Scrum
A formation used to restart play after a knock-on or forward pass, or at any time when ordered by the referee.

Forwards on each side bind and the two groups come together, with the front rows interlocking to leave a tunnel between them. The halfback of the non-offending team feeds the ball into the tunnel midway between the front rows. The hookers attempt to get the ball back. The scrum ends when the ball is out of the tunnel and in possession of a player on either team.

Lineout
The method of putting the ball back into play after it has gone out of bounds. The two sets of forwards line up opposite each other; a player from one side then calls a play and throws the ball between the two lines.

  The match starts with a kickoff and the receiving team collects the ball and generally tries to move the ball downfield to score. The team without the ball (the defenders) tries to stop this. You can only tackle the ball-carrier.

After the ball-carrier is tackled, there is a struggle for the ball. For this reason, a tackle does not stop play in rugby. Once tackled, the player must release the ball immediately so play may continue.

The tackled ball-carrier should attempt to release the ball advantageously toward their team. Any player on their feet may pick up the ball.

 
FORWARDS
1 = Loosehead prop
2 = Hooker
3 = Tighthead prop
4 = Lock
5 = Lock 
6 = Blindside flanker 
7 = Openside flanker
8 = No 8 BACKS
9 = Halfback
10 = First five-eighth
11 = Left wing
12 = Second five-eighth
13 = Centre
14 = Right wing
15 = Fullback

A rugby team is divided into forwards and backs. Forwards are usually the larger, stronger players on the team (numbered one to eight). Their main job is to win possession of the ball. The backs are often smaller, faster, and more agile and typically make use of the ball possessions, which are won by the forwards.
Both the forwards and backs play at the same time.

1.  Loosehead Prop
The loosehead prop packs down in the scrum on the left-hand side and together with the tighthead prop provides support for the hooker.  They also support the jumpers in the lineout.

2.  Hooker
The hooker packs down in the middle of the scrum, uses their feet to ‘hook’ the ball and normally throw in the ball at lineouts.

3.  Tighthead Prop
The tighthead prop packs down in the scrum on the right-hand side and together with the loosehead prop provides support for the hooker.  They also support the jumpers in the lineout.

4.  and 5. Lock
There are two locks in a rugby team.  The locks are usually the tallest players and are required to jump in lineouts to catch the ball or get the ball down on their team’s own side.  In the scrum, locks pack down in the second row and bind on to each other and the prop in front of them. They add a lot of power to the scrum.

6.  Blindside Flanker
The blindside flanker binds onto the side of the scrum closest to the sideline. Their first priority is to be part of the loose forwards strong defensive screen and be part of the lifting unit or a jumper in lineouts

7.  Openside Flanker
 The openside flanker binds onto the side of the scrum furthest from the sideline. Their first priority is to be first to the ball when a breakdown occurs and provide a strong defensive screen.

8.  Number 8
The number 8 packs down at the back of the scrum usually binding onto the two locks and controls the movements and feeding of the ball to the halfback.  The number 8 is in the position where the ball enters the backline from the scrum and can elect to pick and run with the ball.

9.  Halfback
The halfback is the important link between the forwards and the backs and is behind the scrum to get the ball out and maintain movement.  They are also able to stand close to the lineout to catch any knock-downs from the jumpers.

10.  1st 5/8
The 1st 5/8 makes tactical decisions during the game, on whether to kick the ball to gain space or tactical advantage or move the ball to their outside backs, or to run with the ball themselves.  The 1st 5/8 is, in most cases, also the goal-kicker.

12.  2nd 5/8
The 2nd 5/8 is positioned outside the 1st 5/8 and inside the centre in a standard backline formation. They are often used to carry the ball up to either straighten the attack or set a platform from which to launch another attacking phase. Has to be a good tackler as opposition attack will often come their way.

13. Centre
The centre is positioned outside the 2nd 5/8 and inside the wing in a standard backline formation. Their role is to provide time and space for the winger outside them.
 
11. and 14.  Wings
The wings are usually the fastest players, finishers of play and often score the tries.  The principle is that the forwards and backs create space so that once the wings receive the ball they can have a clear run for the try-line.  The wings must also be good tacklers when defending.

15. Fullback
The fullback is often referred to as the “last line of defence” and is positioned behind all their teammates. They often catch high balls, return kicks from the opposition and act as an extra player on attack.

 The sidelines are called touchlines and there are two in-goal areas, which are expected to be 10 to 22-metres deep with a tryline marking the front and a dead ball line at the back. The goal posts are located on the try line and are 5.6 metres apart, a crossbar set at 3 metres and the height of the posts varies.

Other important lines on the field include the halfway mark at 50-metres. A dashed 10-metre line set each side of the 50-metre-line, which is used to judge kick-offs, and a solid 22-metre line marked 22-metres from each tryline. Other lines include two dashed lines set at 5 and 15-metres marked parallel to each touchline. These lines are used mostly to identify the zones for lineouts.

When it comes to rules and regulations, the ruck is one of the more complex parts of rugby .

When a tackled player goes to ground, they must release the ball immediately.

As soon as that happens, the opposition will want to get their hands on the ball, and the team in possession will not want to give it away.

According to the laws, "the ruck is a phase of play where one or more players from each team, who are on their feet, in physical contact, close around the ball on the ground".

So to gain possession, both sides must try to drive over the ball to make it available for their team-mates.

HANDS IN THE RUCK

None of the tackler's team-mates can attempt to handle or pick up the ball once the ruck has formed.

Team-mates of the tackled player can use their hands, but only if they are on their feet.

Referees often blow up for penalties because a player off their feet or from the tackler's team has used a subtle hand to bring it back to their side.

But because of the sheer number of bodies involved in rucks, referees can sometimes miss this particular infringement.

JOINING A RUCK

All players must join the ruck from behind the 'hindmost' foot of the last player.

They must bind with one arm round a team-mate at the very back of the ruck.

Players cannot take shortcuts and join from the sides.

If the referee spots this, a penalty will be given to the non-offending team.

USING THE BOOT

The ball can often get stuck under a pile of bodies, making it difficult for either team to make it available.

The scrum-half is the player who gets things going in the scrum.

It is their job to feed the ball into the scrum for the hooker to strike back to the number eight.

The scrum-half can roll the ball in from either the left-hand side or the right-hand side of the scrum.

The scrum-half must then not handle the ball until it has come out of the scrum.

The six other backs must be at least five metres behind the off-side line running through the hindmost foot of the last forward in the scrum.

If they are not, the referee will penalise the offending team.

Hooking the ball

When it comes to scrums, the hooker is the player with all the responsibility and pressure.

Their job is to strike the ball back to the number 8 once the scrum-half has fed the ball into the scrum.

This is not as easy as it sounds.

Why? Because the opposition's hooker is trying to steal the ball from you.

Plus you've got eight huge forwards on the other side trying to push you off the ball.

The hooker is the only player in the scrum who can raise their feet - otherwise they would never be able to strike the ball.

However, no other player in the scrum is allowed to handle the ball until the ball is free - not even the hooker.

When is a scrum ended?

A scrum is finished when the ball has come out of the scrum.

Once it has, then the opposition scrum-half can tackle their opposite number for the ball.

But in some situations the number 8 may dribble with the ball, keeping it in the scrum.

This means the opposing scrum-half cannot get their hands on the ball because it's still in the scrum.

This often happens when the team in possession have an attacking scrum near their opponent's try line.

RETAKING A SCRUM

The referee is in charge on the pitch and if he's not happy with a scrum, he can order it to be re-taken again when:

· The scrum has rotated 90 degrees

· The scrum has collapsed before the ball has been fed or before the ball has come out

· The ball does not come out quick enough

This is one of the methods used to restart play when the ball has gone over a team's dead ball line.

For example, if the attacking team kicks the ball beyond the dead ball line, a member of the defending team can touch it down for a 22-metre drop-out.

The defending team can also ground the ball in their in-goal area for a drop-out if a player on the other side was the last person to touch the ball.

Once the ball has been touched down, a player from the defending team can advance to the 22m line and restart play with a drop kick.

They can kick the ball a short distance forward and try to regain possession, put up a high kick for the forwards to get under or kick the ball as far as possible down the field.

A 22-metre drop-out is not awarded, however, if a member of the defending team has either passed or carried the ball back over the dead ball line before the ball is touched down.

In this case, a five-metre scrum is awarded to the attacking team.

Two packs of players, straining every muscle for every inch of opposition territory they can claim.

Of course, it's the scrum.

It is used for restarting play after the following:

·  The ball has been knocked on

·  The ball has gone forward

·  Accidental offside

·  The ball has not come out from a ruck or maul

Not every player can join a scrum. Only eight players from each team can take part.

They are almost always the eight forwards in the side.

The scrum is formed at the place where the infringement happened.

All scrums must take place at least five metres from the touch or trylines.

However the scrum is one of the hardest areas of the game to referee because of the many infringements, particularly in the front row.

BINDING

Referees pay particular attention to the bindings of the two front rows.

Props must use the whole arm from hand to shoulder to grasp their opponent's body at or below the level of the armpit.

They must grasp their opposite number's shirt from the side or the back.

They cannot go underneath and grab the collar or the sleeve of the upper arm.

Props often look for a late bind when they engage.

By maneuvering their arm they can manipulate their opponent's body position, giving them a significant advantage in the push.

However referees are stringent on this move because of safety reasons.

Twisting, dipping or collapsing a scrum will result in a penalty against the offending team.

FRONT ROW OFFENCES

Rather than engaging square on with their opponent, tight-head props can bore their heads into the hooker.

This limits the movement of the opposition hooker.

Sometimes you may see a tight-head prop's body pop out of a scrum while it is still taking place.

This is because their opposing loose-head prop has used a subtle shift of body position and pushed into the tight-head prop's chest.

Both moves are illegal and are punishable with penalties.