Scrum is the abbreviated term for scrummage. The scrum is an important part of the game of rugby football. The game was invented in its modern form in the mid-19th century at Rugby school in Warwickshire, England, when, as folk tales say, William Webb Ellis caught the ball during a game of football and ran with it, according to Gilbert rugby website.
Union And League
Rugby Union is the game that bares closest resemblance to the game formed in the mid-19th century. Rugby league formed in 1908, according to the RL1908 website, in Australia after growing unrest about the restrictions of the imported English game. Both forms of the game are now big business with media and advertising, and both have international competitions such as World Cups and country tours.
Engage
When the referee says ''engage'' this is the signal for the two opposing forward lines to scrum. The forwards have their arms locked around each other and when the scrum engages the players heads go under the opponents' shoulders. The ball must pass out the back of the scrum before the scrum is officially over. If the scrum breaks or collapses before this, the teams are to re-scrum.
Awarding
A scrum is awarded for different reasons in the two forms of the game. Rugby Union scrums form due to minor infractions or a knock on, where the ball is passed or hit forwards. In Rugby League a scrum will form if the ball goes out of bounds. A team is penalized if the players try to collapse the scrum or turn it. The scrum half is penalized if they do not drop the ball centrally into the scrum.
Scrum Formations
The rugby union and rugby league scrums differ. In union there are eight forwards in the scrum, with a front row, second row, two flankers compressing the scrum and then a final player at the back who will pick up the ball and run or pass it. The rugby league scrum consists of only six forwards, making a similar formation with a player at the back to receive the ball.
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