must be replaced for the next scrum.
Cap
Awarded for an international test appearance. In the modern era, players are awarded physical caps for milestone performances.
The 22
The territory area from the goal line, 22 metres out. Inside the 22, you can kick the ball straight into touch. This can also be known as the red zone as it is the important area for attack and defence.
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Jonny is a former rugby player in Ireland's club system and is an Ulster and Ireland fan. He has spent a number of years writing about football and this was what brought him to the Dave Sport Group. As an expert in Irish Rugby, his expertise also stretches to Super Rugby having lived in New Zealand previously.
