Rugby Union Basics
Welcome to the “All about Rugby” section. Here we take a more detailed look at how the game is played.
For those of you who already know the game backwards, this may serve as a reference: for those new to Rugby Union, this may help to clarify some of the more arcane aspects of the game.
In this section we look at the players and their positions. We look at the scrum (forwards) and the backs and how they work together.
Learn more about the game of rugby union, how it’s played and the basics of the rules. This video will highlight all you need to know about lineouts, scrums, off-side and rucks.
The Scrum
Eight players, called the forwards, form the scrum.
One of the main purposes of the scrum is for re-starting the game quickly and fairly.
The scrum must have a minimum of six players in it: that is, two opposing rows of three players each. Once they have “crouched and engaged”, there it is - you have a scrum.
From this point, the law states that the scrum-half (the player who stands to one side of the scrum and puts the ball in) must put said ball in without delay. If there is “undue” delay in forming the scrum and getting on with restarting the game, the referee may penalise the offending side. The opposing rows, or “front rows” are the nucleus of the scrum. They control it and hold it all together: the rest is just brute power.
Each player in the scrum must bind properly to his team-mate. This is so the scrum doesn’t disintegrate, and the hooker cannot swing into the middle of the opponents’ second row.
A scrum can occur anywhere on the field of play. It must stay where it was formed until the ball is put in. If the scrum wheels around more than 90 degrees, the referee will reset the scrum.
(Keeping the scrum orientated correctly helps to stop any number of nightmarish scenarios which can stem from the scrums being the wrong way round.
Where would offside be? Which way would the players run to stay on-side? Who could ever be sure? Let’s just not go there…)
The referee will also ensure that the tunnel is pretty much parallel with the goal lines when the scrum-half gets around to putting the ball in.
Putting in the Ball
As said before, the ball must be put into the scrum “quickly and fairly”.
To do this, the scrum-half must stand 1 metre from the scrum, in line with where the two front rows interlock. He must put the ball in down the middle of the tunnel, along a line level with where the two front rows’ shoulders join, and far enough into the scrum so that the hooker has a chance to heel the ball back without performing unnecessary acrobatics.
The Tunnel
The main reason for having the two front rows is to form a tunnel to put the ball into. Again, the ball must be put in “quickly and fairly”. In order for this to happen, the job of the prop forward is to keep the tunnel open and steady. As the ball comes in, the hooker’s job is to gain possession by heeling the ball.
Heeling the Ball
As strong as the urge may be, the hooker may not strike for the ball too early. The ball must touch the ground first, and be allowed to travel into the middle of the scrum. Anyway, once having heeled the ball, the only exit for the ball should be backwards through the scrum, or anywhere as long as it’s behind the tunnel.
Picking the Ball out of the Scrum
Normally it’s the scrum-half who collects the ball from the scrum and then sends it out to his backs. He may only do this when the ball has properly come out. He is not allowed to just dive in and collect it, he must allow it to come out to him.
Nine times out of ten, the scrum-half will put the ball in, then scoot around to the safety of the rear of the scrum to collect the ball, then put it out to his backs, or carry out any other cunning plan he has in mind.
Now that we’ve gained possession through the hard work of the scrum, how do we use it?
We look at the second phase of play now.
The Backs
These are the players at the back, strung out in a line across the pitch. The aim of these boys is to score tries, or if play pushes them back, to add defence, the last line of which is the fullback.
To try and describe all that the backs and forwards do during a game would be nigh on impossible, and would be the subject of a set of books on their own.
As the old saying goes: “The forwards win the game, but the backs decide by how many points”.
