Flick Pass

Rugby league football has accrued considerable jargon to describe aspects of the game. Many terms originate in the Laws of the Game. Some aspects of the game have more than one term referring to them. Different terms have become popularly used to describe an aspect of the game in different places, with notable differences between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Words in a sentence which are also defined elsewhere in this glossary appear in italics.

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{{defn, 1=The six-tackle rule was introduced in 1972, modifying the rules on limited tackles to alleviate the "disjointed" play of the four-tackle rule.
{{term, term=Sliding defence , content=Sliding defence{{anchor, Slide defence, slide defence, sliding defence
{{defn, 1=The sliding defence requires that gaps are left at either edge of the field at the end of the defensive line, squeezing more players around the area of play. This allows the line to be at its strongest around the position of play, leaving the attacking side less opportunity to run through the line. If the attacking side move the ball towards one edge of the field to go around the defensive line, the entire defensive line will move in that direction.
{{term, term=Spear tackle , content=Spear tackle{{anchor, spear tackle, spear, Spear
{{defn, 1={{Main, Spear tackle
A dangerous tackle in which a player is picked up by the tackler and turned upside down. The tackler then drops the player on the ground, often head-, neck- or shoulder-first. Spear tackles have caused spinal damage, dislocations and broken bones in the shoulder or neck, and death, and can result in lengthy playing bans.
{{term, term=Stand-off , content=Stand-off{{anchor, stand-off, stand off, Stand off, standoff, Standoff
{{defn, 1=The stand off, or "five-eighth" (numbered 6), is often a playmaker and likely to be a tactical kicker. The stand-off has a high level of interaction with the other playmaker positions ( scrum-half, loose forward and hooker), and is usually involved in passing.
{{term, term=State of Origin , content=State of Origin{{anchor, state of origin
{{defn, 1={{Main, Rugby League State of Origin
Representative series in which players are selected for the states or territories where they first played or played most 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.
{{term, term=Steeden , content=Steeden{{anchor, steeden
{{defn, 1={{Main, Steeden
An Australian sporting-goods manufacturer best known for producing rugby-league footballs. The name has been used as a noun to describe the ball itself.
{{term, term=Stiff-arm fend , content=Stiff-arm fend{{anchor, stiff-arm fend, stiff arm fend, Stiff arm fend
{{defn, 1={{Main, Stiff-arm fend
Fending is the action by the ball carrier of repelling a tackler with their 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, or on contact), is considered dangerous play.
{{term, term=Strike , content=Strike{{anchor, strike
{{defn, 1=
# Use of the foot to attempt to gain possession of the ball in the scrum.
# To hit an opponent with a fist, considered misconduct under Section 15, Law 1 (a).
# (Obsolete) Markers, in the past, were allowed to strike for possession of the ball when at the play-the-ball.
{{term, term=Strip the ball , content=Strip the ball{{anchor, strip the ball, Strip, strip
{{defn, 1=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).
{{term, term=Substitute , content=Substitute{{anchor, substitute
{{defn, 1=In addition to the 13 players on the playing field, each team selects up to four substitutes to be available as replacements in interchanges during the game. RLIF, 2004: 9
{{term, term=Summer era , content=Summer era{{anchor, summer era, Summer Era, Super League Era, super league era, Super League era
{{defn, 1="Summer era" and "Super League era" are synonymous in British rugby league for the time since the 1996 change to the top level of competition in the United Kingdom from the Rugby Football League Championship, which was played on a schedule which included November, December and January, to Super League (played in the summer).
{{term, term=Summer rugby , content=Summer rugby{{anchor, summer rugby, Summer Rugby
{{defn, 1=Rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere, led by Britain, has gravitated towards playing in the summer rather than in the traditional winter season. The initial change was made by the top level of competition in the United Kingdom, when Super League I began in 1996 and played through the summer.{{cite news, url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garyslater/4068901/Thank_heaven_for_summer_rugby/, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007034525/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garyslater/4068901/Thank_heaven_for_summer_rugby/, url-status=dead, archive-date=2012-10-07, title=Thank heaven for summer rugby, last=Slater, first=Gary, date=2008-03-17, newspaper=Telegraph, access-date=5 December 2009 The other professional tiers, 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 greater enjoyment by players and spectators.
{{term, term=Support , content=Support{{anchor, support
{{defn, 1=Players in support put themselves in a position to assist a teammate. Effective support play is considered vital to take advantage of opportunities to make ground towards the opponents' end of the field or to score.
{{term, term=Surrender tackle , content=Surrender tackle{{anchor, surrender tackle, Surrender, surrender
{{defn, 1=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 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 allow the tackle to be completed on their own terms (for example, their body position), letting them more easily regain their feet.
{{term, term=Swinging arm , content=Swinging arm{{anchor, swinging arm, swinging-arm, Swinging-arm
{{defn, 1=Defending players may be penalised by the referee if they are caught using a swinging arm against the ball-carrier in the tackle.
{{glossary end

T

{{glossary
{{term, term=Tackle , content=Tackle{{anchor, tackle
{{defn, 1={{Main, Tackle (football move)
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".
# 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".
{{term, term=Tap kick , content=Tap kick{{anchor, tap kick, tap-kick, Tap-kick
{{defn, 1= A type of kick used for penalties or free kicks to meet the regulation that 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.
{{term, term=Tap tackle , content=Tap tackle{{anchor, tap-tackle, Tap-tackle, Tap tackle
{{defn, 1=Another term for Ankle tap.
{{term, term=Test match , content=Test match{{anchor, test match, test-match, Test-match
{{defn, 1={{Main, Test match (rugby league)
International rugby league matches with full (test) status are called Test matches.
{{term, term=Threequarters , content=Threequarters{{anchor, threequarters, Three-quarters, three-quarters, Three quarters, three quarters
{{defn, 1=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.{{cite web, url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/positions.html , title=Player positions , last=Trueman , first=Nigel , year=2006 , publisher=rugbyfootballhistory.com , access-date=5 January 2010 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128005151/http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/positions.html , archive-date=2010-01-28 , url-status=dead The players positioned between the halves and the fullback were known as the quarters; during the years in which it was usual for there to be three players positioned here, they were known as the three quarters. Later, the addition of a fourth player to the quarters became the norm. 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 six-eighths, with halfback being four-eighths, the position came to be known as the five-eighth.
{{term, term=Touch , content=Touch{{anchor, touch
{{defn, 1={{Main, Rugby league playing field
Touch is the area outside two touch-lines which define the sides of the playing area. Since the touch-lines are not part of the playing area, they are usually included as part of touch.
{{term, term=Touch in-goal , content=Touch in-goal{{anchor, touch in-goal, Touch In-goal
{{defn, 1=The part of the touch line inside the in-goal area. If a team causes the ball to go into touch in-goal in their 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.
{{term, term=Touch judge , content=Touch judge{{anchor, touch judge, Touch Judge
{{defn, 1={{Main, Touch judge
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 after a penalty kick or conversion of a try.
{{term, term=Try , content=Try{{anchor, try
{{defn, 1={{Main, Try (rugby)
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, the dead ball line of the opposition's half. Since 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. If a defending player grounds the ball in his in-goal area, a goal line drop-out is awarded.
{{term, term=Try-line , content=Try-line{{anchor, try-line, try line, Try line
{{defn, 1=Otherwise known as the goal line, so called because a player has to cross this line to score a try.
{{term, term=Turnover , content=Turnover{{anchor, turnover, turn-over, Turn-over, Turn over, turn over
{{defn, 1=Another term for handover.
{{glossary end

U

{{glossary
{{term, term=Umbrella defence , content=Umbrella defence{{anchor, umbrella defence, umbrella
{{defn, 1=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, so the best defensive measure is a preventive measure. The aim is to prevent the attacking team from going to the wings or to disrupt 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.
{{term, term=Up and in defence , content=Up and in defence{{anchor, up and in defence, Up-and-in defence, up-and-in defence, up-and-in, up and in
{{defn, 1=See Umbrella defence.
{{term, term=Bomb (kick) , content=Up and under{{anchor, Bomb (kick), up-and-under, Up-and-under
{{defn, 1={{Main, Bomb (kick)
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.
{{term, term=Up the jumper , content=Up the jumper{{anchor, up the jumper, up-the-jumper, Up-the-jumper
{{defn, 1=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.
{{glossary end

V

{{glossary
{{term, term=Voluntary tackle , content=Voluntary tackle{{anchor, Voluntary-tackle, voluntary tackle, Voluntary Tackle, Voluntary-Tackle, voluntary-tackle
{{defn, 1=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; RLIF, 2004: 24 this includes when a player falls on a loose ball. The player must attempt to regain their feet and continue. Section 11, Law 4 of the Laws of the Game rules the voluntary tackle illegal.
{{glossary end

W

{{glossary
{{term, term=Wing , content=Wing{{anchor, wing, winger, Winger
{{defn, 1=The wings, or "wing three quarters" (numbered 2 and 5) are normally the fastest players on 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 fullback covers the middle.
{{glossary end

Z

{{glossary
{{term, term=Zam-buk , content=Zam-buk ''(obsolete)''{{anchor, zam-buk, zambuk, Zambuk
{{defn, 1= Zam-Buk, or zambuk, was a skin dressing sold by chemists and used by ambulance personnel and first-aiders on injured players at rugby league matches since the 1900s.{{cite web, url=http://www.rl1908.com/articles/zam-buk.htm , title=Tracking Down The Zam-Buk , last=Fagan , first=Sean , author-link=Sean Fagan , date=2007-07-12 , publisher= rl1908.com , access-date=2009-12-22 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106112137/http://www.rl1908.com/articles/zam-buk.htm , archive-date=2010-11-06 , url-status=dead 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 personnel and first-aiders were replaced by club trainers and others.
{{glossary end

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References

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General

{{refbegin
* {{cite web, url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/clientdocs/rugby_laws_book_2004_.pdf , publisher=Rugby League International Federation , title=The International Laws of the Game and Notes on the Laws , author=RLIF , year=2004 , access-date=2008-07-30 , ref=RLIF-ILG-2004 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326215923/http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/clientdocs/rugby_laws_book_2004_.pdf , archive-date=2009-03-26 , url-status=dead
* {{Citation , editor-last =de la Riviere , editor-first =Richard , publication-date =August 2009 , year =2009 , periodical =Rugby League World , place =Brighouse, UK , publisher =League Publications , issue =340 , issn =1466-0105 , ref=RLW-iss340-aug2009
* {{cite book, last=Fagan, first=Sean, title=The rugby rebellion centenary edition: Pioneers of rugby league
, editor=Dixon, Kim, publisher=RL1908, location=Australia, year=2007, isbn=978-0-9757563-0-0, ref=fagan-pioneers-2007
{{refend

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