This list of rugby league terms is a general glossary of the terminology used in the sport of rugby league football. The sport has accrued a considerable amount of jargon to describe aspects of the game. Many terms originate from the Laws of the Game. A number of aspects of the game have more than one term that refers to them. Different terms have become popularly used to describe an aspect of the game in different places with notable differences between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Contents
Where words in a sentence are also defined elsewhere in this article, they appear in italics.
An ankle tap, also referred to as a tap-tackle, may be used as a last resort by a defender chasing the attacking player carrying the ball if that player is about to evade them and a conventional tackle is not possible. If the defender is not able to get close enough to the ball-carrier to wrap their arms around them in a conventional tackle, they may still be able to dive at the other player's feet and, with outstretched arm, deliver a tap or hook to the player's foot (or feet) causing the player to stumble. At speed, this will often be sufficient to bring the ball-carrier down and may sufficiently delay the attacker for a defender to complete the tackle or for the defending team to organise their defence.
If the ball enters touch, then play is restarted by a scrum at the point where the ball left the field of play. However, if the ball is kicked into touch without first bouncing inside the field of play (on the full). In this case, the scrum is taken from level with the place from where the ball was kicked from. The ball is given back to the team who did not kick it out of bounds; ball back is waived in certain circumstances:
- If a side elects to kick a penalty into touch
It is an attacking tactic where a player receives a pass at pace and runs directly at the opposition's defensive line. The crash ball runner attempts to commit two or more opposing players to the tackle, then attempts to make the ball available to team-mates by off-loading in the tackle or recycling the ball quickly from the ruck.
By committing players to the tackle, the crash ball runner creates holes in the opposition's defense, thereby creating attacking opportunities for team-mates.
A drop goal is scored when a player kicks the ball from hand through the opposition's goal, but the ball must touch the ground between being dropped and kicked. It is worth one point.
The team awarded a free kick cannot score a dropped goal until the ball next becomes dead, or until an opponent has played or touched it, or has tackled the ball carrier.
A drop kick is when a player kicks the ball from hand and the ball touches the ground between being dropped and kicked. If a drop kick goes through a goal then it results in a drop goal.
It is a tackling technique. The tackler wraps his arms around the ball carrier's thighs and lifts him a short distance in the air before forcibly driving him to the ground. The tackler must go to ground with the ball carrier for the tackle to be legal. This technique is useful to completely stop the opponent in his tracks. A dump tackle which drops the ball carrier on his head or neck is known as a spear tackle, and will almost invariably concede a penalty and possibly result in a caution for the tackler.
An instance of the ball coming into contact with a person's head, almost always unintentionally.
"The area bounded by, but not including, the touch lines and goal lines".
A forward pass is deemed to have occurred when the ball travels forward relative to the player passing it. If the referee deems a forward pass to be accidental, this results in a scrum to the opposing team. Deliberate forward passes identified by the referee will result in the award of a penalty. It is extremely rare for a referee to deem a forward pass deliberate. If, during a non-forward pass, the ball is blown or bounces forward, it is not classed as a forward pass.
A goal is scored when a player either kicks the ball through the plane bounded by the two uprights and above the crossbar. A conversion or penalty goal count for 2 points and drop goals for one.
The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is sometimes used to resolve drawn rugby league matches. Minor variations exist to this system. In the National Rugby League, if the scores are level at the end of 80 minutes, 5 minutes are played, the teams swap ends with no break, and a further 5 minutes are played. Any score (try, penalty goal, or field goal) in this 10-minute period secures a win for the scoring team, and the game ends at that point.
A grapple tackle is a controversial tackling technique whereby the tackler attempts to impede the ball carrier by applying a choke hold-like manoeuvre. Although players can be penalised for its use, it is difficult to enforce.
A hospital pass is usually given by the player carrying the ball because they are attempting to prevent themselves being caught with the ball and tackled. The pass is often made under pressure and without consideration of the situation of the player receiving the pass. The player catching the ball is often stationary and already in the path of a defender thus presenting an easy target for a hard impact tackle.
The in-goal or "in-goal area" is the scoring area extending 6-11 metres (6.6-12 yards) from each goal line to each dead ball line.
The McIntyre System, or systems because there have been five of them, is a play-off system that gives an advantage to teams or competitors qualifying higher.
In several sports, a minor premiership is the (often unofficial) award given to a team which finishes first overall in the standings after the regular season prior to commencement of the play-offs.
A player is considered temporarily out of play if they are offside and they might be penalised if they join the game inappropriately.
A player is offside when they are forward of the relevant offside line i.e. between the relevant offside line and the opposing team's dead ball line.
In a match, most players will be offside several times but they only become liable for penalty if they do not act to attempt to become onside (which generally means retreat downfield) or attempt to interfere with play.
In open play, only the ball carrier's team (or the team that last carried or deliberately touched the ball) is bound by offside - the offside line for them is the ball. (Note every player who passes the ball backwards is offside and must attempt to retire.)
One-on-one tackle is a colloquial phrase used to refer to a phase of play in rugby league in which a single defender attempts to tackle the ball carrier.
Penalties are awarded for serious infringements like dangerous play, offside and handling the ball on the ground.
Round the corner kicking is a style of kicking used for kicking penalties and converting tries.
The term refers to the various splits in rugby football leading to the development of rugby league football.
- In 1895, the schism in England, also known as the Great Split, occurred when, following a meeting at the George Hotel, Huddersfield, the Northern Rugby Football Union was formed by clubs breaking away from the rugby union establishment.
- In 1907, a group of New Zealand rugby footballers in secret organised and began a tour of Australia and Great Britain, risking sanctions such as bans from the New Zealand Rugby Union. The tour played a large role in establishing rugby league in both Australia and New Zealand and also gave birth to international rugby league. The first game of rugby league played on New Zealand soil was an exhibition by the tourists on their return in 1908.
- In 1907, the New South Wales Rugby Football League was formed in a meeting at Bateman's Crystal Hotel in Sydney just five days before they were due to receive the touring New Zealanders. Players were recruited immediately to the new sport, and a schism of rugby football in Australia resulted.
The notional area where a player must remain for a minimum of ten minutes. In high level games, the sin bin is monitored by the fourth official.
A spear tackle is a dangerous tackle in which a player is picked up by the tackler and turned so that they are upside down. The tackler then drops or drives the player into the ground often head,neck or shoulder first.
Spear tackles are particularly dangerous and have caused serious injury including spinal damage, dislocations and broken bones in the shoulder or neck. On rare occasion, even death can occur.
Spear tackles are taken very seriously by the various discipline committees and can result in lengthy playing bans.
Representative series in which players are selected for the states or territories where they either first played (hence the name 'state of origin') or played the majority of their junior football. The concept mirrors international representative rules in other sports. The most prominent rugby league state of origin is New South Wales versus Queensland in Australia.
Steeden is an Australian sports good manufacturer, best known for producing rugby league footballs. Steeden has become so synonymous with rugby league that the word used as noun to describe the ball itself.
Fending is the action by the ball carrier of repelling a tackler using his arm. For the action to be legal, the ball carrier's arm must be straight before contact is made; a shove or "straight-arm smash", where the arm is extended immediately before contact or on contact, is illegal and classed as dangerous play.
The player in possession may be tackled by players on the opposing team. It is not permitted to tackle or obstruct a player not in possession of the ball.
A tackle is completed when the player in possession of the ball:
- Is held by a defending player while the ball or ball-carrying arm are in contact with the ground.
- Is held by a defending player in such a way that they cannot make "further progress" and "cannot part with the ball".
- While being held by a defending player, makes it clear that they have "succumbed to the tackle and wish to be released in order to play the ball".
In a tap kick, the player momentarily releases the ball from his hands and taps it with his foot or lower leg and then quickly catches it again. The player will then generally try to run forward with the ball.
International rugby league matches with full (Test) status are called Test matches.
Touch is the area outside two touch-lines which define the sides of the playing area. As the touch-lines are not part of the playing area they are usually included as part of touch.
The touch judge is an official who monitors the touch-line and raises a flag if the ball (or player carrying it) goes into touch. Touch judges also stand behind the posts to confirm that a goal has been scored following a penalty kick or conversion of a try.
The primary method of scoring. A try is worth four points. It is scored when a player places the ball on the ground with downward pressure in the in-goal area between (and including) the goal-line and up to but not including dead ball line of the opposition's half. (As the goal posts and post protectors are also part of the goal-line, touching the ball down against the base of these is also a try.)
There is no such thing as an "own try". If a defending player grounds the ball in his own in-goal area, a goal line drop-out is awarded instead.
An up and under, also known as a "bomb", is a high short punt onto or behind the defending team. The name "up and under" describes the ball going up into the air while the attacking players rush underneath it towards where it is expected to land.
0–9
- The phrase "20 metre re-start" is most commonly used to refer to an optional kick. (One of those options is to tap on the 20 metre line and run the ball.)
- A 20m line drop out is taken by the defending team if the ball goes dead in their in-goal from any kind of penalty kick by their opponents.
A
An ankle tap, also referred to as a tap-tackle, may be used as a last resort by a defender chasing the attacking player carrying the ball if that player is about to evade them and a conventional tackle is not possible. If the defender is not able to get close enough to the ball-carrier to wrap their arms around them in a conventional tackle, they may still be able to dive at the other player's feet and, with outstretched arm, deliver a tap or hook to the player's foot (or feet) causing the player to stumble. At speed, this will often be sufficient to bring the ball-carrier down and may sufficiently delay the attacker for a defender to complete the tackle or for the defending team to organise their defence.
B
If the ball enters touch, then play is restarted by a scrum at the point where the ball left the field of play. However, if the ball is kicked into touch without first bouncing inside the field of play (on the full). In this case, the scrum is taken from level with the place from where the ball was kicked from. The ball is given back to the team who did not kick it out of bounds; ball back is waived in certain circumstances:
- If a side elects to kick a penalty into touch
C
It is an attacking tactic where a player receives a pass at pace and runs directly at the opposition's defensive line. The crash ball runner attempts to commit two or more opposing players to the tackle, then attempts to make the ball available to team-mates by off-loading in the tackle or recycling the ball quickly from the ruck.
By committing players to the tackle, the crash ball runner creates holes in the opposition's defense, thereby creating attacking opportunities for team-mates.
D
A drop goal is scored when a player kicks the ball from hand through the opposition's goal, but the ball must touch the ground between being dropped and kicked. It is worth one point.
The team awarded a free kick cannot score a dropped goal until the ball next becomes dead, or until an opponent has played or touched it, or has tackled the ball carrier.
A drop kick is when a player kicks the ball from hand and the ball touches the ground between being dropped and kicked. If a drop kick goes through a goal then it results in a drop goal.
- Goal line drop-out, from the goal line.
- A drop out from the 20 metre line.
It is a tackling technique. The tackler wraps his arms around the ball carrier's thighs and lifts him a short distance in the air before forcibly driving him to the ground. The tackler must go to ground with the ball carrier for the tackle to be legal. This technique is useful to completely stop the opponent in his tracks. A dump tackle which drops the ball carrier on his head or neck is known as a spear tackle, and will almost invariably concede a penalty and possibly result in a caution for the tackler.
E
- An attacking player engages, or attracts, a defender or defenders with the aim of manipulating their defensive position to the advantage of the attacking team.
- Markers are required to "engage" at the play-the-ball, meaning they must be in an appropriate proximity to it.
F
An instance of the ball coming into contact with a person's head, almost always unintentionally.
- (obsolete) A type of goal scored by kicking a loose ball over the cross bar and between the posts that was abolished from the Game in 1950.
- After the 1920s, in Australia and New Zealand, another name for drop goal.
"The area bounded by, but not including, the touch lines and goal lines".
A forward pass is deemed to have occurred when the ball travels forward relative to the player passing it. If the referee deems a forward pass to be accidental, this results in a scrum to the opposing team. Deliberate forward passes identified by the referee will result in the award of a penalty. It is extremely rare for a referee to deem a forward pass deliberate. If, during a non-forward pass, the ball is blown or bounces forward, it is not classed as a forward pass.
G
A goal is scored when a player either kicks the ball through the plane bounded by the two uprights and above the crossbar. A conversion or penalty goal count for 2 points and drop goals for one.
The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is sometimes used to resolve drawn rugby league matches. Minor variations exist to this system. In the National Rugby League, if the scores are level at the end of 80 minutes, 5 minutes are played, the teams swap ends with no break, and a further 5 minutes are played. Any score (try, penalty goal, or field goal) in this 10-minute period secures a win for the scoring team, and the game ends at that point.
A grapple tackle is a controversial tackling technique whereby the tackler attempts to impede the ball carrier by applying a choke hold-like manoeuvre. Although players can be penalised for its use, it is difficult to enforce.
H
A hospital pass is usually given by the player carrying the ball because they are attempting to prevent themselves being caught with the ball and tackled. The pass is often made under pressure and without consideration of the situation of the player receiving the pass. The player catching the ball is often stationary and already in the path of a defender thus presenting an easy target for a hard impact tackle.
I
The in-goal or "in-goal area" is the scoring area extending 6-11 metres (6.6-12 yards) from each goal line to each dead ball line.
K
L
M
The McIntyre System, or systems because there have been five of them, is a play-off system that gives an advantage to teams or competitors qualifying higher.
In several sports, a minor premiership is the (often unofficial) award given to a team which finishes first overall in the standings after the regular season prior to commencement of the play-offs.
- Refers to a passage of play. Often used to refer to pre-planned actions.
- The referee will call "Move!" to order defending players to allow a tackled player to their feet.
O
A player is considered temporarily out of play if they are offside and they might be penalised if they join the game inappropriately.
A player is offside when they are forward of the relevant offside line i.e. between the relevant offside line and the opposing team's dead ball line.
In a match, most players will be offside several times but they only become liable for penalty if they do not act to attempt to become onside (which generally means retreat downfield) or attempt to interfere with play.
In open play, only the ball carrier's team (or the team that last carried or deliberately touched the ball) is bound by offside - the offside line for them is the ball. (Note every player who passes the ball backwards is offside and must attempt to retire.)
One-on-one tackle is a colloquial phrase used to refer to a phase of play in rugby league in which a single defender attempts to tackle the ball carrier.
P
Penalties are awarded for serious infringements like dangerous play, offside and handling the ball on the ground.
The place kick is a kicking style commonly used when kicking for goal. It typically involves placing the ball on the ground. To keep the ball in position, a mound of sand or plastic tee is sometimes used.
The play-the-ball is used to restart play in various instances during a game, but most-commonly immediately following a tackle.
Powerplay refers to the act of running the ball on the fifth tackle instead of kicking it.
A professional foul is a deliberate act of foul play, usually to prevent an opponent scoring.
R
Round the corner kicking is a style of kicking used for kicking penalties and converting tries.
S
The term refers to the various splits in rugby football leading to the development of rugby league football.
- In 1895, the schism in England, also known as the Great Split, occurred when, following a meeting at the George Hotel, Huddersfield, the Northern Rugby Football Union was formed by clubs breaking away from the rugby union establishment.
- In 1907, a group of New Zealand rugby footballers in secret organised and began a tour of Australia and Great Britain, risking sanctions such as bans from the New Zealand Rugby Union. The tour played a large role in establishing rugby league in both Australia and New Zealand and also gave birth to international rugby league. The first game of rugby league played on New Zealand soil was an exhibition by the tourists on their return in 1908.
- In 1907, the New South Wales Rugby Football League was formed in a meeting at Bateman's Crystal Hotel in Sydney just five days before they were due to receive the touring New Zealanders. Players were recruited immediately to the new sport, and a schism of rugby football in Australia resulted.
- Two players running side by side for a loose ball may shoulder charge one another.
- A direct physical challenge by a defending player against the player with the ball. This may be used by a player rather than a tackle. A shoulder charge is most commonly used by forwards in an attempt to establish dominance over the opposing team's forwards.
The notional area where a player must remain for a minimum of ten minutes. In high level games, the sin bin is monitored by the fourth official.
A spear tackle is a dangerous tackle in which a player is picked up by the tackler and turned so that they are upside down. The tackler then drops or drives the player into the ground often head,neck or shoulder first.
Spear tackles are particularly dangerous and have caused serious injury including spinal damage, dislocations and broken bones in the shoulder or neck. On rare occasion, even death can occur.
Spear tackles are taken very seriously by the various discipline committees and can result in lengthy playing bans.
Representative series in which players are selected for the states or territories where they either first played (hence the name 'state of origin') or played the majority of their junior football. The concept mirrors international representative rules in other sports. The most prominent rugby league state of origin is New South Wales versus Queensland in Australia.
Steeden is an Australian sports good manufacturer, best known for producing rugby league footballs. Steeden has become so synonymous with rugby league that the word used as noun to describe the ball itself.
Fending is the action by the ball carrier of repelling a tackler using his arm. For the action to be legal, the ball carrier's arm must be straight before contact is made; a shove or "straight-arm smash", where the arm is extended immediately before contact or on contact, is illegal and classed as dangerous play.
- Use of the foot to attempt to gain possession of the ball in the scrum.
- To hit an opponent with a fist. This is considered misconduct under Section 15, Law 1 (a).
- Obsolete Markers in the past were allowed to strike for possession of the ball when at the play-the-ball.
T
The player in possession may be tackled by players on the opposing team. It is not permitted to tackle or obstruct a player not in possession of the ball.
A tackle is completed when the player in possession of the ball:
- Is held by a defending player while the ball or ball-carrying arm are in contact with the ground.
- Is held by a defending player in such a way that they cannot make "further progress" and "cannot part with the ball".
- While being held by a defending player, makes it clear that they have "succumbed to the tackle and wish to be released in order to play the ball".
In a tap kick, the player momentarily releases the ball from his hands and taps it with his foot or lower leg and then quickly catches it again. The player will then generally try to run forward with the ball.
International rugby league matches with full (Test) status are called Test matches.
Touch is the area outside two touch-lines which define the sides of the playing area. As the touch-lines are not part of the playing area they are usually included as part of touch.
The touch judge is an official who monitors the touch-line and raises a flag if the ball (or player carrying it) goes into touch. Touch judges also stand behind the posts to confirm that a goal has been scored following a penalty kick or conversion of a try.
The primary method of scoring. A try is worth four points. It is scored when a player places the ball on the ground with downward pressure in the in-goal area between (and including) the goal-line and up to but not including dead ball line of the opposition's half. (As the goal posts and post protectors are also part of the goal-line, touching the ball down against the base of these is also a try.)
There is no such thing as an "own try". If a defending player grounds the ball in his own in-goal area, a goal line drop-out is awarded instead.
U
An up and under, also known as a "bomb", is a high short punt onto or behind the defending team. The name "up and under" describes the ball going up into the air while the attacking players rush underneath it towards where it is expected to land.