You May Subscribe To This Site

Rugby mauling

Rugby mauling explained here will help you know and understand how you can confidently join a maul and know what to do when you are in the thick of it.

The maul - where you do the mauling

A maul may form when play breaks down
in the normal flow of a rugby game.
Know when a maul has formed
and you will be more confident in general play
and give away no penalties through being unsure.

The maul is covered in the Laws of the Game.
Please be sure you know what a maul is
and how a maul is formed.
If you need to, find out on the page about the rugby maul.

Being part of a maul

If you are not one of the players
present when the maul forms,
you join the maul correctly when you enter "through the gate".
Know how to do this or find out at rugby support play.

You must join the maul safely.
As part of entering the maul correctly
ensure the level of your shoulders
is above or equal to the level of your hips.
You reduce injuries in the ruck and
it will help you stay on your feet.
Having arrived at the ruck area correctly
you must bind onto (alongside) the hindmost player.

You must not jump on top of a maul
or attempt to drag another player
out of a maul.

What is mauling

The objective of mauling
is to win possession of the ball.
Mauling will normally be done by the forwards
but any player may maul.

Much pushing and shoving occurs
in rugby mauling
as you try to get the ball
and smuggle it away from the opposition.

Good posture or body height is needed.
Crouching, well ballanced,
feet shoulder width apart
and half a pace apart,
ready to do your share of pushing.
Have your chin up to shorten and protect your neck.

You must stay bound to other team members
with the full length of at least one arm.
Aim to stay on your feet.
Only the ball carrier may go to ground
but if they do
they must make the ball available immediately.

You may drive the opposition backwards
to make ground.
Make contact with opponents
with the front of your shoulder,
use the power in your legs
as you drive them back.
At the same time you are also struggling
to control the ball
which is amongst the arms
of the contesting players.
Great upper body and leg strength is required
as players attempt to rip the ball
out of the arms of the opposition.
Teamwork and co-ordination is required
as you struggle for control.

All players in the maul must remain bound,
with a full arm bind, until the maul is over.
If you become detatched
you must retreat behind your offside line.
From that position, you can rejoin the maul if you wish to.

You aim to move the ball
to the fringes (back or sides) of the maul
so that one of your players
can peal off the maul with the ball
and create a new phase of play.

The maul must keep moving during this process.
Basically, if the maul stops moving
for more than five seconds
the match official may stop the game
and restart with a scrum.

Return from Rugby mauling to How to play rugby

Evtechs Sports Training
Sydney, Australia