How to Scrum

A scrum is used in rugby as a way of resuming play after the ball has gone out of bounds or after a rules infringement. It is similar to a faceoff in hockey or the opening tip of a basketball game in that both teams battle each other for possession of the ball. A scrum occurs when the forwards of both teams lock together and use their legs to try and kick the rugby ball back into their possession.

Things You'll Need

  • Rugby ball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the center of the scrum where the stoppage happened. If the scrum is the result of the ball going out of bounds, place the scrum as near the point where the ball exited the field of play while keeping the scrum within the boundaries of the field. The closest a scrum can come to the sideline is five meters.

    • 2

      Select eight players from each team, or roughly half of that team's members if you are playing with less than 15 players per side. These are usually the forwards for their respective teams. No scrum may consist of less than five players per team.

    • 3

      Designate three players from each team to face off at the front of the scrum. Select two more players for the second row. The rest of the players may take hold wherever they wish, with the exception of the first row.

    • 4

      Interlock arms with other players. Your scrum members must keep hold of one another until the scrum ends. The front row should be no more than an arm's length away from the other team's front row.

    • 5

      Crouch in the front row. No player's head or shoulders may be below their hips. The front rows of both teams will interlock so that all heads from a given team must have a head from the opposing team between them.

    • 6

      Wait for the referee's instructions. He will give the ball to the "scrum half" that will throw the ball into play. When the referee calls "touch," the front rows will take the outside arms of the two outside players and place them on the opposing shoulder in front of them. They will then withdraw their hands and the referee will call "pause."

    • 7

      Watch for the ball to be released. The referee will call "engage," which allows play to begin, but neither team can attack until the ball has been dropped. When it is, use your legs and feet to try to kick the ball into your possession. Your team must remain interlocked until possession has been decided and the scrum ends.