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Scrums

Scrums

Scrums are a pretty frequent occassion in a rugby match (particularly at lower levels where handling errors are rife) as the scrum serves as a way to restart play. The scrum involves the forwards (or at least eight people) from both teams coming together and pushing against one another to contest for the ball. When a team is awarded a scrum, they are allowed to 'put' the ball into the scrum, thereby increasing their teams chances of winning the ball though the ball can be won by either side, similar to a tip off in basketball.

For example, lets say someone knocks the ball on. The referee will whistle the knock on and mark the spot of the infraction as well as the team he is awarding the scrum to (the team that DIDN'T knock the ball on). The two packs would then go to the spot of the infringement, crouch and then engage over the referee's mark. Neither side is allowed to push until the ball is put into the 'tunnel' which has formed underneath the two front rows.

Numbered Scrum Diagram
Standard Scrum Format

The cadence for the scrum engagement is usually "crouch, touch, pause and engage" though this will change slightly depending on the referee. On the call to "touch" the two front rows (barring the hookers of course) must reach out and touch the opposition front row to make sure that the two front rows are neither too far away or too close to engage safely.

A scrum must be bound together with three front row players side by side, no more and no less, where the two packs come together. The second row (locks and flankers) will then bind onto the front row with the eight man fitting up last (usually) between the two locks. The scrum should usually have a 3-4-1 look to it as in the image to the right, barring any irregular binds by the loose forwards.

Here is a good summary video of how it should all basically look:

All scrums must take place at least five metres from the touch or trylines (Click here for a Field Diagram).

A scrum is over once the ball has exited the scrum.

The scrum is used for restarting play in the following situations:

How to Bind and Engage in the Scrum

Props must use the whole arm from hand to shoulder to grasp their opponent's body at or below the level of the armpit. Props must also grasp the opposition prop's jersey from the side or the back and they cannot go underneath and grab the collar or the sleeve of the upper arm ('chicken winging' as some people call it).

Front rows are supposed to engage straight and square with the opposition front row and keep their shoulders above hips with backs roughly parallel to the ground. Angling in, twisting, dipping, driving up or collapsing a scrum is illegal. The scrum is supposed to maintain at all times a parallel body position to the ground.

Here is an absolutely phenomenal basic scrum technique video from the best scrum coach in the world, Mike Cron.

Feeding the Scrum

The ball can be fed into the tunnel from either the left or right side of the scrum. The scrum half of course is the gentleman that is responsible for feeding the ball into the scrum. The scrum will typically look something like the image below.

Feeding the Scrum
Feeding the Scrum

Once the ball has been fed into the scrum, the scrum-half can not handle the ball until it has come out of the scrum. The opposition scrum half cannot advance past the ball. The ball serves as the offsides line for the scrumhalves to prevent the defensive scrum half from simply resting at the back of the oppositions scrum. Both team's backs must be up no further than the last foot of the last man on their side of the scrum.


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