Scrumming in SA in 2014
The International Rugby Board has changed the laws governing the setting of a scrum. SA Referees has already sent out a summary of the changes but does so again as there appears some confusion.
The summary is below.
Under-9 and younger age groups and the application to Mini-rugby
Passive engagement or fold-over, with pre-scrum binding
For 5-man uncontested scrums, purely to restart play, with a minimum of 12 players per side required for 5-man scrums OR
8-man uncontested scrums, purely to restart play, with a minimum of 15 players per side required for 8-man scrums
Mini-rugby
For player age groups 5 years old turning 6, and 6 years old turning 7 during the year in question: 3-man uncontested scrums, purely to restart play, with a maximum of 10 players allowed per side
For Mini-rugby player age groups 7 years old turning 8, and 8 years old turning 9, during the year in question:
Scrum calls
Crouch (align ear-to-ear, and get into spine-in-line and parallel position)
Bind (come together and pre-bind, with passive engagement, no hit)
Scrum (ball in, uncontested)
No hit allowed during engagement
No scrum contest allowed
Under-10 to Under-16 age groups
This includes provincial school age-group rugby
Full scrum formation (8 players) – first introduction to competitive scrumming
Passive engagement or fold-over, with pre-scrum binding
Scrum calls
Crouch (align ear-to-ear, and get into spine-in-line and parallel position)
Bind (come together and pre-bind, with passive engagement, no hit)
Scrum (ball in and contest begins)
No hit allowed during engagement
Full scrumming contest at put-in
One-and-a-half (1½) metre push allowed, thereafter no more contest
Post engagement
Enforce Under 19 Variations
No wheeling, a team must not intentionally wheel a scrum
If a wheel reaches 45°, the referee must stop play
If the wheel is unintentional, the referee orders another scrum at the place where the scrum is stopped
No turnover possession when the scrum wheels through 45°, i.e. the team that put the ball in originally again puts the ball into the scrum.
Both loose-head and tight-head props must bind with their elbows not lower than their shoulder line
School Under-18 & Under-19, club Under-18 & Under-19, provincial Under-18 & Under-19, national Under-18 & Under-19, and all adult club rugby – including Under-20 – up to and including the 2nd XV of the highest senior amateur division
Normal rugby laws with scrum law modifications
Full scrum formation
Active Engagement, with pre-scrum binding and a reduced hit allowed on engagement
Scrum calls
Crouch (align ear-to-ear, and get into spine-in-line and parallel position)
Bind (Take the bind firmly on opposite front row, but do not fully come together yet, keep the ear-to-ear distance, bar up and prepare)
Set (Maintain, and secure the bind and actively engage)
Put-in Once the referee is satisfied that the scrum is stable and square he will silently instruct the scrumhalf to put the ball in with an agreed gesture.
Full scrumming contest at put-in
Post engagement
Schools, club, provincial and national Under-18 & Under-19 rugby
One-and-a-half (1½) metre push allowed, thereafter no more contest, for all Under-18 and Under-19 rugby – includes, school, club, provincial and national level
Enforce Under 19 Variations
No wheeling, a team must not intentionally wheel a scrum
If a wheel reaches 45°, the referee must stop play
If the wheel is unintentional, the referee orders another scrum at the place where the scrum is stopped
No turnover possession when the scrum wheels through 45°. (The same team puts the ball into the reset scrum.)
Both loose-head and tight-head props must bind with their elbows not lower than their shoulder line
Management
Should there be a gross mismatch, inadequacy or unsuitability of either of the forward packs, then scrums may be contested in the format of the previous level – i.e. Under-16 – in SA competitions
Failing that, uncontested scrums should be called for by the referee
Adult club rugby – including Under-20 – up to and including the 2nd XV of the highest senior amateur division
Full scrum contest within the IRB adult rugby Laws after the front rows have engaged subject to the following restrictions:
No deliberate wheeling of the scrum
No turnover possession when the scrum wheels through 90°
Both loose-head and tight-head props must bind with their elbows not lower than their shoulder line
Management
Should there be a gross mismatch, inadequacy or unsuitability of either of the forward packs, then uncontested scrums should be called for by the referee
All other rugby – 1st XV of the highest senior amateur division of club rugby, national Under-20, provincial Under-21, Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup, Super Rugby and all national representative teams
Normal Rugby Laws
Full scrum formation
Active Engagement, with pre-scrum binding and a reduced hit allowed on engagement
Full scrum contest within the IRB adult rugby Laws for the 1st XV of the highest senior amateur division of club rugby, national Under-20, provincial Under-21, Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup, Super Rugby and all national representative teams
Engagement Sequence
Crouch (align ear-to-ear, and get into spine-in-line and parallel position)
Bind (Take the bind firmly on opposite front row, but do not fully come together yet, keep the ear-to-ear distance, bar up and prepare)
Set (Maintain and secure the bind, actively engage)
Put-in Once the referee is satisfied that the scrum is stable and square he will silently instruct the scrumhalf to put the ball with an agreed gesture.
Management
Should there be a gross mismatch, inadequacy or unsuitability of either of the forward packs, then the current IRB Laws prevail in correctly managing the situation
