THE SCRUM
The inability of teams to gain first phase possession from scrums is often the cause of their defeat. The following points are vital to ensure the success and safety of the scrum:
•	All 8 players must learn to bind together correctly.	•	The referee must be in full control of the scrum
•	The players must only bind on instruction from the referee	•	Engage sequence is called by the referee: ….. pause … hold … engage!
•	The front rows must go into a crouching position ensuring their shoulders are above their hips	•	Players must engage with their heads to the left of their opposition
•	Ensure all players’ feet are a shoulder width apart, as this stabilises the scrum	•	Players must lift their heads as this ensures the back remains straight
•	ALL player’s legs must be bent 120 degrees before pushing	•	All players must push together, using both legs to maximize the full force of the scrum, for the scrum to be effective.
•	The front row must be an arm’s length apart from the opposition before engaging
•	The front row players must not move their feet as this causes everyone behind them to have to re-arrange their feet, resulting in an unstable scrum
BINDING IN THE SCRUM
PROPS AND THE HOOKER (NUMBERS 1,2 AND 3)
NUMBERS 1 AND 2 BIND FIRST
The hooker (number 2) lifts both his arms while the loose-head prop (number 1) binds first, holding on to the hooker’s shorts.
NUMBERS 1,2 AND 3:
The tight-head prop (number 3) places his left arm over that of the loose-head prop and binds with the hooker’s shorts. Note: When it is your own scrum the hooker may want the tighthead prop to be a little further forward, in which case the tight-head prop (number 3) would bind to the hooker before the loose-head prop. Generally speaking the hooker would raise both his arms in the air and the two props would automatically bind onto him. Both props must have their shoulders in line with that of the hooker – this is to ensure straight scrummaging.
NUMBERS 4 AND 5: THE TWO LOCKS
Number 4 locks bind to the number 5 lock in the same way as the loose-head prop (number 1) binds to the hooker (number 2). Number 5 lock in turn, binds over the arm of the number 4 lock. The two locks then bind themselves with their outer arms between the legs of the props, holding on to their shorts as tightly as possible and as close to their own ear as possible. This ensures the props’ legs and buttocks are pulled firmly onto the locks’ shoulders.
NUMBERS 6 AND 7: THE FLANKERS
Number 6 Flanker (loose-head flanker) goes down at a right angle behind the loose-head prop (number 1) and binds himself to the loose-head lock (number 4) with his right arm. The number 7 Flanker ( goes down at a right angle behind the tight-head prop (number 3) and binds himself to the tight head lock with his left arm.
NUMBER 8: THE EIGHTMAN
The eighthman places his head between the two locks and can bind to them in one of two ways. He can either put his arms around them or he can bind himself between their legs by holding onto their shorts in the same way as the locks bind themselves to the props.
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