Scrum (rugby Union) - Overview

Overview

To prepare for a scrum, each team's eight forwards (referred to as the pack or forward pack) bind together in three rows — the front row, second row and back row. The front row is composed of the two props and the hooker. To the left is the loosehead prop with the hooker in the middle, and the tighthead prop on the right (jersey numbers one, two and three).The "tighthead" prop, number three, earns that name as his head and shoulders sits between the hooker and the loosehead prop of the opposing side, meaning he sits in a "tighter" scrum position. The loosehead prop, by contrast, has one shoulder open to the outside of the scrum, and so is in a "looser" scrum position. The three bind together tightly and there is no gap between the hooker and either prop. According to the laws of the game; "When a player binds on a team-mate that player must use the whole arm from hand to shoulder to grasp the team-mate’s body at or below the level of the armpit." Failing to bind properly results in a penalty, and the opposition team being awarded a free kick.

The two second row forwards (jersey numbers four and five) bind together and directly behind the front row with each putting their heads between the props and the hooker. They are more commonly referred to as locks as they "lock" the scrum. Lastly the back row is made up of the two flankers and the number eight. The flankers bind on each side of the scrum — next to a lock and behind a prop. Generally the number seven flanker is referred to as the openside flanker, and with the number six flanker as the blindside flanker. "Openside" and "blindside" refer to the wide and narrow side of the pitch respectively, as scrums usually occur closer to one of the touchlines than the other. The openside flanker's job is to get to the next ruck or maul as quickly as possible, so they will usually bind on that side. The number 8 binds behind the two locks, with his/her head between them.

To form a scrum the two forward packs approach to within an arms length of each other. The referee gives the command crouch and the opposing front rows then crouch so that their backs are parallel to the ground and their head and shoulders are no lower than their hips. Then the referee calls touch and "using their outside arm each prop touches the point of the opposing prop’s outside shoulder." This command is to ensure that the two front rows are not too far apart. Finally the referee then says set (this is not a command, but rather permission to the front rows to engage) and the two front rows come together. When this happens both front rows thrust forward with the tighthead props heads going between the opposing hooker and loosehead prop. The props then bind by gripping the back or side of the opposing prop's jersey.

The scrum-half from the team that has possession (referred to as having the feed or put in) then throws the ball in the gap formed between the two front rows. This gap is called the tunnel. With the ball in the tunnel the two hookers (and sometimes the props) compete for possession by trying to hook the ball backwards with their feet, while the entire pack tries to push the opposing pack backwards. The side that wins possession usually transfers the ball to the back of the scrum — which is done with their feet. Once at the back it is picked up either by the number 8, or by the scrum-half. From here the ball is in play and the player with possession will either run, pass or kick the ball. On other occasions the forwards will hold the ball in the scrum and try to push the opposition backwards.