# Rugby Question: What's a Seven-tackle Try? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 17, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-question-whats-a-seven-tackle-try/669092 "2013-09-17T20:42:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-question-whats-a-seven-tackle-try/669092/1 "2013-09-17T20:42:41Z")
Apparently there is some fooferaw going on in the Australian Rugby league about the North Queensland Cowboys losing a game thanks to an illegal seven tackle try. So what exactly is going on? [http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/north-queensland-cowboys-could-sue-over-seven-tackle-try-scandal-says-legal-expert/story-fndv343h-1226721210823](http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/north-queensland-cowboys-could-sue-over-seven-tackle-try-scandal-says-legal-expert/story-fndv343h-1226721210823) ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-question-whats-a-seven-tackle-try/669092/2 "2013-09-17T20:58:06Z")
The equivalent in the NFL would be a team scoring a touchdown on 5th down, as I understand it. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-question-whats-a-seven-tackle-try/669092/3 "2013-09-17T21:25:04Z")
Possessions in Rugby League last for 6 tackles\*. On the 6th tackle possession swaps to the defending side. The referee lost count and gave an extra tackle to the Sharks, which led to them winning their elimination game with the Cowboys - so it’s a particularly costly mistake. You can see the full [set of seven](http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/cronulla-sharks-score-on-controversial-seventh-tackle-in-elimination-final/story-fn2mcuj6-1226719132811)here. \*With one exception, when the ball is regathered in open play following the defence’s knockon or kick there may be a ‘zeroth tackle’ which results in a set of seven. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-question-whats-a-seven-tackle-try/669092/4 "2013-09-18T08:49:20Z")
It’s a rare, but by no means unprecedented error, but league fans are insane when it comes to whining about the refs. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-question-whats-a-seven-tackle-try/669092/5 "2013-09-18T09:25:34Z")
It used to happen now and again when there was only one referee with no means of communication with any other official, but now there are 6 officials in constant contact. Thus the amazement that something so fundamental as counting the tackles could be fouled up. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-question-whats-a-seven-tackle-try/669092/6 "2013-09-18T10:01:16Z")
Presumably the main referee has sole governance over the count, the pocket ref might notice, but will probably be concerned about other things (“Did someone’s hairstyle get ruffled? Did Thurston have to endure a nasty glare after kicking” etc.). The touchies would be busy not noticing forward passes. Whoever does the counts for Channel Nein knew though, the 5th tackle graphic quietly disappeared on the 6th.