you have a scrum in rugby union when you have it down.
when do you have a scrum in rugby union?
have it down
in rugby union a scrum is a means of restarting play after a minor infringement. it involves up to eight players from each team, known as the pack or forward pack, binding together in three rows and interlocking with the free opposing teams forwards. at this point the ball is fed into the gap between the two forward packs and they both compete for the ball to win possession. teams can be penalised for intentionally causing the scrum to collapse, and for not putting the ball into the scrum correctly. a scrum is most commonly awarded when the ball is knocked forward, or passed forward, or when a ball becomes trapped in a ruck or maul. because of the physical nature of scrums, injuries can occur, especially in the front row.
scrum (rugby union)
the scrum must remain stationary and all the front rows feet must be on the ground until the scrum-half has put the ball in. the scrum-half must put the ball into the middle of the scrum using both hands without delay or "dummying (pretend to put the ball in). front row players can only strike for the ball with a single foot once it is in the tunnel. players cannot intentionally collapse the scrum or force players upwards out of the scrum at any time during a scrum. both sides must try to push straight against one another, and deliberately pushing on an angle or pulling on an opponent to rotate (or "wheel") the scrum are penalised but if the contest between them results in the scrum rotating more than 90 degrees the scrum is reset with the ball going to the opposition. the opposition scrum half stands next to the feeding half and can follow the ball through the scrum as long as both feet remain behind the ball. the opposition scrum half can also move to the other side of the scrum or away from the scrum, but in this situation must stay behind the number eights feet.
laws of rugby union