Ref SCRUM
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SportTranscript
00:00Hi, I'm Ben Whitehouse and I'm a professional rugby referee with the WIU.
00:06In the following video, we are going to examine how we referee the scrum.
00:15Many players in junior rugby are going to be exposed to a pushing contest for the very first time.
00:20When necessary, we should offer advice or help to anyone within the scrum who has bad technique, bad posture or is in a bad position.
00:29Just remember though, it's safety first.
00:32So if anyone is driven off their feet or the scrum is collapsed to ground, we must blow our whistle immediately to stop that scrum.
00:40If at any time you believe that a player's safety is at risk or a player is really struggling,
00:47you can order that player to be replaced or have passive scrums for the rest of the game.
00:52In under 18s rugby, the scrums must be of equal numbers.
00:57This is a non-negotiable.
00:59Right, let's start at the beginning.
01:01It's best practice that we speak to both sets of front rows and the coaches before the game starts.
01:08This is so that we can build rapport with those players and coaches and also give our expectations.
01:14This gives us the opportunity to answer any questions or queries that these may have before the game starts.
01:21Have you got any questions on that?
01:23Good. Have a good game. Good luck.
01:26But remember to keep it simple and don't overcomplicate it.
01:31When setting up a scrum, there's always a checklist I go through.
01:34Okay, let's go through it.
01:36Okay, knock on. It's going to be green ball.
01:39First thing I do once it's a scrum is I mark the middle so the hookers know where the middle is.
01:46Check the back lines are five metres back from the back foot.
01:49The next thing I look for is to make sure that the hookers have got a good break foot, which I can see here.
01:55I just have a quick glance that the props are bound nicely onto the hooker and then I can move on from there.
02:01The first call of the process is crouch.
02:04When I call crouch, I want to make sure that they bend at the hips but their heads and shoulders aren't below their waists.
02:11Crouch.
02:13I want to make sure that the heads aren't also touching on shoulders or they're not touching head on head.
02:19That the props are looking forward into the gaps that they're about to hit into, as you can see here.
02:25What we don't want to see is the front row bent over below their waist and not looking forward.
02:31This is not safe and can lead to a collapsed scrum.
02:34We also don't want to see head against head.
02:36This can also lead to undue pressure on the neck and cause confusion on which side to go when they engage.
02:43The second scrum call is bind.
02:47Crouch.
02:49Bind.
02:52What I'm looking for is that the flankers are full arm bound.
02:56Their number eights are full arm bound and then the props are bound on to their opposition props.
03:02On the backs and not on the arms, as we can see here.
03:07It's not permitted for the number eight to slingshot and not be attached.
03:12You cannot bind on an opposition's elbow. This is a penalty offence.
03:16Players must wait for the call. Front rows must hold their own weight and not engage early.
03:22If this happens, you get up and start again.
03:25The third call of the process is set, which is when both sets of packs come together.
03:32Crouch.
03:35Bind.
03:36Set.
03:38Once they're set, I make sure they're all stable and square before I invite the nine to put the ball in.
03:45Both front rows need to push straight.
03:47You can't change your angle to gain an advantage.
03:50It's not safe and could lead to the scrum collapsing.
03:53Pushing before the ball comes in is also an infringement.
03:56The recommendation would be to reset the scrum the first time as they are still learning.
04:01But if it continues, it's a free kick.
04:04Free kick. Pushing early.
04:07When you are happy with both sides are stable, you can invite the scrum off to put the ball in.
04:13Key actions to look for are the ball should be fed into the middle.
04:18The ball should be fed into the middle.
04:20There is a strike for the ball by the hooker and only the number 8 or scrum off to play the ball once it's travelled through the scrum.
04:29The scrum off must not feed the ball in the direction of his team.
04:33Both hookers must only strike when the ball comes in.
04:37Props cannot change their bind and must drive straight.
04:41It's also illegal to drive up and this would result in a penalty.
04:47Let's go through the scrum procedure in real time.
04:52Crouch.
04:55Bind.
04:58Set.
05:03We have covered lots of areas within the scrum but please remember there are many variations at Pathway Rugby and these players are still learning.
05:12Know your laws but also referee with empathy.
05:15I hope you've enjoyed and for many more resources head to the WRU Game Locker.
05:20Pub luck.