Scrum

The scrum is one of rugby's most distinctive features — a tightly packed formation of forwards from both teams pushing against each other to contest for the ball.

When is a scrum awarded?

• After a knock-on or forward pass
• After certain infringements
• When a ruck or maul becomes unplayable
• When a player is held in a tackle and cannot release the ball

Formation:

• 8 forwards per team (hooker flanked by two props, then locks, then flankers and number 8)
• The front rows bind together ("front row union")
• All 8 players must be bound correctly

Engagement sequence: The referee calls: "Crouch… Bind… Set"

• Crouch: Both front rows crouch, heads down
• Bind: Props bind on opposing props before engagement
• Set: On the call of "Set," the two packs engage (come together)
• Props may not charge or strike before "Set"

Feeding the ball:

• The scrum-half of the team awarded the scrum puts the ball into the scrum
• The ball must be thrown in straight down the middle of the tunnel between the front rows
• The throw must be in a single, smooth movement without delay
• The hooker may hook the ball with their foot once the ball is in the tunnel

Playing the ball:

• The number 8 can pick up the ball from the base of the scrum
• The scrum-half can collect the ball when it reaches the rear of the scrum
• The ball must not go past the last foot of the scrum (the number 8's feet)

Scrum offside:

• Non-scrum players must stay behind the offside line (the hindmost foot of the last player in the scrum)
• The scrum-half of the team NOT putting in must stand behind the scrum or beside their hooker

Collapsed scrum: If a scrum collapses, the referee calls "Down" and resets. Players must not deliberately collapse a scrum — this is extremely dangerous.

Uncontested scrums: If a team cannot field a legal front row, uncontested scrums are played. No pushes or hooking — the ball is automatically given to the feeding team.

Sanction: Penalty for most infringements.