Rugby League like other sports has its own "jargon" used to describe certain aspects of playing the game. Here we have gathered together a collection of the most commonly used terms in the game as well as some less well known terms and their meanings.
S to Z
Second man play: A move involving a decoy runner.
Scissors move: An attempt to cause a disruption and breach in the defence of the opposing team. The attacking player carrying the ball forward will veer at an angle to their left or right, often drawing with them the defender covering them and sometimes engaging another defender by running towards them. A team mate of the ball carrier will run across and forward in the other direction just behind the ball carrier, receiving a pass as they cross and then running on towards the point of the disruption in the defence.
Scrum-half: The scrum half or 'half back' (numbered 7) is the player who directs the game and is usually one of the smaller players on the pitch. The scrum half, along with the stand off together form the "creative unit" of the team. They will control the attack, deciding with their passes how the team attacks and if, when and where the ball is kicked. This player is also responsible for making sure all the other players are in the right position for an attacking move.
Second effort: An attempt by a defending player who has made a tackle on an attacker to delay the play-the-ball by interfering with the tackled player's attempt to regain their feet. The referee will penalise the attempt if seen.
Second row: The second row forwards (numbered 11 and 12) The modern day second row is very similar to a centre and is expected to be faster, more mobile and have more skills than the prop and will play amongst the three-quarters, providing strength in attack and defence when the ball is passed out to the wings. Good second-rowers combine the skills and responsibilities of props and centres in the course of the game.
See you later: A phrase sometimes used in commentary to refer to a hand-off or fend.
Shape: Refers to the positioning of players. Most often used when talking about the positioning of attacking players when they are supporting the ball-carrier after a break. "Good shape" will usually mean the support players have succeeded in positioning themselves to either side of the player running with the ball to offer offensive passing options.
Short side: The side of the play-the-ball which has the shorter distance to the touch line.
Shoulder charge: Two players running side by side for a loose ball may shoulder change one another. A direct physical challenge by a defending player against the player with the ball. This may be used by a player rather than a tackle. A shoulder charge is most commonly used by forwards in an attempt to establish dominance over the opposing team's forwards.
Show and go: The show: the player in possession of the ball will attack the defensive line with a stance and holding the ball in front of them in a way so as to create the impression that a pass to a team mate is likely to occur. The defenders may be unwilling to commit themselves to tackling the ball-carrier as to do so would could create an exploitable gap in the line should a pass be made. The go: with indecision created in the defence, the ball carrier will sprint for a weak point in the defensive line.
Sidestep: An attempt to evade defenders by the attacking player carrying the ball. By stepping to the side, the attacking player is testing the reactions of defenders and hoping gain time and space to advance the ball.
Sin bin: The notional area where a player must remain for a minimum of ten minutes. In high level games, the sin bin is monitored by the fourth official.
Six-tackle rule: The six-tackle rule was introduced in 1972, modifying the rules on limited tackles, to alleviate the "disjointed" play experienced with the four-tackle rule.
Sliding defence: The sliding defence requires that gaps are left at either edge of the field at the end of the defensive line, which aims to squeeze more players around the area of play. This allows the line to be at its strongest around the position of play, thus leaving the attacking side less opportunity to run through the line. Should the attacking side move the ball towards one edge of the field in an attempt to go around the defensive line, then the entire defensive line will move in that direction; this is known as sliding.
Spear tackle: A spear tackle is a dangerous tackle in which a player is picked up by the tackler and turned so that they are upside down. The tackler then drops or drives the player into the ground often head, neck or shoulder first.
Spear tackles are particularly dangerous and have caused serious injury including spinal damage, dislocations and broken bones in the shoulder or neck. On rare occasion, even death can occur. Spear tackles are taken very seriously by the various discipline committees and can result in lengthy playing bans.
Stand-off: The stand off, or "five-eighth", (numbered 6) is one the most skilful players in a team, often a playmaker and likely to be a tactical kicker for the team. The stand-off will have a high level of interaction with the other playmaker positions (scrum-half, loose forward and hooker), and will usually be involved in most passing moves.
State of Origin: Representative series in which players are selected for the states or territories where they either first played (hence the name 'state of origin') or played the majority of their junior football. The concept mirrors international representative rules in other sports. The most prominent rugby league state of origin is New South Wales versus Queensland in Australia.
Stiff-arm fend: Fending is the action by the ball carrier of repelling a tackler using his arm. For the action to be legal the ball carrier's arm must be straight before contact is made; a shove or "straight-arm smash", where the arm is extended immediately before contact or on contact, is illegal and classed as dangerous play.
Strike: Use of the foot to attempt to gain possession of the ball in the scrum. To hit an opponent with a fist. This is considered misconduct under Section 15, Law 1 (a).
Strip the ball: The act of defending players removing the ball from the possession of the attacking player. This is allowed if there is only one defender in contact with the attacker (see one-on-one tackle).
Substitute: As well as the 13 players on the playing field, each team selects up to four substitutes to be available as replacements in interchanges during the game.
Summer era: "Summer era" and "Super League era" are virtually synonymous terms in British rugby league for the period of time since the 1996 change to the top level of competition in the United Kingdom from being the Rugby Football League Championship, which was played to a schedule that included the winter months of November, December and January, to being Super League and played in the summer months.
Summer rugby: Rugby league in the northern hemisphere, led by Britain, has gravitated increasingly towards playing in the summer rather than in the traditional winter seasons. The initial change was made by the top level of competition in the United Kingdom when Super League I launched in 1996 and played through the summer. Since then the other professional tiers, as well as amateur competitions such as the Rugby League Conference, and some junior leagues have changed or been formed to play in summer. Benefits have included fewer postponed matches and a more enjoyable experience for players and spectators.
Support: Players in support are putting themselves in a position to be able to assist a team mate. Effective support play is considered vital to quickly take advantage of opportunities to make ground towards the opponents' end of the field or to score.
Surrender tackle: A referee may call "Surrender!" as a player is tackled to indicate that they have judged the player in possession to have allowed themselves to be tackled by diving to the ground or by collapsing in the tackle. The referee will allow the defending team more time to release the tackled player. The intention of the player in possession is to gain an unfair advantage by having a speedy play-the-ball and resumption of play so that their team can press their advantage by reducing the amount of time available for the defending team to organise their defence. The player in possession aims to allowing the tackle to be completed on their own terms, for example their body position, letting them more easily regain their feet.
Swinging arm: Defending players may be penalised by the referee if they are caught using a swinging arm against the ball-carrier in the tackle.
Tackle: The player in possession may be tackled by players on the opposing team. It is not permitted to tackle or obstruct a player not in possession of the ball. A tackle is completed when the player in possession of the ball is held by a defending player while the ball or ball-carrying arm are in contact with the ground, is held by a defending player in such a way that they cannot make "further progress" and "cannot part with the ball" or while being held by a defending player, makes it clear that they have "succumbed to the tackle and wish to be released in order to play the ball".
Tap kick: A tap kick is a type of kick used by players at penalties or free kicks to meet the regulation that requires the ball must be kicked a visible distance before a player may pass or run with it. In a tap kick, the player momentarily releases the ball from his hands and taps it with his foot or lower leg and then quickly catches it again. The player will then generally try to run forward with the ball.
Ten metre law: Every time a player is tackled all defenders have to retreat 10 metres from the play-the-ball area apart from a maximum of two markers.
Threequarters: The threequarters, also known as "outside backs", consist of the wingers and centres. The term "threequarters" originated as the tactics and player formations of rugby football developed in the 1880s. The players positioned between the halves and the full back were known as the quarters; during the years in which it was usual for there to be three players positioned here, they were known collectively as the three quarters. Later, the addition of a fourth player to the quarters became usual for teams. As the formations developed, an additional player was placed between the halfback and the quarters. Due to a semantic change for three quarters to mean 6/8ths, with halfback being 4/8ths, the position came to be known as the five-eighth.
Touch: Touch is the area outside two touch-lines which define the sides of the playing area. As the touch-lines are not part of the playing area they are usually included as part of touch.
Touch in-goal: The part of the touch line that is inside the in-goal area. If a team causes the ball to go into touch in-goal in their own in-goal area they must perform a goal line drop-out. If a team causes the ball to go into touch in-goal in the opposing team's in-goal, the opposing team will be given an optional kick on the 20 metre line.
Touch judge: The touch judge is an official who monitors the touch-line and raises a flag if the ball (or player carrying it) goes into touch. Touch judges also stand behind the posts to confirm that a goal has been scored following a penalty kick or conversion of a try.
Try: The primary method of scoring. A try is worth four points. It is scored when a player places the ball on the ground with downward pressure in the in-goal area between (and including) the goal-line and up to but not including dead ball line of the opposition's half. (As the goal posts and post protectors are also part of the goal-line, touching the ball down against the base of these is also a try.) There is no such thing as an "own try". If a defending player grounds the ball in his own in-goal area, a goal line drop-out is awarded instead.
Try-line: Otherwise known as the goal line, so-called because a player has to cross this line to score a try.
Twenty metre restart: The 20 metre line is used to re-start the game in certain circumstances:
- The phrase "20 metre re-start" is most commonly used to refer to an optional kick. (One of those options is to tap on the 20 metre line and run the ball.)
- A 20m line drop out is taken by the defending team if the ball goes dead in their in-goal from any kind of penalty kick by their opponents.
Umbrella defence: The umbrella defence (or "up and in defence") requires that players do not spread across the entire field. The defensive line is particularly vulnerable on the edges around the wings; therefore the best defensive measure in this case is a preventative measure. That is, the aim becomes to prevent the attacking team from going to the wings or to disrupt any passes towards the edge of the field. This requires that defensive players (wingers or centres) on the edge of the defensive line move up faster than those in the middle of the line.
Up and under: An up and under, also known as a "bomb", is a high short punt onto or behind the defending team. The name "up and under" describes the ball going up into the air while the attacking players rush underneath it towards where it is expected to land.
Up the jumper: A style of play intended to reduce the chance of attacking players committing errors. This is usually accomplished by limiting passes in number and risk. Often advocated for use by a team in the lead late in the match.
Voluntary tackle: The attacking player in possession is not allowed to "deliberately and unnecessarily" allow themselves to be tackled by falling to the ground when not held by a defender. This includes times when a player has fallen on a loose ball, in these instances the player must attempt to regain their feet and continue. Section 11, Law 4 of the Laws of the Game deems the voluntary tackle illegal.
Wing: The wings or 'wing three quarters' (numbered 2 and 5) are normally the fastest players in a team and play on the far left and right fringes of the field (the wings). Their main task is to receive passes and score tries. The wingers also drop back on the last tackle to cover the left and right sides of the field for kicks while the full back covers the middle.
Zam-buk: Now obsolete a Zam-buk, or zambuk, was a skin-dressing sold in chemists and used by ambulance-men and first aiders at rugby league matches on injured players from the 1900s. In Australia and New Zealand the term was soon being used to refer to the ambulance-men and first aiders themselves. The term fell into disuse in the 1970s as ambulance-men and first aiders were replaced by club trainers and others.
