Rugby World Cup 2019 bonus points: How does the rule work and how many tries must teams score?

Bonus points will prove crucial as teams attempt to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament

The Rugby World Cup is now underway and bonus points are likely to prove crucial as twenty international teams scrap it out to reach the knockout stage.

But exactly how does the bonus point system work, and how consequential are they likely to be?

The bonus point system used in the World Cup rewards attacking intent, adds to the stakes and makes for a better spectacle. But it's also rather complex.

Fortunately, whether you are an overwhelmed novice or simply a baffled Rugby enthusiast, we have you covered.

Here is an explanation on exactly how the group stages work, with bonus points and head to head rules made simple.

The basics

• Teams are placed in four groups or 'pools', consisting of five teams.
• Each team plays each other once, so four games in total.
• Teams earn four points for a win, two points for a draw and nothing if they lose by more than eight points.
• This is a similar system to that seen in the Six Nations.
• The top two from each pool qualify for the knockout phase.

Bonus Points

• A losing team is granted a point if they lose by less than eight points.
• A team can also gain a bonus point by scoring four tries, regardless of what the final result is.
• Which means, scoring four tries and losing by less than eight points in the same game rewards a team with two points.
• What if teams finish level on points in the pools?

What if teams finish level on points?

• Head to head: For example, if England finish level on points with France in Pool C, but England won their game against France, England would place higher.
• Points difference: difference between points scored and points against.
• Points scored in total across all four pool matches.
• Most tries scored across all four pool matches.
• Official world ranking.