The scrum is rugby union’s restart after a minor infringement such as a knock-on or forward pass. Eight forwards from each team bind together and push against each other while the ball is fed into the tunnel between them. It is a contest for possession and a test of strength and technique. The details below follow World Rugby Law 19.
When is a scrum awarded?
- After a knock-on or forward pass
- When the ball becomes unplayable in a ruck or maul
- After some other stoppages where no penalty applies
Since July 2024, a team awarded a free kick can no longer choose a scrum. It must tap or kick instead.
Who is in the scrum?
| Row | Players (numbers) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Front row | Loosehead prop (1), hooker (2), tighthead prop (3) | Take the direct contact; the hooker strikes for the ball. |
| Second row | Two locks (4 and 5) | Provide most of the pushing power. |
| Back row | Flankers (6 and 7) and number 8 | Add push, control the ball at the base, and break off quickly. |
A full scrum has eight players per side, and each side must have at least five.
How a scrum is set: crouch, bind, set
- Crouch: the front rows crouch with heads and shoulders no lower than their hips.
- Bind: the props bind on the opposing prop’s jersey. The hooker keeps one foot forward as a “brake foot,” which became full law at all levels on 1 July 2026.
- Set: the packs engage and the hooker withdraws the brake foot.
The feed
The scrum-half of the team awarded the scrum throws the ball into the tunnel between the front rows. The feed must be straight, though a slight bias toward the feeding side’s hooker is allowed, and the ball must touch the ground inside the tunnel. The hookers then strike for it and the ball is passed back with the feet to the number 8.
Using the ball
Once the ball reaches the back of the scrum, the number 8 can pick it up and run, or the scrum-half can pass it out. The referee will call “use it” if a team keeps the ball in the scrum too long.
Offside lines
- Backs must stay at least 5 m behind the hindmost foot of their scrum.
- The scrum-half of the team without the ball may not go past the center line of the tunnel, a “protect the 9” change trialed from 2025.
Resets and penalties
A scrum is reset if it collapses without fault, wheels more than 90 degrees, or the ball comes out of the tunnel. Deliberately collapsing, standing up or illegally wheeling concedes a penalty. Technical offenses such as a crooked feed or pushing early give a free kick.
Uncontested scrums
If a team no longer has enough trained front-row players, scrums become uncontested. There is no pushing and the feeding team must win the ball. This rule exists for safety.
What a strong scrum gives a team
A dominant scrum is more than a way to restart play. It wins penalties, which can be kicked to touch or at goal, pushes the opposition backward so the attacking team plays on the front foot, and ties up eight defenders in one place so the backs have more space.
| Scrum outcome | What it earns |
|---|---|
| Clean ball on your own feed | A stable platform to launch backline attacks |
| Driving the opposition back | Front-foot ball and tired defenders |
| Opposition collapses or breaks the bind | Penalty or free kick, depending on the offence |
| Winning a tighthead | Possession on the opponent’s feed |
Front-row technique basics
- Body position: hips slightly higher than shoulders, back flat, head up and eyes forward.
- Bind: props bind on the opposing prop’s jersey on the back or side, not on the arm or the neck.
- Feet: wide and stable, with weight on the balls of the feet so the push comes from the legs.
- Hooker: strikes for the ball with the foot after the feed while the props hold the scrum steady.
Scrums in youth and amateur rugby
Because the front row carries the most risk, many unions limit scrums for young or less experienced players, for example by restricting how far a team may push or by using uncontested scrums when trained front-row players are not available. Coaches should follow their union’s age-grade regulations and only put trained players in the front row.
Scrummaging carries a risk of neck and spine injury. Front-row players need specialist coaching and neck strengthening before contested scrums.
Common scrum mistakes
- Engaging before the referee’s “set” call, which gives away a free kick.
- Binding on the arm instead of the body or shirt, which is illegal and unsafe.
- Collapsing or standing up in the scrum, both of which are penalty offences.
- Crooked feeds by the scrum-half, which lead to a free kick for the opposition.
- Back-row players leaving the scrum early and ending up offside.
Training the scrum safely
- Build neck, back and leg strength before any live scrummaging.
- Learn body position on a scrum machine or with a coach before contesting against another pack.
- Practise the crouch, bind and set sequence slowly, then at match speed.
- Only suitably trained and experienced players should play in the front row.
- Stop immediately if you feel neck pain, tingling or numbness, and get checked by a medical professional.
Scrum laws, including the engagement sequence and the rules for uncontested scrums, are set by World Rugby and can be adapted for age-grade rugby by national unions. Check the current Laws of the Game and your union’s regulations.
How to watch a scrum as a fan
Scrums can look like a pile of bodies, but a few details make them easier to read. Watch the referee’s arm after a collapse: an arm pointing toward one team shows who won the penalty. Look at which pack is moving forward and whether the ball comes out quickly at the back. A team that wins penalties at scrum time can kick for goal or for touch, so a dominant scrum often shapes the whole match.
Scrums in rugby league and sevens
Rugby league also uses scrums, but they are much less contested, with fewer players and little pushing. In rugby sevens, each scrum has three forwards per side, so it is quicker and more open than the full eight-player union scrum.
Frequently asked questions
What does crouch, bind, set mean?
These are the referee’s three calls that make sure both packs engage safely and at the same time.
What is the brake foot?
The hooker keeps one foot forward during engagement to stabilize the scrum, then withdraws it once the packs are set.
Why can’t teams choose a scrum from a free kick anymore?
World Rugby removed the option in 2024 to speed up the game and reduce resets.
Sources: World Rugby Law 19: Scrum, World Rugby 2026 law updates.
