Rugby Scrum: Art & Science Quiz / Test | Rugby Union

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The scrum is an extremely important part of rugby union and a good scrum can boost team morale. There are many infringements in the sport that can lead to a scrum but which of the following is one such infringement?

Answer: Knock On / Knock Forward

It is indeed the case that the aim of rugby is to move forward to the opponent's goal (try) line to score five points, however, the ball usually has to travel backward. If you pass the ball to another member of your team and that team member was in front of you then it is considered a forward pass. If you accidentally drop the ball forward then you also lose possession.

In both instances play will restart with a scrum with the put in given to the opposing team. If one deliberately knocks a ball forward in order to gain an advantage then he/she can expect to have a penalty awarded against them and even to be sent from the field for ten minutes (yellow card). If this penalty kick offence takes place in the in-goal area and the deliberate knock on stops what would have been a try, then a penalty try is awarded and a conversion kick is taken on a line perpendicular to the halfway point between the two goal posts.

2. There are eight men or women per team in a typical 15-a-side match of rugby union that partake in scrummaging. However, at what position is a competitor playing in if they are responsible for competing for a ball in a scrum immediately after the feed? This player is usually assigned the number 2 jersey and often throws the ball in at the line-out.

Answer: Hooker

The position of hooker is one of the most dangerous and physical on the pitch, particularly when a scrum collapses. It is for this reason, the safety of the hooker and prop forwards, that collapsing the scrum is a penalty offence. If a player is persistent in their urge to collapse the scrum they will get a yellow card and ten minutes to think about their behavior!

The hooker will generally be the team's line-out thrower which is quite a tricky endeavour. The ball has to be thrown in straight and must travel at least 5 metres; fall foul of any of these stipulations and the team will lose possession.

3. There are many player positions in the game of rugby including inside centre, outside centre and scrum half. These positions all have specific jobs on the field of play, but which of the following is the actual name of a rugby position?

Answer: Number Eight

The number eight plays at the back of the scrum pack and is responsible for guiding the ball from the hooker in the front row to the scrum half by using their feet. The number eight has a couple of options at this point. Firstly they can pick up the ball themselves (they are at the back of the scrum so they can legally release their bind once the ball arrives at their feet) and run with it and secondly, they can let the scrum half pick up the ball and it is at this point that the scrum is at its end.

The number nine is the scrum half and numbers twelve and thirteen are the two centres.

4. The rugby union scrum is essentially a power struggle between the two opposing teams, the stronger side will dominate. However, there are certain actions that will give a team an unfair advantage such as feeding the ball into the scrum at an angle. If this is spotted by the referee then what is the official sanction?

Answer: Free kick to opponents

There are quite a few infringements at the scrum that result in a free kick (a tap of the ball on the foot through the mark and progress forward) including engaging too early, a feed that isn't straight and taking the ball back into the scrum when the referee has called it out.

In recent years it has become common to see players feed the ball into the scrum such that the feeding team has an unfair advantage in the contest. It is often brought up by commentators on TV and radio, usually in amazement that the referee cannot see what is going on!

5. In a rugby union scrum, what is the name given to the space between opposition front rows through which the ball is fed?

Answer: Tunnel

If a scrum is formed correctly there should be a space between the two teams and it is into this space that a scrum half feeds the ball. The space is known as the tunnel and there is an opening on either side of the scrum. This allows the scrum half to decide which side would be the most tactically advantageous. If the ball comes out of the other side of the tunnel, the scrum has to start again.

6. In rugby union, a line-out is a method of returning a dead ball into play. The line-out takes place between 5m to 15m from the touch line, which is the line from which a player throws the ball back in to be caught. How far from the touch line are scrums formed if there is an infringement during the line-out?

Answer: 15 metres

There are various infringements at the line-out which result in a scrum at the 15m line including a throw that is not straight. The aim of the line-out is to make a dead ball live but this has to be done such that there is a fair contest between the teams to win the ball. If there isn't a fair contest then the throw is deemed not straight and the ball is usually given to the opposition for a scrum at the 15m line.

7. In the sport of rugby union, scrums can only be formed at certain parts of the playing enclosure. Can a scrum be formed in the in-goal area?

Answer: No

If an infringement takes place in the in-goal zone (area enclosed by the dead-ball line, goal line and touch-in-goal lines) that results in a scrum, then that scrum cannot be formed at the point at which the infringement occurred. In such examples the scrum is formed five metres from the appropriate goal (try) line and at a distance five metres from the touch line.

This is often known as a "scrum five".

8. If a front row player is given a red card, that player is out for the rest of the game. The substitution rules allow the team to substitute one of the players that have not been sent off in order to allow another front row player on to the field. What happens at the next scrum if there are no trained front row players available to take the place of the man or woman given a red card?

Answer: The scrum, and all scrums thereafter, are to be uncontested

At international level and the levels immediately below it, the implementation of uncontested scrums is a real let down. An uncontested scrum is exactly that, uncontested! The team who puts the ball into the scrum has to win it and the job of the front row is rendered obsolete.

It is a total non-spectacle when it happens but fortunately, at the top level, it is a rare occurrence. The uncontested scrum is an annoyance but is important if the safety of the players is to be maintained. There are horrendous, though extremely rare, examples of players receiving severe neck injuries whilst playing rugby and the rules at the scrum have to be strictly enforced to ensure the game is enjoyed by all in a safe manner.

9. Whilst a scrum is taking place on the rugby pitch, all players that are not taking part in the scrum must stand behind an offside line. How far back from the hindmost foot of one's hindmost player in a scrum must such players stand to be considered onside?

Answer: 5 metres

Casual viewers of the game will notice that all players that are not immediately involved in the scrum stand a distance behind the scrum. This is to ensure that they are onside and can play the ball if their team mates win the scrum. The players that are behind the offside line (five metres back) can only advance beyond this line once the scrum has ended. If at any time a player is caught offside and is deemed to be interfering with play then they will give away a penalty or a penalty advantage. The penalty advantage can be viewed as a suspended sentence! If the non-offending side gain an advantage in terms of territory or tactics after the other team have offended, then play is allowed to carry on. If the non-offending team do not gain that advantage, then play is stopped and the penalty is given. Applying the advantage rule is basically an attempt to make the game flow.

10. Due to problems at the scrum, a directive was applied (until mid-2013) which stated that the referee had to call out the four phases of the scrum. In what order were the phases?

Answer: Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage

These orders are given at the set-up of every single scrum. When "crouch" is called by the referee the packs prepare to form the scrum. The flankers then tap their opposing number's shoulder at the call of "touch" but this motion is only complete once the flankers have all withdrawn their arm away from the opposing team. A quick "pause" is then demanded followed by "engage" where the scrum gets going. This sounds rather laborious in writing but it usually functions fairly well on the field. Sometimes there is an issue with inconsistent delivery of the orders by the referee. Either the referee changes the pace at which the commands are given or the commands are dictated by the players, the players touching their opponent's shoulder and then the referee calling "touch" for example. It is not uncommon to see the scrum "engage" before the call of the referee to do so but it seems to be overlooked to maintain the flow of the game.

From mid-2013 the instructions became "crouch, bind, set" - front rows have to bind before engaging and packs cannot push until the referee is happy.

Source: Author jonnowales

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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Rugby Scrum: Art & Science Trivia Quiz

The entire game of rugby union is based on the success or failure of the scrum. If the scrum fails then the backs can't undertake spectacular runs to the goal line and reset after reset is seen. Good luck (All questions neglect existence of youth rules)!

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