Six Nations/Rugby Terms

Six Nations/Rugby Terms

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Drop Goal - A three point goal in which the ball must hit the ground before being kicked to the posts anytime a side is close to their own try line.

Five Nations - France officially joined the tournament in 1910 and as a result, whenever they played the name was changed to Five Nations.

Garry Owen - A kick high in the air that results in a short distance for added pressure or retrieval.

Grand Slam - A team earns a Grand Slam title when they win the tournament undefeated.

Grubber - A kick causing the ball to bounce/roll on the ground; mainly used as an offensive maneuver.

Home Nations - The first name of the tournament dating back to 1883 when only the original four teams - England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland competed against each other. Home Nations is now used to describe those original four teams.

Knock On - The act of losing, dropping or hitting the ball forward from a player which results in turning the ball over to the opposing team in a scrum.

Line-out - A form of restarting play after the ball has been knocked out or kicked past the touchline.

Mark - A designated spot on the pitch that the referee assigns as the location for a scrum.

Maul - When at least three players, including the ball carrier, with at least one player from the opposing team come into physical contact with each. Similar to a ruck but the ball is not on the ground.

Ruck - When at least one player from each team comes into standing physical contact with each other over a released ball from a tackled player. Similar to a maul but the ball is not being carried.

Scrum - A formation used to restart play after the ball has been knocked on or gone forward.

Strongside - The large side of the field from a line-out, maul, ruck or scrum; also known as the Openside.

Triple Crown - Home Nations are the only teams eligible to win a Triple Crown, acomplished by defeating the other three Home Nations teams.

Try - A five point score when the ball is carried or kicked into the try zone (or across the try line) and touched onto the ground by a player.

Try Zone - Similar to the endzone in the National Football League.(NFL) - it is where a player must cross the try line and touch the ball to the ground to score.

Weakside - The short side of the field from a line-out, maul, ruck or scrum also known as the Blindside.

Wooden Spoon - A figurative award given to the team who comes in last place of the tournament.

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From http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/394/six-nations-rugby-terms.jsp