A penalty try awards seven points in rugby union.
The referee awards a penalty try when foul play or an infringement by the defending team prevents a probable try. Unlike an ordinary try, it does not require the referee to identify the player who would have scored. The seven points are awarded immediately, so no conversion kick follows.
The modern value was introduced to remove the tactical advantage of deliberately stopping a likely try. Under current laws, the penalty try also carries a yellow card when appropriate, although the referee’s disciplinary decision depends on the circumstances and the nature of the infringement.
A normal try is worth five points and may be followed by a two-point conversion. That is why a penalty try has the same total value as a converted try but is recorded differently in match scoring.