Can Anyone Explain How To Ruck in Rugby Union or 7's?

Question

I know the basic idea but need a better understanding

Answer 1

Basically just stay on your feet and keep the ball on your teams side by handling or pushing other players back over it. New rules coming in allow the use of the hands.

Answer 2

To ruck you must use your feet and you cant use your hands or you will be penalised. A ruck is called when the ball carrier has gone to the ground and at least 1 player from each team is bound together to form a ruck. You must come through the gate (hinmost foot). You can not ruck a player in the face and you should ruck only where the ball is and your feet shall be in a rucking motion not a upwards climbing stairs effect as this is seen by the ref as danger player and you will be penalised.

Answer 3

A ruck will usually occur after a tackle when the player on the ground places the ball (i say usually as there are some criteria that have to be met for the ruck to have been 'formed').

For a ruck to be formed:

-A player must have been tackled, or dropped to the ground in possession of the ball (dove on a loose ball) and immediately held to the ground.  

-One player from each team must then be in contest for the ball over the tackled player (player on the ground) and the ball.

Once the ruck is formed players cannot use their hands to gain possession of the ball, but must instead use their feet in an effort to play the ball out of the ruck. The ball is deemed to be 'out' once it has passed the last foot of the last player involved in the ruck (as in a scrum). In using your feet you may not stamp (up and down motion), but can use a 'chicken scratch' (similar to riding a bicycle) motion to move the ball and any opposition players impeding the ball's progress. Stamping, or rucking a player in the face, is a straight red card offence.

The player who originally had the ball (tackled player) and the tackler, must then make an effort to remove themselves from the ruck - and must not be seen to impede the ball's progress to either side of the breakdown. Doing so, or failure to remove themselves if causing an impediment to the ball, will result in a penalty.

Players who join a ruck must enter from the 'gate', which is immediately behind the last player in the ruck. Coming in from the side, or anywhere other than the gate, will result in an offside penalty.

In addition to this, it is illegal for a player to come off his feet and fall over the ball, making it unplayable. Some referees will give alot of leeway on this aspect of the law, but in general it is never a good idea to fall (intentionally or not) over to the other side of the ruck.

once the ball is out, it is then deemed to be in open play until the next breakdown is formed.

In 15's it is not uncommon for all the forwards on a team to join a ruck and contest the ball. However, in 7's only 2 people from either team, maximum, will join the breakdown. This is due to the fact that 'over committing' can cause gaps in the defense and allow the opposing team space to cross the gain line (7's is played much more like league in this sense). So in 7's, a defensive team will try to 'scragg' the ball carrier and then retreat back to defense, while in 15's the ruck is an all out war of attrition.

Answer 4

the ruck is when the ball carrier is brought to ground and his teammates step over him to help retain possession. when the referee calls a ruck he is telling the team without the ball that they cannot play the ball. to form a ruck the man binding on must attach from behind the furthest back guys foot so not to be offside

Answer 5

Basically all good text book answers.

But the real question is why ruck?

Avoid at all costs.

Rucks are a good opportunity to lose possession.

Mauling is preferable and running freely even better.

Rucking is all about driving, you can't touch the ball on the deck, so if the ball goes to ground it is an invitation for the team that can get the best drive on to fight to retain or turn the ball over. Even if you can't win the ball but can demonstrate that your team was advancing you will win possession when the ref blows the ruck up with the suggestion that the ball was never coming out or it would be unsafe to continue.

But mauling is where its at. Basically the same as a ruck but the ball is off the ground. So much power moving forward. But get this . . . if the maul is brought down it is an instant scrum feed or 3 point play if repeatedly offending.

So. . . if you can make it appear as though the opposition are bringing down their own maul, preferable as your team is advancing: sure turn over.

In the southern Hemisphere at least these tactics have been common place for so long that in the ELVs or Experimental Law Variations due to be tested in this year's Super 14 championship, allow defending teams to pull the maul down, and if a maul becomes unplayable it is an instant free kick to the team not in possession at the start of the maul.

If you have someone who can kick a bit, and a forward pack that knows whats going on - easy points!