Rugby · Level 4: Intermediate · Sub-level 4.1
Scrummaging
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown
At the scrum two packs compete for the ball, and fine margins decide the contest. Body position comes first: a flat back passes force safely, the hips sit above the knees and level with the shoulders, wide feet give balance and push, and eyes up keep the spine in line. Mismatched heights cause collapses. The engagement follows a set sequence, crouch, bind, engage and hold, in which the bind comes before the push; a controlled hit means less impact and fewer injuries, and stability comes before the put-in.
Once the ball is in, every forward drives as one, with short steps and low hips; the prize for a dominant shove is a pushover try, ahead of a penalty or the ball. The ball can be channelled: channel one is the fast route out, while channel two, between the locks, feeds the number eight or nine and gives the pack time to drive. A dominant scrum is a weapon, since penalties give options and scrums near the line can score. Defending the opposition put-in, pressure makes the ball come out messy and slows the nine. Grip is everything, so ground and boots matter, and fatigue shows first in the scrum, where fresh front-rowers win late scrums and a late scrum penalty can win a match.
The facts below cover body position, the engagement, the shove, channels, attack and defence at the scrum, training, conditions, pressure and famous scrummaging nations such as South Africa, France, Argentina and Georgia.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1Body position in the scrumTake a test
A flat back passes force safely.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Hips above the knees, level with the shoulders.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Wide feet give balance and push.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Eyes up keeps the spine in line.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The angle lets the legs push.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Mismatched heights cause collapses.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Core strength holds the shape.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Base first, then the angles, then the head.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Flat is safest.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Classic scrum body position.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 2The engagementTake a test
A controlled hit protects necks.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The bind comes before the push.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Less impact, fewer injuries.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Timing must match.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A good start wins the scrum.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Stability before the put-in.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Fine margins decide scrums.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Crouch, bind, engage, hold.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
The modern sequence keeps impact low.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Packs coming together.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 3The eight-man shoveTake a test
Every forward drives as one.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The eight drives through the locks.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A pushover try is the prize.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Tight flankers add weight.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Dominance brings rewards.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Short steps keep the scrum stable.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Low hips align the push.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Feed, strike, hold, drive.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Try, penalty, ball, loss.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
The whole pack pushing as one.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 4Channelling the ballTake a test
Channel one is the fast route out.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Channel two feeds the number eight or nine.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Speed over stability.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Holding gives the pack time to drive.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Feet guide the ball back.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Ball at the eight's feet starts back-row moves.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Some packs push and let the ball roll back.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Feed, strike, locks, eight.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Channel one is quickest.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Between the locks is channel two.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 5The scrum as an attacking platformTake a test
A dominant scrum is a weapon.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Fewer defenders in the backline.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Penalties give options.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Fresh front-rowers win late scrums.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Scrums near the line can score.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Close-range scrums are try chances.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Knowledge wins the set piece.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Choose, set, win, attack.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Closer means more dangerous.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Scrums near the line can score.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 6Defending the opposition put-inTake a test
Pressure makes the ball come out messy.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Pressure on the nine slows ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Bound flankers help the shove.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Winning the opponents' scrum ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The first contact matters.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Backs prepare for the move.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
The eight covers the back-row move.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Engage, hold, push, break.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Steal, penalty, slow, clean.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Pressure spoils the attacking ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 7Scrum trainingTake a test
Scrums are specialist work.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Data shows who pushes.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Live scrums add realism.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Load must be managed.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Small details decide scrums.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Strong necks are safer.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Build up safely.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Technique, load, live, review.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Live is the heaviest.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Packing down on a machine.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 8Scrums in different conditionsTake a test
Grip is everything in a scrum.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Long studs grip soft ground.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Unstable ground, unstable scrum.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Wet ball, risky set piece.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Firm ground suits a pushing pack.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Hybrid pitches give stable footing.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Warm muscles are safer.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Firm footing is best.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Check, boots, warm-up, scrum.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Slippery ground undermines the scrum.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 9Pressure at the scrumTake a test
Fatigue shows first in the scrum.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Scrum dominance across the match.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Replacements keep power late.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A late scrum penalty can win it.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A bent line loses power.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Set-piece wins lift a team.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A scrum win is a big moment.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Probe, find, target, profit.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Late penalties decide matches.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Dominance at the set piece.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 10Famous scrummaging nationsTake a test
The Springbok scrum is famous.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
French rugby prizes the scrum.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Argentina's bajada was a pack-wide push.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Scrum penalties built South Africa's lead.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Georgia produces strong props.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Technique beats weight.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Technique can beat size.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
1987, 1991, 1995 and 2003.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Technique first.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
The set piece decided that final.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Questions people ask
- What is the correct body position in a scrum?
- A flat back, hips above the knees and level with the shoulders, wide feet and eyes up. Core strength holds that shape, and a flat back is the safest position.
- What is the scrum engagement sequence?
- The modern sequence is crouch, bind, engage and hold. The bind comes before the push, which keeps impact low and protects necks.
- What is a pushover try?
- A pushover try is the prize when the whole pack drives as one and dominates the scrum. A penalty or simply winning the ball are the lesser rewards.
- What are channel one and channel two at a scrum?
- Channel one is the fast route out of the scrum. Channel two runs between the locks and feeds the number eight or nine, giving the pack time to drive.
- What was Argentina's bajada?
- The bajada was Argentina's pack-wide push, a scrummaging method in which all eight forwards push together.
- How do ground conditions affect the scrum?
- Grip is everything: long studs grip soft ground, while slippery or unstable ground undermines the scrum. Firm ground suits a pushing pack, and hybrid pitches give stable footing.
- How does a pack defend the opposition put-in?
- Pressure on the opposing pack makes the ball come out messy, and pressure on the nine slows it. Bound flankers add to the shove while the number eight covers a back-row move.
Sources
World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.
- General rugby union reference100