By Kim Lees (IRB Educator) and based on a presentation

prepared by the Australian Rugby Union  Elite Referees in 2011.

 Under the current Laws and playing techniques, the scrum has become a much harder part of the game to referee.  We constantly hear comments from commentators and the public in relation to the way in which referees officiate the scrum.  The referees are trying to ensure that the players are scrummaging in accordance with the Laws and are taking responsibility for their actions.  More importantly they are ensuring that the scrums are safe and that there is a fair contest.

Keeping it simple can assist the referee when officiating at scrums.  How do we do this?  The following is a guide that referees at all levels of the games can apply when it is scrum time.

There are four key areas on which the referee can focus and which will be looked at in detail:

Set-up

Engagement

Post-engagement

Disrupting the opposition ball

SET-UP

 Height – When the teams crouch (on the referee’s call), all players in both front rows must be at the same height.  If they are not, this will lead to a collapse or a messy scrum.  If the front rows are not at the same height, DO NOT MOVE ON.  Bring the front rows up and start again.  Emphasise this before the game and speak to the offending players at the first few scrums.

Angles of Props – The Laws require that players pack square and straight with their heads and shoulders above their hips. Ensure that all props have their heads and shoulders above their hips, that the loose head (LH) is square, the tight head (TH) is not angling in on the hooker, and that the LH is not head-to-head with his opposite TH.

When props angle their body down (poor body shape) they are always heading to the ground and the scrum will almost certainly collapse on engagement.  If a prop’s body position is not right, DO NOT MOVE ON with the engagement sequence.  Bring the front rows up and start again.  Spending time on the set-up will mean there is less likelihood of problems on engagement and post-engagement and a greater likelihood of a successful outcome at the scrum.

Lining up head-to-head is a tactic used by the LH to disrupt the scrum.  This is also dangerous as it does not allow the TH prop to sight the target area for engagement. Initial management should be followed by sanctions (Penalty kick: PK) if the LH prop persists with this tactic.

Make sure that all props set up “square”, so that when they engage they are doing so in a straight line towards their opposite prop.  Looking at the shoulders and head position of the props will assist in determining whether or not they are square.  In particular, look for the TH prop angling in on the hooker.  If you are not satisfied that the props are square, reset the scrum before engagement.  Again, spending time on the set-up will mean there is less likelihood of problems on engagement and post-engagement and a greater likelihood of a successful outcome at the scrum.

ENGAGEMENT

 The engagement sequence is four clear and separate stages.

The referee MUST take control of the timing, i.e. don’t rush the call to suit the players.  It may feel uncomfortable and slow until you get used to it.

Each of the four calls must be followed by an action from both front rows (before proceeding to the next stage).  When the referee says CROUCH, the players must crouch, when the referee says TOUCH all four props must touch at the same time, etc.  Do not move from one call to the next until players have complied with the previous call.

A clear calling of each of the four commands followed by action by the players will assist in getting good player compliance with each stage of the call and the front rows being settled after each command and prior to the next one.

When the referee flows the commands together, the front rows are more likely to become unstable, particularly at the engagement.  There is therefore much greater likelihood of unsettled scrums, reset scrums and collapses.

Making the calls too quickly will cause the teams to lose confidence in the referee, particularly in regard to early engagements where both teams will pre-empt each other and engage early.

Manage the engagement to ensure that all players comply with the commands at each stage and use sanctions where they do not comply after a warning.

Be particularly tough on early engagements.

POST-ENGAGEMENT – some common infringements

 LOOSE HEAD

 Head and Shoulders above hips – The LH may have a good body position at set-up, but at engagement look for them dropping their head and shoulders below the hips or engaging into the scrum with their head and shoulders hitting down causing the scrum to collapse.  Correct sanction is PK.

Hinging – this is the action of the LH prop dropping his shoulder below his hips whilst maintaining his position with his hips, legs and feet – i.e. he is hinging from the hips.  The sanction is a PK.  Referees can assist in managing by clearly saying to the props that they want “shoulders up on engagement”.

Bind on Engagement – insist on the LH binding on engagement.  There should be no “second chance” as this can prevent the TH prop from binding correctly.  Sanction is a PK.

 Keep Square – don’t angle out (left hip) and attack TH – watch for the non feeding LH prop stepping left (around the corner), angling in and then driving across the scrum instead of pushing square straight down the field.   The sanction is a PK.

Driving up – It can often be the LH prop on the opposite side from the put-in that drives the TH  prop upwards.  This may occur even if this prop is dominant.  Again, the requirement is to push square and straight down the field.  The sanction is a PK.

TIGHT HEAD

Angle into opposition Hooker – On engagement both props may hit square and straight and both take the required bind.  Be aware of the TH prop who then angles and drives across on to the opposition hooker.  If the TH angles like this, the LH has no option but to follow him.  Players, coaches and even spectators become frustrated when these offences are clear and the referee penalises the incorrect player.  Watch for the movement of the props and make sure that you identify the first offense.  The sanction is a PK.

Bind – on the back or armpit is OK, on the arm is not OK – The TH prop is required to bind on the back or the armpit of the LH prop.  Binding on the LH’s arm is not acceptable.  By binding on the arm, the TH can force the LH down causing the scrum to collapse. Watch also for the TH who initially binds on the arm and then slides down losing his bind.  This action prevents the opposition LH from being able to bind.  Again, be aware of the first infringement.  The sanction is a PK against the TH for not binding.

Rolling under – This occurs when the TH binds on the arm of the loose head and then rolls his shoulder down.  This action prevents the LH from being able to bind and causes the scrum to collapse.  The sanction is a PK against the TH.

DISRUPTING THE OPPOSITION BALL

Back five walking around – Look for the actions of the TH prop who will step sideways, and then backwards to follow his back 5.  Field position and the speed at which the wheel occurs are good triggers for the referee. A fast wheeling scrum is intentional. Forward momentum followed by a slower wheel is dominance.  The sanction is a PK.

Who is dominant on the hit – If the non-feeding team win the hit, it is likely that they will be the ones to be disruptive, as they will be in a strong position to disrupt the opposition ball.

Location of the scrum on the field  – Consider the location of the scrum on the field, whose feed it is and what each team is trying to achieve at the scrum, as this will give the referee clues about what to look for and his positioning.  Here are some examples:

For a scrum 5m in from touch, LH of the feeding team near the touch line, both teams will be trying to promote the scrum through the same side – feeding team through their TH and non-feeding team through their LH. The non-feeding team will try to get their LH up by walking around the scrum.  This tactic allows them to give their back row an advantage by promoting this side of the scrum, getting them closer to the first receiver and the place where the next breakdown occurs.  This also pushes the feeding team’s back row away from the next play and makes ball delivery more difficult for the feeding scrum half.  The feeding team will be trying to do the opposite, i.e. take the non-feeding team’s back row away from the play, advancing their own back row and giving their scrum half a better delivery position.  By understanding this, the referee will be able to position himself on the in-field side of the scrum to better adjudicate the key contest in this scrum.

For a scrum 5m from the goal line, attacking team’s feed, the defending team is more likely to be the disruptive team by trying to destabilise the attacking team’s scrum from the outset.  This disruption is more likely to come through the defending team’s TH prop and the referee needs to be aware of this and position himself accordingly.

Similarly for a 5m scrum, defending team’s feed, the attacking team, through their LH prop, is more likely to be the disruptive team by trying to destabilise the defending team’s scrum again and the referee needs to be aware of this and position himself accordingly.

For scrums located in other positions on the field (i.e. towards the centre of the field, both sideways and end to end) it is more likely to be the non-feeding LH prop who will be the primary disruptive person.

Referee Positioning – How far should the referee be from the scrum?  Being too close to the scrum, you will narrow your vision and you will not be able to observe the full dynamics of the engagement and subsequent actions.  Starting close to the scrum and moving away at engagement will again not allow you to observe all aspects of the engagement.  Positioning yourself a couple of metres from the scrum will allow you to effectively manage the engagement and also to clearly observe all aspects of the engagement and post-engagement.  At times it may be necessary to start close to the scrum to show your physical presence, in which case it is important to move away quickly to open your vision.  Positioning on either the feeding or non-feeding side will be determined by identifying which team is most likely to be the disruptive team, based on the location on the field and which team is feeding the scrum.

SUMMARY

Scrum set up

Height – both front rows at the same height

All props have head and shoulders above the hips

Head on head – always the LH

Angles – TH attacking the hooker, LH square

Manage the set up, don’t proceed unless everything OK.  Don’t continue to give warnings. Sanction after a warning!

Engagement

Four separate stages:

Take control of the timing

Each command requires an action

Don’t call the engagement to suit the players actions, make the players comply before moving on to the next command

Use sanctions if players fail to comply.

Post-Engagement

Be aware of the following issues on engagement and post-engagement and be strict and correct in dealing with them.

LH Props

Heads and shoulders above the hips

Hinging

Binding on engagement

Engaging square on

Driving up

TH Props

Angling into opposition hooker

Correct binding (on the body of the LH)

Rolling under

 Disrupting the opposition ball

Back five walking around

Who is dominant on the hit

Location on the field should give the referee a clue about where to stand and what to look for

Give yourself a distance to observe

Importantly DON’T guess.  It is acceptable to reset the scrum if you are not sure, but be more aware in the future so you can deal with it.

Learn from watching other and more experienced referees.  If you see something that you think is not acceptable, that the referee either did or did not sanction, think about what happened, what the players actions were, who was the offending player and how you would (and should) deal with it.

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