The scrum

The scrum is a restart of the game that takes place after a minor infringement such as a forward pass. It is a physical contest for possession and therefore, as with any contact, safety must be a prime consideration. Players, coaches and referees all have a responsibility to ensure the scrum is fair, competitive and safe. It is imperative that all players understand the correct techniques for their position and collaborate with their opponent to stay on their feet.

In the scrum, the non-offending team has the advantage of throwing the ball in, usually from the left hand side of the scrum. The defending side has the opportunity to regain possession by either trying to hook the ball on the throw-in, or by driving the attacking team back over the ball.

The scrum restarts the match and open play follows when the ball emerges from the scrum.