Teams win rugby union games by outscoring the opposition. Teams can score through a number of different ways in rugby union: a try (5 points), a penalty try (5 points), a conversion following a try (2 points), a drop goal (3 points) and a penalty kick (3 points). A try is scored when the ball is touched down by the attacking team in their opponent’s in-goal area (International Rugby Board, IRB, 2013). It is important to research potential aspects of play that can influence try scoring as a try is awarded the highest amount of scoring points. An offload in rugby union is utilised by the attacking team with the aim of keeping possession and continuing an attack to potentially provide an opportunity to penetrate the defensive line and score a try. An offload is where the player carrying the ball is being tackled by a member of the opposing team, during this contact with the opposing player, the ball carrier attempts to pass or hand the ball to a member of their team in order to continue the attack (Hendricks et al., 2013). If an offload is performed successfully it will enable a team to retain possession of the ball (Wilkinson, 2005) and Johnson (2008) stated that offloading is the best way to maintain momentum in attack. Wheeler et al. (2010) stated that offloading in the tackle enhances a team’s try scoring potential. Jones et al. (2004) explored the contact area playing styles of northern and southern hemisphere international rugby union teams and collected data on the offloading behaviours of these teams. Jones et al. (2004) found that the southern hemisphere style of play involved the use of offloads from both backs and forwards and concluded that southern hemisphere teams’ ability to offload from all positions enhances their potential to be successful through consistently larger breaches of the gain-line. This study seems to imply that southern hemisphere teams were using the offload much more effectively than the northern hemisphere teams.

Offloading has been a crucial tactic in rugby league, another form of rugby football, as the rules of the game state that the attacking team may hold possession for a count of five completed tackles. After a sixth tackle is made possession must be turned over to the defending team (Hickley, 2006). The offload is therefore used in rugby league in order to prevent a tackle being completed and that allowed teams to continue attacking with the same number of tackles remaining. Gabbett et al. (2011) stated that effective rugby league players are able to use the offload as an attacking option. Prim and van Rooyen (2013) stated that the ability to effectively perform an offload is associated with winning teams in rugby league. The Rugby Football League (RFL) (2007), the governing body for rugby league in England, stated from a defensive perspective it is crucial to prevent the attacking team from offloading the ball. The RFL (2007) suggested the use of smother tackles, where the defender aims to pin the attacker’s arms to the body and therefore preventing the attacker from offloading the ball. Wheeler et al. (2011) explored the success of offloads in rugby league in relation to the quality of the offload. The results stated that 57% of tries were scored from a good quality offload (defined as the receiver not having to adjust the line of running or speed of running); this suggests that when used correctly the offload can be a key tactic for scoring a try in rugby league.

Offloading may be applied in rugby union with the aim of creating a line break and/or gaining yards. Creating a line break or being able to gain yards are seen as positive outcomes for the attacking team. Diedrick & van Rooyen (2011) defined a line break as when an attacking player beats the opposition by running through the defensive line i.e.