Quiz2Know

Sport

Rugby Union and World Cup Lore

Test your grasp of Rugby Union rules, Six Nations competitions, Rugby World Cup triumphs, and international rugby powers.

This is a free, 16-question multiple-choice quiz. Answer each question to see whether you got it right, with an explanation for every answer. There is no sign-up and no time limit — take it as many times as you like, and scroll down for the full answer key once you are done.

Question 1 of 16

0 correct

How many points is a try worth in modern Rugby Union rules?

Press A–D to choose · Enter to submit

Answer key & explanations

Every question in this quiz, with the correct answer marked and an explanation of why it is right. Use it to revise before or after taking the quiz above.

  1. 1.How many points is a try worth in modern Rugby Union rules?

    • A3 points
    • B4 points
    • C5 points✓ Correct
    • D6 points

    Correct answer: 5 points

    In 1992, the International Rugby Football Board increased the value of a try from four points to five points to encourage attacking play.

  2. 2.Which nation won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand?

    • AAustralia
    • BFrance
    • CNew Zealand✓ Correct
    • DEngland

    Correct answer: New Zealand

    The New Zealand All Blacks defeated France 29–9 at Eden Park in Auckland to claim the first Webb Ellis Cup in 1987.

  3. 3.What traditional Māori ceremonial dance do the New Zealand All Blacks perform prior to every test match?

    • ASipi Tau
    • BHaka✓ Correct
    • CCibi
    • DSiva Tau

    Correct answer: Haka

    The All Blacks perform the Haka (most famously 'Ka Mate' and 'Kapa o Pango') as a challenge to their opponents before kickoff.

  4. 4.Which nation was added to the Five Nations Championship in 2000, turning it into the modern Six Nations Championship?

    • AGeorgia
    • BRomania
    • CItaly✓ Correct
    • DPortugal

    Correct answer: Italy

    Italy joined England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in 2000, inaugurated with a historic opening win against Scotland in Rome.

  5. 5.Who kicked the drop goal in extra time to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup final for England against Australia?

    • AJonny Wilkinson✓ Correct
    • BMatt Dawson
    • CWill Greenwood
    • DLawrence Dallaglio

    Correct answer: Jonny Wilkinson

    Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson slotted a right-footed drop goal with 26 seconds remaining in extra time to give England a 20–17 victory in Sydney.

  6. 6.Which nation became the first to win four Men's Rugby World Cup titles when they triumphed in France in 2023?

    • ANew Zealand
    • BSouth Africa✓ Correct
    • CAustralia
    • DEngland

    Correct answer: South Africa

    The South African Springboks defeated New Zealand 12–11 in the 2023 final, adding to their previous World Cup victories in 1995, 2007, and 2019.

  7. 7.How many players are on the field for one team at a time in standard Rugby Union?

    • A11
    • B13
    • C15✓ Correct
    • D18

    Correct answer: 15

    A standard Rugby Union lineup consists of 15 players: eight forwards (pack) wearing numbers 1 to 8, and seven backs wearing numbers 9 to 15.

  8. 8.What trophy is contested exclusively between England and Scotland during the annual Six Nations Championship?

    • ABledisloe Cup
    • BCalcutta Cup✓ Correct
    • CCentenary Quaich
    • DMillennium Trophy

    Correct answer: Calcutta Cup

    The Calcutta Cup was first contested in 1879, crafted from melted silver Indian rupees donated by the dissolved Calcutta Football Club.

  9. 9.Which position in Rugby Union wears the number 9 jersey and feeds the ball into scrums?

    • AFly-half
    • BScrum-half✓ Correct
    • CHooker
    • DFullback

    Correct answer: Scrum-half

    The scrum-half acts as the key link between forwards and backs, distributing passes from the base of rucks and scrums.

  10. 10.What is awarded to a team when a player is shown a yellow card by the referee in Rugby Union?

    • APermanent ejection without replacement
    • B10 minutes in the sin bin✓ Correct
    • C5 minutes in the sin bin
    • DA mandatory penalty try

    Correct answer: 10 minutes in the sin bin

    A yellow card results in a temporary suspension sending the offending player to the 'sin bin' for 10 minutes of active playing time.

  11. 11.What annual international tournament features South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina?

    • APacific Nations Cup
    • BThe Rugby Championship✓ Correct
    • CSuper Rugby
    • DAutumn Nations Series

    Correct answer: The Rugby Championship

    Originally called the Tri Nations, the competition was rebranded as The Rugby Championship when Argentina joined the Southern Hemisphere tournament in 2012.

  12. 12.Which player is the all-time leading point scorer in international Rugby Union test history with 1,598 points?

    • AJonny Wilkinson
    • BDan Carter✓ Correct
    • COwen Farrell
    • DNeil Jenkins

    Correct answer: Dan Carter

    New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter scored 1,598 test points in 112 appearances for the All Blacks, including two World Cup titles.

  13. 13.What is the name of the annual touring composite team selected from the best players of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales?

    • ABarbarian F.C.
    • BBritish & Irish Lions✓ Correct
    • CCeltic Warriors
    • DCorinthian Casuals

    Correct answer: British & Irish Lions

    The British & Irish Lions embark on a tour every four years, rotating between Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

  14. 14.Which forward position in the front row wears the number 2 shirt and throws the ball into lineouts?

    • ALoosehead prop
    • BHooker✓ Correct
    • CTighthead prop
    • DLock

    Correct answer: Hooker

    The hooker packs down between the two props in the scrum and is primarily responsible for striking the ball with their foot and throwing into lineouts.

  15. 15.What milestone was celebrated at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final when Nelson Mandela presented the trophy to Francois Pienaar?

    • ASouth Africa's first game under floodlights
    • BThe end of sporting boycotts and a symbol of post-apartheid reconciliation✓ Correct
    • CThe first tournament to use video referees
    • DThe introduction of professional players

    Correct answer: The end of sporting boycotts and a symbol of post-apartheid reconciliation

    Mandela wearing the Springbok jersey to present the Webb Ellis Cup to captain Francois Pienaar became an enduring icon of racial healing in the new South Africa.

  16. 16.How many points is a successful conversion kick worth after a try has been scored?

    • A1 point
    • B2 points✓ Correct
    • C3 points
    • D4 points

    Correct answer: 2 points

    A conversion kick taken in line with where the try was grounded is worth 2 points, bringing the potential value of a converted try to 7 points.

More free quizzes