X Tables
Rugby Maths

Rugby tries and conversions maths challenge

A child-friendly sports challenge using tries and conversions to practise addition with real examples.

Quick answer

Rugby tries and conversions maths challenge is a fun way to practice addition by working out how many points a rugby team scores when they score tries and conversions.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to add up rugby scores by counting tries (5 points each) and conversions (2 points each) to work out how many points a team has scored. Success signs:
  • You can count how many tries a team scored
  • You can count how many conversions a team scored
  • You can add tries and conversions to find the total score
  • You can solve simple rugby score problems

Why this matters

Rugby is a fun sport that uses maths every game! When teams score tries and conversions, they are using addition to work out how many points they have. This is just like adding groups of objects or counting your pocket money. You can use the same maths skills to work out how many points you have in any game or sport, or even in your own life.

How it works

In rugby, a team scores points in two ways:
  • Tries = 5 points each
  • Conversions = 2 points each
To find the total score, you:
  1. Count how many tries the team scored
  2. Multiply tries by 5
  3. Count how many conversions the team scored
  4. Multiply conversions by 2
  5. Add the two totals together

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine a rugby game where one team scores:
  • 3 tries
  • 2 conversions
We work out the score like this:
  1. 3 tries × 5 points = 15 points
  2. 2 conversions × 2 points = 4 points
  3. 15 points + 4 points = 19 points
So the team scored 19 points in total. Let’s try another example:
  • 5 tries
  • 4 conversions
  1. 5 tries × 5 points = 25 points
  2. 4 conversions × 2 points = 8 points
  3. 25 points + 8 points = 33 points
This team scored 33 points.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Rugby Team Challenge You are the coach of a rugby team! Your team has played a match and scored 4 tries and 3 conversions. You need to work out how many points your team scored.
  1. First, count how many tries your team scored: 4 tries
  2. Multiply tries by 5: 4 × 5 = 20 points
  3. Count how many conversions your team scored: 3 conversions
  4. Multiply conversions by 2: 3 × 2 = 6 points
  5. Add the two totals: 20 + 6 = 26 points
Mini challenge: If your team scored 6 tries and 5 conversions, how many points did they score?
  1. 6 tries × 5 = ?
  2. 5 conversions × 2 = ?
  3. ? + ? = ?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to multiply tries by 5 and conversions by 2
    Why it happens: Kids might just add the numbers together without thinking about the point values.
    Fix: Always remember that tries = 5 points and conversions = 2 points.
  • Mistake: Mixing up which number is tries and which is conversions
    Why it happens: It can be easy to confuse the two when reading a score sheet.
    Fix: Write tries and conversions in separate columns to keep them clear.
  • Mistake: Adding the points for tries and conversions without multiplying first
    Why it happens: Confusion between addition and multiplication.
    Fix: Always multiply first, then add the results.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Playing rugby score games with them at home using counters or toys
  • Using real-life examples like scoring in board games or sports
  • Encouraging them to explain their thinking when solving problems
  • Practising multiplication facts for 5 and 2 to make calculations faster
  • Noticing if they are confusing the point values for tries and conversions
Five-minute practice tip: Set up a pretend rugby match with 3 tries and 2 conversions. Ask your child to work out the score together.

Practice questions

  1. Team A scored 2 tries and 4 conversions. How many points did they score?
  2. Team B scored 5 tries and 3 conversions. How many points did they score?
  3. Team C scored 0 tries and 6 conversions. How many points did they score?
  4. Team D scored 7 tries and 0 conversions. How many points did they score?
  5. Team E scored 3 tries and 5 conversions. How many points did they score?
Answers:
  1. 2 tries × 5 = 10 points, 4 conversions × 2 = 8 points, Total = 18 points
  2. 5 tries × 5 = 25 points, 3 conversions × 2 = 6 points, Total = 31 points
  3. 0 tries × 5 = 0 points, 6 conversions × 2 = 12 points, Total = 12 points
  4. 7 tries × 5 = 35 points, 0 conversions × 2 = 0 points, Total = 35 points
  5. 3 tries × 5 = 15 points, 5 conversions × 2 = 10 points, Total = 25 points

FAQ

What is a rugby try?

A rugby try is when a player carries the ball over the opponent's goal line. It is worth 5 points.

What is a rugby conversion?

A rugby conversion is a kick after a try. It is worth 2 points.

How do you work out a rugby score?

You multiply the number of tries by 5, multiply the number of conversions by 2, and add the two totals together.

Why do rugby teams score 5 points for a try?

Rugby tries are worth 5 points because they are a big achievement. Scoring a try means getting the ball into the opponent’s goal area, which is very difficult and exciting.

Can I use this maths for other sports?

Yes! You can use the same addition skills to work out scores in football, basketball, or even board games where you earn different points for different actions.