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Rugby Maul

Know and understand the rugby maul in rugby games. What you must do and how you use a maul to gain ground.

When the ball carrier is held but not brought to the ground a maul may form.

For a maul to form...

There must be a least three players

The three players must include

The ball carrier
An opponent, holding the ball carrier
A team mate of the ball carrier, bound to the ball carrier

Players must be on their feet and attempt to stay on their feet
The players must be in the field of play
The group of players must be moving towards a goal-line

When a maul has formed...

The maul must keep moving towards a goal-line

The players must attempt to stay on their feet
Players must avoid collapsing the maul
Players in it must have head/shoulders at/above height of hips

An offside line comes into force for each team
The offside line for each team is parallel to the goal-line and right behind the foot of the hindmost player in the maul

Other players may only join the maul by coming from behind the offside line and binding onto the hindmost player in the maul
All other players must be behind or go behind their offside line

Reason for a maul...

Using the skill, strength and bulk of the more powereful players, the maul is one of the rugby techniques for moving the ball towards the opposition in-goal area.

The ball can be moved from player to player within the maul as long as the maul keeps moving and the players stay bound together.

The maul is like a small swarm of bees with the ball tucked inside. Coordinate the pushing, move the ball forward.

Weak points are found and progress made. If no progress is being made the team holding the ball must move it to players outside the maul or risk losing possession.

Return from Rugby Maul to Basic Rugby Rules

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