Rugby is a sport filled with complex rules, intense physicality, and moments of brilliance—or sometimes, sheer misfortune. One question that occasionally arises among fans and players alike is whether it’s possible to score an own try in rugby. Unlike football (soccer), where own goals are relatively common, rugby’s scoring system and laws make the concept of an own try a rare and unusual scenario. To understand whether it can happen, we must delve into the laws of the game, examine how tries are scored, and explore whether a player can inadvertently score points for the opposition.
Understanding the Try in Rugby
A try is the primary method of scoring in rugby, worth five points, with the opportunity to add two more via a conversion kick. To score a try, a player must ground the ball with downward pressure in the opponent’s in-goal area (the area between the try line and the dead-ball line). The key aspect here is that the attacking team must be the ones to ground the ball in the defending team’s in-goal area. If a defending player grounds the ball in their own in-goal area, it results in different outcomes depending on the circumstances, but never an own try.
Defensive Actions in the In-Goal Area
When a defending player grounds the ball in their own in-goal area, it typically leads to one of two outcomes: a 22-meter drop-out or a 5-meter scrum to the attacking team. If a defender grounds the ball after it has been carried or kicked into the in-goal by the opposition, a touchdown is called, and the defending team is awarded a 22-meter drop-out. This is a way to restart play without conceding points. However, if the defending player grounds the ball after it has been taken into the in-goal by their own team, a 5-meter scrum is awarded to the attacking team.
Crucially, in neither scenario does the defending team concede a try. The laws of rugby explicitly state that a try can only be scored by the attacking team. There is no provision for an own try, meaning that even if a defender accidentally grounds the ball over their own try line, it does not count as a score for the opposition.
Near-Own Try Scenarios
While an own try is impossible under the official laws, there are situations where a defensive mistake can lead to something resembling an own try. For example, if a defender attempts to intercept a pass but fumbles the ball forward into their own in-goal area, an attacking player may quickly pounce on it to score. In this case, the try is credited to the attacking player, not the defender. Similarly, a poorly executed clearance kick that goes backward into the in-goal area could be chased down by an opponent, but again, the try is awarded to the attacker, not as an own score.
Another rare but plausible scenario involves a defender being tackled or forced backward over their own try line while in possession of the ball. If an attacking player then grounds the ball legally, a try is awarded—but again, it is not considered an own try. The key distinction is that the attacking team must be the ones to apply the downward pressure in the in-goal area.
Historical & Anecdotal Cases
There have been instances in rugby history where defensive errors have led to tries that might be colloquially referred to as “own tries,” but officially, they are not recorded as such. One famous example occurred in a club match where a defender, under pressure, accidentally passed the ball backward into his own in-goal area, only for an opponent to dive on it. While commentators and fans might jokingly call it an “own try,” the laws clearly attribute the score to the attacking player.
In professional rugby, such incidents are extremely rare due to the skill level of players and their awareness of in-goal safety. Most defenders, when under pressure near their own line, will either attempt to carry the ball out or deliberately ground it to force a 22-meter restart rather than risk an opponent scoring.
Why Rugby Doesn’t Have Own Tries
The absence of own tries in rugby can be attributed to the sport’s scoring mechanics. Unlike football, where the ball simply needs to cross the goal line to count as a score, rugby requires a deliberate grounding by the attacking team. This fundamental difference ensures that defensive mistakes, no matter how severe, cannot directly result in points for the opposition.
Additionally, rugby’s laws prioritize player safety and fairness. Allowing own tries could lead to situations where defenders, in their desperation to prevent a try, might take unnecessary risks, increasing the likelihood of dangerous play. The current system, where defensive errors lead to restarts or scrums rather than outright points, maintains a balance between rewarding attacking play and punishing defensive mistakes without being overly harsh.
Conclusion
In summary, while rugby has its share of bizarre and unexpected moments, an own try is not one of them. The laws of the game explicitly prevent such a scenario by requiring the attacking team to ground the ball for a try to be awarded. Defensive errors in the in-goal area result in restarts or scrums rather than points for the opposition. While there may be cases where a defensive blunder leads directly to a try, it is always attributed to the attacking side, never as an own score. This distinction is just one of the many nuances that make rugby a unique and fascinating sport.
So, the next time someone asks if you can score an own try in rugby, the answer is a definitive no—but that doesn’t mean defenders can afford to be careless near their own line!
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