# Law 19: Scrum (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 19: Scrum · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-19-scrum/)

Where scrums go and who throws in, forming and engaging, the throw, offside at a scrum, resets, ending and dangerous play.

## 19.191 Where the Scrum Goes and Who Throws In

The scrum table: place and throw for knock forwards, unplayable balls, mauls and resets.

### Test 1: Where the scrum goes and who throws in

- A scrum restarts play with a contest for possession after a minor infringement or stoppage. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19, Principle)
- In the scrum zone at the point closest to the infringement. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1)
- The non-offending team throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1)
- When the defending team plays or takes the ball into in-goal and makes it dead, the attacking team throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1)
- An unplayable tackle or ruck: the team last moving forward throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1)
- Failure to "use it" at a scrum, ruck or maul: the team not in possession throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1)
- After a reset with no infringement, the ball is thrown in by the team that previously threw it in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1, 19.35)
- A knock or throw forward at a lineout: the scrum is 15 metres in from the mark of touch. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1)
- The non-offending team throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1-3)
- An incorrect kick-off: the scrum is as near as possible to the middle of the line it was taken from. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.1)

## 19.192 Forming and Engagement

Numbers, binding, the brake foot and the calls crouch, bind and set.

### Test 1: Forming and engagement

- Teams must be ready to form the scrum within 30 seconds. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.4)
- Eight from each team: two props and a hooker, two locks and three back-row players. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.5)
- A reduced team may have fewer in the scrum, but never fewer than five. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.6)
- The hooker binds with both arms, either over or under the arms of the props. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.7b)
- Heads go to the left of their immediate opponents', so no head touches an opponent's neck or shoulders. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.10b)
- Loose-head: left arm inside the tight-head's right arm, gripping the back or side of the jersey. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.11a)
- Each front-row player must have both feet on the ground with their weight firmly on at least one. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.12c)
- Hookers must have a brake foot placed to help stability; it is removed only at "set". (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.10c, 19.12a)
- Crouch, bind, set; then the throw. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.10-15)
- 3, 5 and 8. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.5-6)

## 19.193 The Throw and During the Scrum

The scrum-half's throw, when the scrum begins, pushing, striking and "use it".

### Test 1: The throw and during the scrum

- The scrum-half chooses which side to throw in from. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.13)
- The ball is thrown in so that it first touches the ground inside the tunnel. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.15g)
- The scrum-half may align their shoulder on the middle line, a shoulder-width towards their own side. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.15f)
- The scrum begins when the ball leaves the hands of the scrum-half. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.16)
- Only when the scrum begins may the teams push. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.17)
- The hooker of the throwing team must strike for the ball. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.22)
- Either foot may strike, but not both at the same time. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.21)
- The throw must be straight. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.15f)
- Front-rowers may strike only once the ball has touched the ground in the tunnel. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.15, 19.20)
- Not using it at once leads to a scrum to the other team. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.26)

## 19.194 Offside at a Scrum

Players in and out of the scrum, the scrum-halves and the try line.

### Test 1: Offside at a scrum

- Players remain onside for the duration of the scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.27)
- Non-participants stay at least five metres behind the hindmost foot of their team. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.31)
- When the hindmost foot is in in-goal or within five metres of the try line, the offside line is the try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.32)
- Next to the opposing scrum-half on their own side, or at least five metres behind their hindmost foot. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.28)
- The scrum-half of the team in possession has at least one foot level with or behind the ball. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.29)
- As soon as the scrum ends, offside lines no longer apply. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.33)
- Offside at the scrum is sanctioned by a penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.32)
- Number 12 is short of team B's line, which is offside. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.31)
- Middle, then the last foot, then five metres further. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.31)
- Once the ball is out and the scrum is over, the lines go. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.33, 19.36)

## 19.195 Resets, Ending and Dangerous Play

When a scrum is reset, how it ends, and dangerous or restricted practices.

### Test 1: Resets, ending and dangerous play

- With no infringement, a scrum wheeled through more than 90 degrees is reset. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.34c)
- If neither side wins possession, the scrum is reset. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.34d)
- If the ball is repeatedly kicked out of the tunnel, the referee must treat it as intentional. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.34e)
- The scrum ends when the number eight picks up the ball from the feet of a second-row player. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.36c)
- A front row charging against the opposition is dangerous play. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.37a)
- Bringing the ball back into the scrum is a restricted practice. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.38d)
- A scrum-half kicking the ball while it is in the scrum: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.38b)
- If the ball comes out at either end of the tunnel, the scrum is reset and the same team throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.34a, 19.35)
- Picking the ball up at the back ends the scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.36)
- Reset, free-kick, penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 19.34, 19.37-38)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 19 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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