Rugby Ruck

Know and understand the rugby ruck in rugby games. What, where, when, why and how so you can be confident about what you can and cannot do.

For a ruck to form...

When the ball is on the ground and players are close to it, a ruck may form. The match official will decide when a ruck has formed and call out "Ruck!"

You need to know because it affects what you can and cannot do.

For a ruck to form...

The following conditions must be met.

• The ball must be on the ground
• It must be in the field of play
• At least one player from each team

• The players must be in physical contact
• The players must be close around the ball
• The players must be on their feet and try to stay on their feet

Have fun - create a picture in your head so you remember the ruck.

When a ruck has formed...

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

also

• 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 ruck

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

Within the ruck, the ball can be played only with your feet.

No hands allowed.

Reason for a ruck...

Using the skill, strength and bulk of the more powereful players, the ruck is one of the rugby techniques for gaining possession of the ball.

Even if the ball is within the control of the opposing team, with the right combination of skill, strength and bulk the opposition can be pushed backwards over the ball and made to lose possession.

This technique is covered in more detail in rugby rucking.