Rugby union bonus points system

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The Rugby union bonus points system is a method of deciding table points from a rugby union match. It was implemented in order to encourage attacking play throughout a match, to discourage repetitive goal-kicking, and to reward teams for "coming close" in losing efforts.

No points are awarded for losing, unless bonus points are involved.
As few as 4 points, but as many as 7 points, can be awarded to the two teams combined. No team can get more than 5 points in a match. (Note that France is trialling a slightly modified system in 2007-08, described later in this article, in which the two teams combined can earn a maximum of 6 points.)

Points are awarded as follows:

4 points for a win.
2 points for a draw.
1 "bonus" point for scoring 4 tries (or more).
1 "bonus" point for losing by 7 points (or fewer).

[edit] Details

This format was created for New Zealand's domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship, in 1995 and subsequently adopted in the inaugural Super 12 in 1996. It was first used at the Rugby World Cup in 2003, and has been the staple for international and club competition since, with the notable exception of the Six Nations Championship.
The bonus point system creates the odd but interesting situation where, out of two teams, the one with a lesser win-draw-loss record can sit higher on the table, based on how many bonus points they earn. Notably, the 2002 Six Nations Championship would have seen England win the competition on points difference over Grand Slam winners France if the bonus points system had been in place and all scorelines, including numbers of tries scored, had been the same under these different circumstances.
The French professional league will trial a slightly different system in its two competitions, the Top 14 and Rugby Pro D2, in 2007-08. Instead of teams earning a bonus point by scoring 4 or more tries regardless of the match result, teams will earn a bonus point if they win while scoring at least three more tries than their opponents. This will prevent a losing team from picking up two bonus points in the same match, as is possible under the normal system.^[1] The points system will otherwise be identical to the standard. This system also makes it impossible for either team to earn a bonus point in a drawn match.

[edit] Other forms of rugby

Rugby Sevens, while still under the rugby union banner, does not use this system, and instead gives points for wins and draws. Sevens is a faster, more try-friendly game with a shorter time limit and a tendency to have runaway results. Sevens competitions are also usually one- or two-day affairs with an emphasis on the final bracket. All of this means there is little point in using the Bonus Point System for the 7-a-side game.
Rugby league has trialled similar bonus point systems in some competitions, but most competitions only give points for wins and draws. However, beginning with the current 2007 season, the Rugby League National Leagues in England (the national levels below Super League) give 3 points for a win, 2 for a draw, and 1 for a loss by 12 points or fewer (this amounts to two converted tries in rugby league, which gives 4 points for a try instead of 5 in union).