The basics in 1 minute

The aim

In rugby union, carry, pass or kick the ball towards the opponents’ goal line to score, while defending your own end.

Scoring

A try scores 5 points and its conversion 2. Penalty goals and drop goals score 3; a penalty try scores 7. The team with more points wins.

Key rules

• Hand passes must not travel forward; forward kicking is permitted subject to offside rules.
• Only the ball-carrier may be tackled, and dangerous tackles are forbidden.
• After a tackle, the tackler releases and the carrier makes the ball available; arriving players stay on their feet.