In rugby union, what is the name of the area behind the try line?

The area behind a rugby union try line is called the in-goal area. A team scores a try by grounding the ball in the opponents’ in-goal area, provided the ball is legally carried, passed or kicked there.

The try line forms the front boundary of in-goal, while the dead-ball line forms its back boundary. The touch-in-goal lines mark the sides. These boundaries are distinct from the field of play, which lies between the two try lines.

The in-goal area is also important for defensive decisions. A defending player who grounds the ball there can produce a 22-metre drop-out under modern laws. If the ball is carried over the dead-ball line or into touch-in-goal, the result is different from a legal grounding.

People sometimes call this space the goal area, especially when comparing rugby with other sports. The formal rugby union term is in-goal area, and “in-goal” is the standard short form.