SA scrum changes for 2013
In South Africa this year age-group players will have different engagement calls in scrums from those of senior (above 19) players.
The changes have been brought in with the safety of the players in mind. Player safety throughout the game is of paramount importance and this includes the scrum where catastrophic injuries are always possible.
The changes are also aimed at eliminating collapses of scrums. Referees are instructed to attend to the body positions of frontrow players.
Top senior rugby will have the crouch-touch-set call. It will be different in age-group rugby and for some adult rugby in South Africa with different applications in four sets of age groups.
There will also be a difference for club teams of clubs which are not in a province's 1st Division, in other words those that qualify for amateur teams.
The basic call for age-group rugby in 2013 will be crouch-bind-scrum.
Up to Under-9: crouch-bind-scrum but no pushing is allowed. They are uncontested scrums.
Under-10 to Under-16: crouch-bind-scrum. The props bind in such a way that their elbows are not lower than the line of their shoulders. There is no 'hit'. The ball goes in and the players are allowed to push with a 1,5m limit. Intentional wheeling is not allowed. If a scrum wheels unintentionally and the wheel reaches 45 degrees, the scrum will be stopped and the scrum will be reset. There is no turnover.
If there is a serious mismatch at the scrum, the teams will resort to uncontested scrums.
Under-17 and Under-18: crouch-bind-scrum. The props bind in such a way that their elbows are not lower than the line of their shoulders. At the order 'bind' the frontrow players will not engage their heads but will stay ear-to-ear so that their ears should be next to their opponents' ears so that the 12 ears form a straight line across the scrum. On the call scrum, the heads will engage in a mini-hit. Pushing is allowed with a limit of 1,5m. Intentional wheeling is not allowed. If a scrum wheels unintentionally and the wheel reaches 45 degrees, the scrum will be stopped and the scrum will be reset. There is no turnover.
If there is a serious mismatch at the scrum, the teams will resort to uncontested scrums.
School Under-19: crouch-bind-scrum. The props bind in such a way that their elbows are not lower than the line of their shoulders. At the order bind the frontrow players will not engage their heads but will stay ear-to-ear so that their ears should be next to their opponents' ears so that the 12 ears form a straight line across the scrum. On the call scrum, the heads will engage in a mini-hit. Pushing is allowed with a limit of 1,5m. Intentional wheeling is not allowed. If a scrum wheels unintentionally and the wheel reaches 45 degrees, the scrum will be stopped and the scrum will be reset. There is no turnover.
If there is a serious mismatch at the scrum, the teams will resort to uncontested scrums.
Club teams in a province's 2nd Division down: crouch-bind-scrum. The props bind in such a way that their elbows are not lower than the line of their shoulders. Intentional wheeling is not allowed. If a scrum wheels unintentionally and the wheel reaches 90 degrees, the scrum will be stopped and the scrum will be reset. There is no turnover.
If there is a serious mismatch at the scrum, the teams will resort to uncontested scrums.
Club in a province's 1st Division and provincial teams from Under-19 up to and including Currie Cup: crouch-touch-set. When the front rows crouch their ears should be next to their opponents's ears so that the 12 ears form a straight line across the scrum. The props bind in such a way that their elbows are not lower than the line of their shoulders. Intentional wheeling is not allowed. If a scrum wheels unintentionally and the wheel reaches 90 degrees, the scrum will be stopped and the scrum will be reset. There is no turnover.
If there is a serious mismatch at the scrum, the teams will resort to uncontested scrums.
