During Play
Aside from scoring, kicking is also an integral part of rugby. It is used to make advancement on the field and also to clear your zone when the other team is breathing down your neck.
Pop Kick: When a player has no one to pass to and some monstrous defender is about to rip his/her head off, the player can kick the ball over the defender's head and this same player can catch it behind the defender. When the ball is the air the defender cannot touch an opponent since he/she doesn't have possession of the ball.
Grub Kick: When a player strategically kicks the ball to the ground, allowing it to bounce uncontrollably, but placing it in an area where a teammate can either catch the ball or cause serious problems for the other team.
Longer kicks are also used to clear a defending team's zone. When the team who has possession of the ball is in an unfavorable field position, a player can punt the ball away into an area where a teammate might catch it or put pressure on an opponent who catches it. The punt can also be placed in-touch and the ball will be brought back into the play where it crossed the in-touch line by a line-out.
After a Whistle
Penalty Kick: After a serious infraction, the referee will stop play and award a kick to the offended team. The opposition needs to be ten meters away and on-side from where the ball is kicked. If in good field position the kicking team can attempt to score a goal (kick the ball between the posts).
Free Kick: After a mild infraction, the referee will stop play and award a kick to the offended team. The kicking team cannot score on this type of kick.
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