Glossary of rugby league terms

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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 an opponent has played or touched it, or has tackled the ball carrier. }} When a player kicks the ball from a hand and the ball touches the ground between being dropped and kicked. If a drop kick goes through a goal, it is a drop goal. }}

1. Goal line drop-out from the goal line.
2. A drop-out from the 20 metre line. 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 stop an opponent in their tracks. A dump tackle which drops the ball carrier on their head or neck is known as a spear tackle, drawing a penalty and possible caution. }}

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F

"The area bounded by, but not including, the touch lines and goal lines". }}

When the ball travels forward relative to the player passing it. If the referee considers a forward pass accidental, it results in a scrum for the opposing team. Deliberate forward passes, rarely identified by the referee, incur a penalty. If the ball is blown (or bounces) forward, it is not a forward pass. }}

G

A goal is scored when a player kicks the ball through the plane bounded by the two uprights, above the crossbar. A conversion (or penalty goal) scores two points, and drop goals one. }} The golden point, a sudden-death-overtime system, is sometimes used to resolve drawn rugby-league matches. Minor variations exist. In the National Rugby League, if the scores are level at the end of 80 minutes, five minutes are played, the teams swap ends with no break, and five more 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. }} A controversial tackling technique in which the tackler attempts to impede the ball carrier by applying a choke hold. Although players can be penalised, it is difficult to enforce. }} A kick which makes the ball roll and tumble across the ground, producing irregular bounces which make it difficult for the defending team to pick it up without causing a knock-on. It gives the ball high and low bounces, and sometimes the ball sits up in a perfect catching position. }}

H

Main article: Haka

Main article: High tackle

A hospital pass is usually made by the ball-carrier in an attempt to keep from being caught with the ball and tackled. The pass is often made under pressure, without considering the situation of the receiver. The player catching the ball is often stationary and in the path of a defender, 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

The line-out was a method used to re-start play after the ball had gone into touch. Players from each team would stand in a line perpendicular to the touch line and attempt to catch the ball as it was thrown into the field of play. In 1897 the line-out was abolished and replaced with the punt-out. }}

M

The McIntyre system (or systems; there have been five) is a play-off system that gives an advantage to teams, or competitors, qualifying higher. }} In several sports, a minor premiership is an (often unofficial) award given to a team which finishes first overall in the standings after the regular season before the play-offs. }}

O

A player is considered temporarily out of play if they are offside, and may be penalised if they join the game inappropriately. A player is offside when they are forward of the relevant offside line (between it and the opposing team's dead ball line). In a match, most players will be offside several times but are only subject to 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. Every player who passes the ball backwards is offside, and must attempt to retire.}} 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. }} A penalty try is awarded if the referee believes a team illegally prevented a probable try from being scored. Penalty tries are awarded under the posts, regardless of where the offence took place. }} The place kick, a kicking style commonly used when kicking for goal, typically involves placing the ball on the ground. To keep the ball in position, a mound of sand or a plastic tee is sometimes used. }} : NEEDS DEFINITION! -- The play-the-ball is used to restart play in various instances during a game, but most commonly immediately following a tackle. }} Powerplay is running the ball on the fifth tackle, instead of kicking it. }} A deliberate act of foul play, usually to prevent an opponent scoring. }}

R

| access-date = 2009-10-06}}}} A style of kicking used for kicking penalties and converting tries. }}

S

Splits in rugby football which led to the development of rugby league:

1. In 1895, the schism in England (also known as the Great Split) occurred when the Northern Rugby Football Union was formed by clubs breaking away from the rugby-union establishment after a meeting at the George Hotel, Huddersfield.
2. In 1907, a group of New Zealand rugby footballers organised in secret and began a tour of Australia and Great Britain, risking a ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union. The tour played a large role in establishing rugby league in Australia and New Zealand, and 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.
3. In 1907, the New South Wales Rugby Football League was formed in a meeting at Bateman's Crystal Hotel in Sydney five days before they were due to receive the touring New Zealanders. Players were recruited immediately, resulting in a schism of rugby football in Australia.}} With indecision created in the defence, the ball carrier will sprint for a weak point in the defensive line (the go).}} 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 dangerous tackle in which a player is picked up by the tackler and turned upside down. The tackler then drops the player on the ground, often head-, neck- or shoulder-first. Spear tackles have caused spinal damage, dislocations and broken bones in the shoulder or neck, and death, and can result in lengthy playing bans. }} Representative series in which players are selected for the states or territories where they first played or played most 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. }} An Australian sporting-goods manufacturer best known for producing rugby-league footballs. The name has been used as a noun to describe the ball itself. }} Fending is the action by the ball carrier of repelling a tackler with their 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, or on contact), is considered dangerous play. }}
4. Use of the foot to attempt to gain possession of the ball in the scrum.
5. To hit an opponent with a fist, considered misconduct under Section 15, Law 1 (a).
6. (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:

1. Is held by a defending player while the ball or ball-carrying arm are in contact with the ground.
2. Is held by a defending player in such a way that they cannot make "further progress" and "cannot part with the ball".
3. 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".}} 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. Since the touch-lines are not part of the playing area, they are usually included as part of touch. }} 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 after 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, the dead ball line of the opposition's half. Since 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. If a defending player grounds the ball in his in-goal area, a goal line drop-out is awarded.}}

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.}}

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References

In-line

General

• {{cite book|last=Fagan|first=Sean|title=The rugby rebellion centenary edition: Pioneers of rugby league

References

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