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Rugby union - In-goal

A try depends on where and how the ball is grounded.

Grounding decisions create some of rugby's biggest arguments because the ball can be over the line without being legally grounded, and a player can be in contact with touch-in-goal or the dead-ball line at the same time.

Quick ruling: an attacking player scores a try by grounding the ball in the opponents' in-goal area. If the ball is held up, grounded by the defense, or grounded while the ball-carrier is also in touch-in-goal or beyond the dead-ball line, the restart changes.
Decision path

How the referee checks it

  1. Confirm the ball reached the in-goal area.
  2. Identify who grounded it: attacking player, defending player, or nobody.
  3. Check whether there was legal grounding, usually by holding the ball and touching it to the ground or applying pressure to a loose ball on the ground.
  4. Check the ball-carrier's body position: touch line, touch-in-goal line, dead-ball line, and ground beyond those lines can change the outcome.
  5. If needed, use TMO review to confirm grounding, touch, and any earlier infringement in the scoring sequence.
Scoring a try

Grounding by the attack

An attacking player who legally grounds the ball in the opponents' in-goal scores a try. The player does not always need to be holding the ball first; pressing down on a ball already on the ground in in-goal can be enough if the action is legal.

Held up

Over the line is not enough

If the attacking player gets the ball into in-goal but cannot ground it because defenders keep it off the ground, the ball is held up. The outcome is not a try, even if the ball clearly crossed the goal line.

Defense grounding

A defensive touch down prevents the try

When a defending player grounds the ball in their own in-goal area, the result is a touch down rather than a try. The restart depends on how the ball got there and the relevant law for the situation.

Lines and posts

Touch-in-goal and post protectors matter

If a ball-carrier grounds the ball while simultaneously touching touch-in-goal, the dead-ball line, or ground beyond those lines, the try is not awarded. Modern rugby also does not allow a try merely by grounding the ball against the post protector.

Common arguments

Misunderstandings to avoid

  • "The ball crossed the line, so it is a try" is wrong. It still must be legally grounded.
  • "The attacker lost control, so it can never be a try" is too broad. A loose ball can still be grounded legally if the action meets the law.
  • "The post protector counts as the ground" is outdated. Grounding against the post protector alone no longer scores a try.
  • "The TMO only checks the grounding" is incomplete. TMO review can also look at relevant touch and earlier infringements within its allowed scope.
Effective law

Version and variation check

The worked rulings use the World Rugby Laws of the Game updated 1 July 2026, especially Law 21 on in-goal. Before choosing the restart for a held-up or dead-ball outcome, confirm the competition's adopted law variations and identify which team took the ball into in-goal. Grounding, touch, and the correct restart are separate findings.