Questions and answers
Master Fantasy Rugby: Common Questions & Expert Answers
Understanding fantasy rugby is essential to your success as a manager. We’ve gathered the most important questions from our global community and provided expert answers to help you master the game. From scoring systems to transfer strategies, player selection to league formats, we cover everything you need to know. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our dedicated support team is always ready to assist you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if my selected player gets injured?
A: When a player in your squad suffers an injury, you have several options. If the injury is minor or short-term, you might keep them on your bench until recovery. For serious injuries, you can transfer the player out for an available replacement. Our platform provides detailed injury updates with estimated return dates to help inform your decision. We tag injured players with clear indicators showing their status (doubtful, out, or long-term), making it easy to identify problems in your squad. If a player is unexpectedly ruled out close to a match deadline, some competition formats include an auto-substitution feature that will replace them with your highest-prioritized bench player in an eligible position.
Q: What is the best strategy for selecting rugby players?
A: The most successful strategy balances several factors: player form, upcoming fixtures, point-scoring potential, and value for money. For forwards, look at tackle counts, breakdown effectiveness, and set-piece reliability. For backs, prioritize attacking statistics like meters gained, line breaks, and try-scoring opportunities. Always consider the player’s role in their team’s tactical approach—some teams emphasize forward dominance while others focus on back-line attacking flair. Also pay attention to goal-kickers, as they often offer consistent points. Analyze recent performance trends, but also consider the difficulty of upcoming fixtures and potential for rotation in busy periods. Building a balanced squad across all positions provides flexibility to adapt to different match situations.
Q: Can I make changes to my team during the tournament or season?
A: Yes! You can make transfers throughout the season or tournament. For seasonal competitions, you typically receive one free transfer per round, with additional transfers costing points (usually 4 points per extra transfer). For tournament formats like the Rugby World Cup or Six Nations, you’ll have a specific number of total transfers to use strategically across the entire competition. Some special rounds may offer unlimited transfers or wildcards that allow complete team restructuring. The transfer system encourages strategic planning while allowing flexibility to respond to injuries, form changes, or favorable upcoming fixtures.
Q: How does the scoring system work in fantasy rugby?
A: Our fantasy rugby scoring system rewards players for a wide range of match actions. Players earn points for tries (5 points), conversions (2 points), penalty kicks (3 points), drop goals (3 points), and defensive contributions like tackles (0.5 points) and turnovers won (4 points). Additional points are awarded for meters carried, line breaks, offloads, and successful scrums or lineouts. Players can lose points for conceding penalties (-1 point), receiving yellow cards (-5 points), or red cards (-10 points). The comprehensive system ensures that both attacking playmakers and hard-working forwards can accumulate points, encouraging managers to build balanced teams.
Q: How do player price changes work in fantasy rugby?
A: Player prices are dynamic and fluctuate based on ownership trends and performance. Players gaining popularity through high ownership increases or strong performances typically rise in price (usually by 0.1 or 0.2 increments), while those being transferred out or underperforming may decrease in value. Price changes usually occur overnight, based on net transfer activity exceeding certain thresholds. Our platform includes price change prediction tools to help you anticipate which players might increase or decrease in value. Strategic managers often look to acquire undervalued players before good performances lead to price rises, building team value throughout the season. This additional team value allows for stronger overall squads in later rounds.
Q: How does positional eligibility work for multi-position rugby players?
A: Some rugby players are versatile enough to play multiple positions, and our fantasy platform reflects this through dual-position eligibility. Players listed with multiple positions (such as ‘Centre/Wing’ or ‘Flanker/Number 8’) can be selected in either position within your squad. This flexibility provides strategic advantages for squad construction and substitution. When a dual-position player starts a match in a different position than you’ve selected them, they’ll still earn points based on their actual performance regardless of where they’re positioned in your fantasy team. Throughout the season, we may update positional eligibility based on consistent team selection patterns, always announcing these changes in advance to allow managers to adjust their squads accordingly.
Q: How can I use the fixture ticker to plan my transfers?
A: The fixture ticker is an essential strategic planning tool that color-codes upcoming matches based on difficulty, helping you make informed transfer decisions. Green fixtures indicate favorable matchups where players are likely to score well, while red fixtures suggest challenging matches with reduced point potential. You can customize the view to show between 3-10 gameweeks ahead, allowing for both short and long-term planning. The advanced version factors in team-specific strengths and weaknesses—for example, identifying teams that struggle defensively against wings or in set-pieces. Use the fixture ticker to ‘fixture surf’ by transferring in players with consecutive favorable matches and avoiding those facing difficult runs. The ticker’s rotation planner helps identify complementary players or teams whose fixtures alternate favorably for efficient bench rotation.
Q: What are the key differences between fantasy rugby and other fantasy sports?
A: Fantasy rugby offers unique strategic elements compared to other fantasy sports. The position-specific roles in rugby create more specialized player evaluation, with distinct scoring actions for forwards versus backs. Rugby’s continuous play means more scoring opportunities across multiple statistical categories compared to more discrete sports. The physical nature of rugby leads to higher injury rates and rotation policies, requiring managers to maintain deeper functional benches. International windows dramatically reshape available player pools during certain periods, more significantly than in most other sports. Additionally, rugby’s varied competitions (leagues, cups, international tournaments) create distinct fantasy formats with different optimal strategies. These elements combine to create a fantasy experience that rewards deep rugby knowledge and adaptive management throughout the season.
Q: How do bonus points work in fantasy rugby scoring?
A: Bonus points reward exceptional individual performances beyond standard scoring actions. Players receive bonus points for reaching performance thresholds like 100+ running meters (+3 points), 15+ tackles completed (+2 points), or 3+ turnovers won (+2 points). Additional bonus categories include dominant scrummaging, lineout steals, try assists, and clean breaks. Man of the Match awards earn players an automatic 5-point bonus. These bonus opportunities allow players who might not score tries or kick goals to still deliver substantial fantasy returns. Our weekly pre-round analysis highlights players with the potential to hit these bonus thresholds based on their role, opposition, and recent form, helping you identify high-ceiling options for your squad.
Q: How do international breaks and club rotations affect fantasy rugby?
A: International fixtures and club rotation policies present significant challenges in seasonal fantasy rugby. During international windows, top players often leave their clubs for national team duty, creating selection dilemmas. Our platform clearly marks affected gameweeks and provides tools to help you plan transfers around these disruptions. Some competitions implement free wildcard periods before or after international breaks. For club rotation, we provide detailed analysis of selection patterns, highlighting which players are most secure in their starting positions and which might be rested during congested fixture periods. The most successful managers plan several weeks ahead, structuring their squads to minimize exposure to heavily-affected teams during these periods.
Strategic Tips for Rugby Fantasy Success
Our expert analysts have compiled these proven strategies to help you climb the rankings:
• Track the weather forecast for matches, as poor conditions can impact running rugby and kicking success • Balance your squad between consistent performers and high-ceiling differentials • Look for value options on teams with attacking playing styles • Track player minutes and workload to identify potential rest candidates • Pay attention to team selection patterns to avoid rotation risks • Analyze tackle counts and breakdown statistics when selecting forward players • Study team attacking patterns to find players with try-scoring opportunities • Use different captain selection strategies based on your position in mini-leagues
Advanced Strategy Frameworks
Take your fantasy rugby management to the next level with these advanced approaches:
Form Over Fixtures
Description: Prioritize in-form players regardless of opposition difficulty Best suited for: Early season when form patterns are establishing
Counter Programming
Description: Intentionally avoid consensus picks to create ranking separation Best suited for: Tournament end-game when needing significant rank improvement
The Rotation Master
Description: Select complementary players to rotate based on fixture difficulty Best suited for: Maximizing point return from lower-budget selections
The Fixture Surfer
Description: Continuously transfer in players with 2-3 favorable fixtures ahead, then move to the next opportunity Best suited for: Point-chasing in tournaments with generous transfer allowances
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced managers can fall into these traps. Stay vigilant and avoid these common errors:
• Not planning transfers around bye weeks and international call-ups • Neglecting consistent point scorers in favor of flashy but inconsistent performers • Making too many transfers and taking excessive point penalties • Focusing too much on attack-minded players while overlooking defensive specialists • Prioritizing team loyalty over strategic selection of in-form players • Selecting players based on reputation rather than current form and fixtures
Fantasy Rugby Glossary
Understanding the terminology is essential for navigating our platform and community discussions:
Kicking Tee
Fantasy term for players responsible for penalty kicks and conversions
Price Lock
Period after a player transfers when their price cannot change (typically 7 days)
Rotation Risk
Players likely to be rested or substituted due to fixture congestion or tactical reasons
Bandwagon
A rapidly increasing trend of managers transferring in a specific player
Bye Week
A gameweek where a specific team does not have a scheduled match
Expected Points (xP)
Statistical prediction of a player’s point potential based on historical data and fixtures
Set and Forget
Strategy of selecting players for long-term holds regardless of short-term form
Support Resources
We’re committed to helping you succeed in your fantasy rugby journey. Here are the ways to get assistance:
Premium Support Line
Direct phone access to fantasy rugby analysts for personalized advice (Premium subscribers only) Availability: Match days and 48 hours before deadlines
Help Center
Comprehensive guides, tutorials, and FAQs covering all aspects of fantasy rugby Resources: Video tutorials, strategy guides, glossary of terms
Weekly Webinars
Live strategy sessions with fantasy experts and former professional players Schedule: Pre-round Thursdays and post-round Mondays
Community Forums
Connect with other managers to share advice, discuss strategies, and analyze performances Features: Position-specific advice threads, weekly captain polls, fixture analysis
Regional Competitions and Special Tournaments
Our fantasy platform covers all major rugby competitions globally. Each has unique rules and strategic considerations:
| Competition | Format | Transfer Limits | Power-Up Rules | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Nations | 5 rounds | 10 total transfers | 2 power-ups allowed | Triple Captain available |
| Rugby Championship | 6 rounds | 12 total transfers | Standard power-ups | Substitute Impact Tracker |
| Premiership Rugby | Weekly | 1 free transfer/week | 4 seasonal power-ups | Price changes twice weekly |
| Super Rugby | Weekly | 2 free transfers/week | 5 seasonal power-ups | Position-specific bonus points |
| Rugby World Cup | Pool + knockout | 20 total transfers | Extra power-ups in knockout | Bracket predictor integration |
| Champions Cup | Pool + knockout | Limited free transfers | Power-up refresh for knockouts | Multi-team selection challenges |
Still Have Questions?
Our support team includes former professional rugby players and fantasy experts who are available 24/7 to help you with any questions not covered above. Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or an experienced manager fine-tuning your strategy, we’re here to ensure you have the best possible fantasy rugby experience.
Remember: Success in fantasy rugby comes from balancing statistical analysis with rugby knowledge, staying active throughout the season, and learning from both victories and setbacks. Keep refining your strategy, engage with our community resources, and most importantly, enjoy the competition!