A rugby scrum is a fast way to restart play after a minor infraction or stoppage. Rugby scrum rules are in place to ensure the safety of players in a head-to-head encounter. Each team puts eight players known as forwards into a rugby scrum.
Personnel
Each rugby team is permitted eight players in the rugby scrum. The front five consist of a hooker, two props and two second row forwards. Three back row forwards hang onto the back of the scrum, with a flanker on each side and a number eight forward at the back. When the ball comes into the scrum behind the feet of the second row, the number eight is permitted by scrum rules to pick the ball up and run with it.
Formation
A scrum is a set play awarded by the referee. Minor infractions such as a knock on or forward pass will result in a scrum being awarded to the opposition rugby team. When both rugby teams are bound, the referee will order them to crouch and engage. A rugby team cannot drive forward into the opposition in a scrum until the ball is fed into the scrum. Early driving will result in a free kick being awarded to the opposing team.
Feeding
The ball is fed into the scrum by the scrum half of the team that was awarded possession by the referee. The scrum half must feed the ball directly down the center of the tunnel provided by the opposing front rows. If the ball is not fed correctly, the referee will award a free kick to the other team.
Collapsing the Scrum
It is the responsibility of both front rows to drive forward while keeping the scrum off the ground. If a front row forward drives downward and the scrum collapses, the referee will immediately stop the scrum for safety reasons and award a penalty to the opposing team.
Rotation
Scrum rules dictate that both teams should drive forward, but if a scrum rotates to an angle greater than 45 degrees, the referee will stop play and reset the scrum.
Continuing Play from the Scrum
When the ball is fed into the rugby scrum by the scrum half, the hooker is allowed to hook the ball back with his feet while his teammates drive forward. When the ball emerges behind the feet of the second row, the number eight is allowed to pick up the ball and run with it. To do so, the number eight must break away from the scrum. A team is not allowed to disguise possession and advance the ball during a scrum. If the ball comes behind the feet of the back row, the scrum half is allowed to pick up the ball and pass or run with it.
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