Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Rugby union scoring: a try is worth 5 points, a conversion 2, a penalty goal 3, and a drop goal 3. A converted try is therefore worth 7. Union rewards kicking more heavily than league — a penalty (3 pts) is worth three-fifths of an unconverted try, making the goal-kicker one of the most strategically important players. Penalty decisions are often sharply contested because of the points value.
- Try = 5, conversion = 2, penalty = 3, drop goal = 3
- Converted try = 7 total
- Kicking worth more than in league
- Penalty decisions are strategically crucial
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Rugby union awards 5 points for a try (plus a 2-point conversion opportunity), 3 for a penalty goal, and 3 for a drop goal — the comparatively high try value relative to penalties is a deliberate design choice meant to incentivize attacking, try-scoring rugby over a purely penalty-kicking-based approach to accumulating points.
FAQ
How many points is a try worth in rugby union?
5 points, plus a potential additional 2 points from a successful conversion kick, for a maximum of 7 points from the single scoring sequence.
Why is a try worth more than a penalty goal in rugby union?
The higher point value for tries (5, versus 3 for a penalty) is intended to reward and encourage attacking, ball-in-hand rugby rather than a purely kicking-based strategy focused on accumulating penalty goals.