Auckland Rugby League
Referees Association

SECTION 5

5.0 - THE SCRUM

5.1 - FORMATION OF SCRUM

5.1.1 - A scrum is formed to restart play when play is not being restarted with a kick off, 20 metre restart, goal line drop kick, 20 metre drop kick, penalty kick or play the ball.

5.1.2 - A maximum of six forwards will be used to form a scrum in a 3-2-1 formation.

5.1.3 - A minimum of three forwards can form a scrum if a team is depleted.

5.1.4 - It is an infringement resulting in a penalty if there are more than seven backs when a scrum is formed.

5.1.5 - The front row is made up of three forwards who interlock arms and bend forward from the hip. The forward in the centre (hooker) must bind with his arms over the shoulders of the prop and front row forward.

5.1.6 - Two second row forwards bend from the hip, interlock arms and place their heads in the gaps between the front row forwards.

5.1.7 - The lock forward bends from the hip and places his head in the gap between the second row forwards.

5.1.8 - All forwards with their bodies bent brace themselves and interlock against the opposing team’s forward pack. This forms a tunnel between the front row forwards.

5.1.9 - Scrums shall be formed where an infringement occurs, but no closer than 20 metres to the touch line or 10 metres to the goal line.

5.1.10 - Scrums shall be formed parallel to the touch line.

5.1.11 - The forwards take the weight and hold the scrum on the mark until the ball has been put in.

5.1.12 - The non-offending team will have the loose head and put in except when a mutual infringement occurs, in this case the attacking team have the loose head and put in. If the infringement occurs on the half way line the last team in possession shall have the loose head and put in.

5.1.13 - The ball must be held horizontally and put into the scrum on the referee’s side by rolling it along the ground between the outside feet of the two prop forwards. The outside feet must also be the forward most foot of the two props.

5.1.14 - The ball should be put into the tunnel without delay when the scrum has been formed correctly.

5.1.15 - The non-feeding half-back shall retire behind the last row of forward. The rest of the non-feeding team shall retire at least five metres behind their last row of forwards. The backs of the team feeding the scrum shall retire at least five metres behind their last row of forwards.

5.1.16 - The feeding half-back is to retire behind his own last row of forwards after feeding the scrum.

5.1.17 - When the ball is in the scrum it can only be played at with the foot.

5.1.18 - The hooker can strike for the ball with either foot once the ball is in the tunnel.

5.1.19 - The prop must keep both feet on the ground and may only strike for the ball after the hooker.

5.1.20 - No player shall willfully collapse a scrum.

5.1.21 - The ball is out of the scrum when it emerges from between and behind the inner feet of the second rowers.

5.1.22 - Any forward can detach himself from the scrum to gather or kick the ball when the ball has emerged from the scrum correctly, even if the scrum has wheeled. Provided that the player who detaches from the scrum is not in front of a team mate who last touch the ball.

5.1.23 - Forwards must not butt violently when coming together to form a scrum.

5.1.24 - If a ball is kicked by a player in general play from within his own 40 metre area and find touch in his opponents 20 metre area other than on the full, the kicking side will have the loose head and feed at the scrum.

5.2 - HELD UP IN-GOAL

5.2.1 - If an attacking player is held up in his opponent’s in-goal and is unable to ground the ball, play is restarted with by the player in possession playing the ball 10m out from the goal line, directly opposite the point from where he is held up. The tackle count will continue as normal (i.e. if a player is help up on tackle 3, play will resume with play the ball 10 metres from a goal line and the following tackle will be tackle 4.

5.2.2 - If the player is held up in his opponent’s in-goal after the fifth tackle, play will restart with a handover ten metres out from the goal line in line with the tackle.