First XV rugby: Innovative Marlborough Boys’ College try divides opinion

A try during a match between Marlborough Boys' College (the 2013 team above) and Nelson College went viral globally. Photo / Dianne Manson / photosport.co.nz

Who would have expected a try in a New Zealand schoolboy match between Marlborough Boys’ College and Nelson College to go viral, globally. But then the nature of it was so unusual it had record-breaking referees and armchair experts alike weighing in.

In the clip shared by Sky Sports NZ, you can see that with the attacking side, Marlborough, lining up a shot at goal when the kicker clips the ball off the tee to the far left of the field, where a teammate is waiting on the wing. With the ball rolling into the in-goal area, the Marlborough attacker can touch down while the opposition try to scramble out from under their own posts.

The try was given by the match officials.

Debate has raged since on the validity of the score. Former international referee Nigel Owens – who has overseen 100 test matches – waded in online, posting on X: “No try. You must make a genuine attempt to kick at goal before the try can be allowed to stand. This clearly wasn’t.”

Owens then added, in response to another user querying what the sanction should be, he replied: “PK [penalty kick] void scrum.”

The point continually raised is whether, once indicating to shoot for the posts, you must go for the posts. According to World Rugby’s law book, under rule 8.20, it says: “If the team indicates to the referee the intention to kick at goal, they must kick at goal. The intention to kick can be communicated to the referee or signalled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or when the player makes a mark on the ground.”

Some have hailed the ingenuity of the play, however.

You may see echoes of the moment at the 2007 World Cup, when England were playing Tonga. Jonny Wilkinson had the ball on the spot where the referee signalled a penalty, when he spotted space in front of Paul Sackey. Kicking crossfield, the winger raced to touch down and earn England another try.

Back then, however, Wilkinson had not told the officials he would go for goal, and there was no signal.