Rugby's first own try? Fans stunned as referee lets Sydney team score against itself

A television match official at a National Rugby Championship match has awarded what could be the game's first ever "own try".

The Sydney Stars were attacking the try line against North Harbour Rays last night when Rays prop Mitch Lewis stole the ball and planted it back for a teammate to pick up, Fox Sports reports.

The referee was unable to see what happened through the mess of bodies and called on the TMO to adjudicate.

Lewis was stunned when the call came back to award a five-pointer — as were rugby fans who expressed their dismay on social media.

"Yep, that's a first ever. Totally bizarre. Just witnessed history," tweeted one fan. "Question, in the stats, who will they award that try to? The guy on the other team?" said another on Twitter.

An "own goal" is possible in football but not in rugby. Any occasion where a rugby player carries the ball over his own try line and grounds it results in a scrum feed to the opposition 5m out from the try line.

The Stars ended up winning the game 49-40.