Why Is A Try In Rugby So Called?

There is no real consensus on the origins of the term 'try' in rugby.  One theory has it that the term comes from the original opportunity that one had to "try for a goal". That is, when a team scores a try it then gets a chance to kick the ball clear over the goal crossbar to score extra points.

It is believed that when William Webb Ellis initially picked up and ran with a soccer ball/football - the thought behind it was still scoring a goal in between the posts. Gradually, this was modified to try and put the ball over the line so as to allow one to 'try for a goal'. This has now been shortened and simply referred to as a 'try'.