the scrum

the scrum

what is a scrum?

The scrum is what makes rugby unique. Scrums often look like little piles of people created at the beginning of each play, where the two teams push against each other. A team who can scrummage will has a great advantage, both offensively and defensively. This section aims to explain what a scrum is, why scrums are played, and how they are formed. See Playing the Game for information about what the rest of the team does while the forwards scrum.

A scrum consists of 8 players from each team. Each team supplies 3 rows in the scrum:
Front Row: 2 Props (Numbers 1 and 3) and Hooker (#2) Second Row: 2 Locks (Numbers 4 and 5) Back Row: 2 Flankers (Numbers 6 and 7) and Number 8

the rules of the scrum

• All players must remain bound in the scrum until the ball has left the scrum. This means if the scrum happens to collapse, it gets reset and done again.
• All players who are not part of the scrum must remain behind the off-sides lines except the scrum-halves (# 9). The offsides line is the line perpindicular to the ball.
• The scrum-half from the team awarded the scrum feeds the ball into the left hand side of their scrum where it is hooked by the hooker (#2) and passed through to the Number 8's feet.
• The defending scrum-half may follow the ball as it progresses through the scrum so long as they stay behind the ball.
• The scrum is over when the ball emerges from the scrum. The ball can emerge either by being removed by the scrum half once it has successfully passed through the scrum, or if it happens to be kicked out the end of the scrum formation. -The ball may not be handled by any player while in the scrum (This includes the scrum-halves).
• The teams may not begin to "drive" (push forwards into each other) until the ball has been placed into the scrum by the scrum half.

how to get a scrum

Scrums are awarded for the following offenses:

• Knock-on: The ball is fumbled towards the opposition's goal line.
• Forward-pass: A pass is received by a player in front of the passer.
• Touch-down: A player grounds the ball in their own try zone or propels the ball over their own dead-ball line after carrying the ball or propelling the ball over their own goal line.
• Breakdown: A contact situation that becomes static and the ball does not emerge from it.
• Line-out: The throw into a line-out is not straight. The non-offending side has the option of a scrum.
• Restarts: The ball does not travel the designated distance or goes directly out of play on a restart. The non-offending side has an option of a scrum.

When the referee whistles and makes this sign, it indicates that a minor infraction has occured and he is calling for a scrum at the place of the infraction.

how to form a scrum

When a scrum binds together, it is said to "pack down." Here is a step-by-step view of what happens.

First, the hooker (#2) calls "Front Row!". The hooker directs the action in the scrum, and all other members of the scrum (affectionately dubbed "scrummies") are attuned to listen for the hooker's calls. The two props (#1 and #3) get in position next to her and get ready to bind on.

The props reach around the hooker, and grab her jersey or her shorts , and pull tight to create a powerful bind through their shoulders and hips.

The hooker then reachers her arms over the props shoulders, and grabs onto their jersey or shorts to complete the bind. The front row (#1, #2, #3) has to bind together tightly to form the powerful front of the scrum. The front row initiates contact with the other team.

Next, the second rows (#4 and #5) bind on in a very peculiar way that is unique to rugby. The second row provide the driving power of the scrum, so it is very important that they remain bound tightly. Second rows are also called "Locks". Like the front row, they start by binding to each other tightly.

Then, then crouch down on one knee. The seconds wait for the hooker's next call. (I actually have the feet mixed up in this shot. Pretend that the second row's feet are the other way..)

When the hooker calls "Seconds!", the second row will reach between the legs of the prop.. (no, i'm not kidding - it gets even weirder)

..and then grab onto her shorts or jersey. This bind is for stability only, and no downwards force should be exerted on the prop, since that would collapse the scrum. The second row forces their heads in between the legs of the prop and the hooker, starting at the knees..

..and then they pull their heads up to the hips. Their heads should be tightly squeezed between the prop and hooker's hips. Yes, this can hurt sometimes because your ears are being pulled in every direction, so second rows usually tape their ears down by putting a strip of electrical tape around their head.

After the second rows attach, the back row bind on. The back row (not to be confused with the back line) consists of two flankers (#6 and #7) and the eightman (#8!). Flankers are generally fast and can get out of the scrum first. They bind on by grabbing the second's jersey with their inside hand, and pushing their shoulder into the prop. During scrummaging, the flankers provide inward force to the scrum to keep it tight, and also help the hooker get the ball back. The eightman binds into the second rows, and often puts her head between their hips. She keeps the seconds together and provides a great driving force to the scrum. The eight also keeps the ball inside the scrum once it has been kicked back.

Next the hooker will call "Down!" and the scrum will crouch down and be ready to make contact with the other team. The entire scrum should be able to crouch simultaneously and preserve stability. Here is a photograph showing two teams ready to engage.

The referee (seen in the blue and red jersey on the far side of the scrum) will then call "Ready to engage." The teams will then engage their shoulders with the other team, and the scrumhalf (#9, in the yellow hair) will put the ball in. The hooker (#2) quickly strikes the ball with her foot, pushing it back through the scrum while her teammates drive the opposing team backwards.