Rugby Law 15: Ruck

Can a ruck take place in goal?

• Yes

• No

A ruck is formed when:

• the referee calls "ruck"

• at least one player from each team are in contact, on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground.

• The defending team has a bridge set.

• the attacking team brings at least 2 players over the tackled player and past the ball.

Players involved in all stages of the ruck must have;

• A bridge player.

• A jackal set.

• A pod set.

• Their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips.

What is wrong with this picture?

• Red team have their feet on the offside line.

• Yellow team have their feet behind the offside line.

• Yellow team have a player offside unbound at the ruck.

• Red ream have too many players in the ruck

An arriving player must

• be bound before entering the ruck.

• be on their feet and join from behind their offside line.

• be in pairs.

• Rotate their hips.

A player may :

• join alongside but not in front of the hindmost player.

• join the ruck at the feet of the tackled player.

• join the ruck at the shoulders of the tackled player.

• join the along side the tackled player.

A player must bind onto a team-mate or an opposition player. The bind must precede or be simultaneous with contact with any other part of the body.

• Failure to do this will result in a Yellow Card.

• Failure to do this will result in a penalty.

• Failure to do this will result in a red card.

• Failure to do this will result in a scrum.

Players must join the ruck or retire behind their offside line immediately.

• or receive a penalty.

• unless they are the first supporting player.

• unless they have a mullet.

• or receive a red card.

Players who have previously been part of the ruck may rejoin the ruck, provided:

• They are endowed with an impressive mullet.

• only if to clear players smothering the ball.

• they bind to a member of their team first.

• they do so from an onside position.

• only if the player rejoining the ruck does so from the right or left of the ruck.

Once a ruck has formed, no player may handle the ball unless

• they were able to get their hands on the ball before the ruck formed and stay on their feet.

• they were always on their feet.

• They have both hands on the ball and never had their knees or legs on the floor.

• They have both hands on the ball.