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{{Short description|Method of restarting play in rugby}}{{Redirect|Scrummage|other uses|Scrimmage (disambiguation)}} A scrummage, commonly known simply as a scrum, is a method of restarting play in rugby football that involves players packing closely together with their heads down and attempting to gain possession of the ball.Scrum, abbreviated form of scrummage, Oxford English Dictionary Online {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111125659weblink crouch bind sit|date=2008-01-11 }}. Depending on whether it is in rugby union or rugby league, the scrum is used either after an accidental infringement or when the ball has gone out of play. Scrums occur more often, and are now of greater importance, in union than in league.NEWS, Nick Mulvenney and Peter Rutherford, Rugby-Cat calls greet scrummaging's return to league,weblink 24 June 2012, uk.reuters.com, 4 April 2011, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130316054449weblink">weblink 16 March 2013, Starting play from the line of scrimmage in gridiron football is derived from the scrum.In both forms of rugby, a scrum is formed by the players who are designated forwards binding together in three rows. The scrum then 'engages' with the opposition team so that the players' heads are interlocked with those of the other side's front row. In rugby union the initiation of the process is verbally coordinated by the referee who calls 'crouch, bind, set' as of 2013 (formerly 'crouch, touch, pause, engage', 'crouch and hold, engage' before 2007). The scrum-half from the team that did not infringe then throws the ball into the tunnel created in the space between the two sets of front rowers' legs. Both teams may then try to compete for the ball by trying to hook the ball backwards with their feet.A key difference between the two sports is that in rugby union both sets of forwards try to push the opposition backwards while competing for the ball and thus the team that did not throw the ball into the scrum has some minimal chance of winning the possession. In practice, however, the team with the 'put-in' usually keeps possession (92% of the time with the feed) and put-ins are not straight. Forwards in rugby league do not usually push in the scrum, scrum-halves often feed the ball directly under the legs of their own front row rather than into the tunnel, and the team with the put-in usually retains possession (thereby making the 40/20 rule workable).

Rugby union

Scrums in rugby union sevens consist only of what would be the "front row" in normal rugby union. They consist of three forwards on each side, plus a scrum half to feed in the ball.

Rugby league

(File:Rugby league scrum finale elite rugby XIII 2010 FCL PIA.png|thumb|right|275px|A rugby league scrum)A rugby league scrum is used to bring the ball back into play in situations where the ball has gone out of play over the touchline or a player has made a mistake, a knock-on or forward pass, except when that mistake has occurred on the last tackle of a set of six tackles. A scrum is also used in the rare event that the ball bursts or the referee interferes with the movement of the ball.The scrum consists of six players from each team in a 321 formation. The scrum is usually formed by each team's forwards, though any player can participate. The front row of the formation consists of the open-side prop (8), hooker (9) and blind-side prop (10). Behind the front row are the two second row forwards (11&12), and then the loose forward (13) at the back.The two "packs" of forwards form a scrum before the ball is put into the scrum. The scrum-half (7) (also known as the halfback) of the team that did not commit the forward pass, knock-on or cause the ball to go out of play over the touch line puts the ball into the scrum through the tunnel formed by the front rows of each set of forwards meeting. When the ball bursts or the referee interferes with the ball, the team that had possession at the time is the one to put the ball into the scrum. Both teams may attempt to secure the ball while it is in the scrum by "hooking" for it or by pushing their opponents off the ball. The ball can be brought back into open play by the scrum-half retrieving it from the rear of the scrum or by the loose forward picking it up after detaching from the scrum.While restarting play, the scrum serves to keep the forwards in one area of the field for a time, thus creating more space for back play and special plays, an advantage to the side that wins the scrum. It is now uncommon for the team not awarded the scrum feed to win possession "against the feed". Prior to 1983, the loose forward would often stand outside of the scrum, leaving a five-man scrum. In an effort to provide more space for backline play, scrum rules were changed so that in normal circumstances loose forwards must always bind into the scrum. However, if a player is sent off, five-man scrums may occur. In this situation, the rules mandate the numbers of players not bound into the scrum.While the Laws of the Game continue to provide for competitive scrums,Australian Rugby League Rule Book, February 2008WEB,weblink ARL International Laws of the Game, 3 April 2007, New South Wales Rugby League www.nswrl.com.au, 2009-07-26, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081120192313weblink">weblink 20 November 2008, a convention exists that some scrum rules are not enforced. During the 1970s, scrum penalties for feeding the ball into the legs of the second row, packs moving off the "mark" or collapsing the scrum were seen as unattractive. The ability of teams to win a game purely on goals from scrum penalties was also seen as unfair. In an effort to improve this situation, changes to rules and their enforcement were made. The number of scrums was reduced with the introduction of the "handover" after a team has used a set of six tackles, the differential penalty, one which cannot be kicked at goal was brought in for offences at scrums and referees ceased enforcing some rules regarding feeding the ball into scrum. Aided by this change, it is common for professional teams not to fully contest scrums, according to their choice of tactics. This in turn has led to some criticism that the scrummage in rugby league no longer serves a useful purpose, and should be replaced with a tap penalty or play the ball.

See also

• Scrum machine
• Rugby league gameplay
• Rugby union gameplay

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Scrum (rugby)}}

• NEWS,weblink BBC Sports Academy - The Scrum, 2007-07-19, bbc.co.uk,
• NEWS,weblink New scrummaging law takes force, bbc.co.uk, 2007-07-19, 2007-01-01,
• NEWS,weblink Is this the final collapse for the rugby scrum?, (Report on a surgeon calling for a ban on contested scrums in rugby union), telegraph.co.uk, 16 May 2011, 27 May 2006, Fenton, Ben, London,
• NEWS,weblink Forming a scrum, bbc.co.uk, 2007-07-19, 2005-09-14,
• NEWS,weblink The laws of scrummaging, bbc.co.uk, 2007-07-19, 2005-09-14,
• NEWS,weblink Scrum Law changes, irb.com, 2006-12-06, 2007-07-19,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070623124611weblink">weblink 2007-06-23,
• NEWS,weblink Law 20 - Scrum, planetrugby.com, 2007-07-19, 2007-01-22, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080112063325weblink">weblink 2008-01-12,
• {{in lang|hr}} Rugby Rijeka Najveći ragbi skup na svijetu, 14 October 2007 (the biggest scrum in the world)