The scrum Is one of the main ways of restarting a rugby match. A scrum sees forwards from each team collide; the ball is then placed in the middle, and the hooker kicks the ball to the back.
The rules in the Scrum
The front row is made up of two props and a hooker. The props are typically the heaviest players on the pitch because of the scrum. The front row is the players who made direct contact with the opposition and the scrum, and their role is to apply pressure to the opposition scrum to either secure the ball or to trans steal from the opposition.
The second row of the scrum is made up of two locks. Their job is to apply pressure to the front row.
The back row is made up of three players, two flankers and a number eight. All three provide pressure during the scrum, but their roles vary as the scrum comes to an end. Defensively, flankers must be aware of the opposition; they should be the first players to leave the scrum and are required to tackle or disrupt opposition as quickly as they can after a scrum attack. The number eight is required to control the ball at the base of the scrum. They are also able to lift the ball and carry it directly from the scrum. This is known as a number-eight pick-and-go.
The scrummaging process
When a scrum is awarded, the referee sets a mark on the field. The hooker from each team will set the position of their scrum from that mark. When the referee sees both teams are ready, they will start the scrum process with a set of commands. Crouch commands that both front rows get into a scrummaging position. Bind commands the props to grab or bind to their opposition prop. Set commands the engagement of the scrum, where both front teams come together.
Why is a scrum awarded?
A scrum is one of the most commonly awarded restarts to play. It is awarded by a referee to restart the game after the ball is either knocked forward or passed forward. A scrum can also be awarded if the ball is carried back over the line by a defensive team and the player is held up. The attacking side is given a five-meter scrum. Scrums are also a form of restart given when an opportunity is seen as unplayable. This could be after the ball hits a referee or if the ball is unable to be retrieved at a ruck, but no offence has been committed.
The laws
Scrums are one of the most intricate parts of rugby. There are lots of rules and regulations around the scrum, and many front rowers will talk about the “dark arts” of the scrum.
The laws are based on safety and underpin an effective restart of play.
Firstly, as players are slowing down the formation of a scrum, they will be penalised for lots of scrum offences. The first offence will draw a free kick, with further offences of the same type drawing a penalty.
Binding is the grip the props take with their opposition. Props are asked to make long binds, which means they bind high on the opposition props back as opposed to being close to the under their armpit. Players who do not bind correctly or who do not bind at all will be penalised.
When the ball is put into the scrum, the hooker must hook the ball. This is something that hasn’t been officiated much, but is still part of the laws. When Ireland played Wales in the 2026 Six Nations, Nathan Doak came off the bench to make his international debut. His first action was to put the ball into the scrum. The ball was deemed not to be hooked by the referee, and Ireland were penalised.
Players in the scrum are obliged to drive straight. If the referee feels the scrum is turning, he can reset the scrum. If the referee feels that it is being intentionally turned, wheeling the scrum, he can penalise with a penalty. Props that are driving at an angle other than straight “boaring in” will also be penalised with a penalty.
Scrums bring the 16 heaviest players on a pitch together; therefore, there is danger if the scrum collapses in any way. If a player intentionally collapses a scrum, a penalty will be awarded.
Due to high levels of risk in the scrum players, each position must be a specialist in that position. A team is required to have a replacement for each front row position for safety. If one of the starting players becomes injured, a team is unable to field a specialist in each position during a game, the scrum can go uncontested. That means there is no pushing or driving in the scrum. As a result, the team that is unable to find a specialist in each position must drop to 14 players.
As a player in the front row is yellow card or red card, they must be replaced before the next scrum. If they are unable to replace that specialist position. The scrum goes uncontested, but that team must take off another player and drop to 13.
Why do people not like them?
The scrum can be seen as a means to an end. There are rarely turnovers within the scrum, and mostly the team that has possession at the beginning of a scrum will come away with possession after. Scrums can be quite time-consuming and can lead to the game becoming quite stop-start. As safety in the scrum is paramount, the referee will reset a scrum if he feels it is not safe to begin it. This can lead some scrubs to take several minutes.
More Glossary terms
