▁a ▁try , ▁scored ▁by ▁ground ing ▁the ▁ball ▁in ▁the ▁in - goal ▁area ▁( between ▁the ▁goal ▁line ▁and ▁the ▁dead - ball ▁line ), ▁is ▁worth ▁ 5 ▁points ▁and ▁a ▁subsequent ▁conversion ▁kick ▁scores ▁ 2 ▁points ; ▁a ▁successful ▁penalty ▁kick ▁or ▁a ▁drop ▁goal ▁each ▁score ▁ 3 ▁points . ▁The ▁values ▁of ▁each ▁of ▁these ▁scoring ▁methods ▁have ▁been ▁changed ▁over ▁the ▁years . ▁ ▁Play ing ▁field ▁The ▁field ▁of ▁play ▁on ▁a ▁rugby ▁pitch ▁is ▁as ▁near ▁as ▁possible ▁to ▁a ▁maximum ▁of ▁ ▁long ▁by ▁ ▁wide . ▁In ▁actual ▁game play ▁the ▁length ▁of ▁a ▁pitch ▁can ▁vary . ▁There ▁are ▁typically ▁ ▁between ▁the ▁two ▁try - lines , ▁but ▁it ▁can ▁be ▁as ▁short ▁as ▁. ▁Any where ▁between ▁ ▁behind ▁each ▁try ▁line ▁serves ▁as ▁the ▁in - goal ▁area . ▁The ▁pitch ▁must ▁be ▁at ▁least ▁ ▁wide , ▁up ▁to ▁a ▁maximum ▁of ▁▁▁ ▁Rugby ▁goal posts ▁are ▁H - sh aped ▁and ▁are ▁situated ▁in ▁the ▁middle ▁of ▁the ▁goal ▁lines ▁at ▁each ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁field . ▁They ▁consist ▁of ▁two ▁pol es , ▁ ▁apart , ▁connected ▁by ▁a ▁horizontal ▁cross bar ▁ ▁above ▁the ▁ground . ▁The ▁minimum ▁height ▁for ▁posts ▁is ▁. ▁ ▁Match ▁structure ▁At ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁game , ▁the ▁capt ains ▁and ▁the ▁ref eree ▁toss ▁a ▁coin ▁to ▁decide ▁which ▁team ▁will ▁kick ▁off ▁first . ▁Play ▁then ▁starts ▁with ▁a ▁drop k ick , ▁with ▁the