How does the breakdown in Rugby Union work???

Question

Can someone please please please explain this? Like, how many people can join the ruck (ruck?) when theres a tackle, and why does the rest of the team line out along the pitch, when can they run again, and can the defending team ever get possession of the ball during the breakdown?

Answer 1

seb is partially right.

when there are only two people it is still technically a tackle and therefore there is no offside. small, arcane rule most players dont know (and most refs here in southern california)

the ruck/ maul is formed when a third person enters the tackle arena and binds on.

usually, its pretty obvious which team is going to recover the ball, and if it is the team that is defending sets up a defensive line behind the feet of the rearmost person in the ruck. when you know you cant win it, its best to remove as many people from it as possible to establish a tight defense around the ruck where many "pick and gos" tend to be directed. its no use adding bodies to the ruck if they clearly have it on thier side and are setting up a play.

a maul is a different story though as the maul will be moving.

maul = ball being held and still in the air

ruck= ball on the ground.

when you have the ball in a maul, you try to move it forward as far as you can, and if they are moving you back you stand a chance of turning the ball over so you should drop to the ground (assuming your the ball carrier) and make it a ruck. rucks, generally, dont go anywhere.

the same principle applies when you have the ball in a ruck, you only commit as many players as necessary to maintain possesion of the ball and set up and offensive line starting behind the feet of the rearmost person in the ruck.

but, as goes anything rugby, the ruck and maul areas are fluid dynamic events and anything can happen. ive gone right through the middle of a loose ruck, picked up the ball on the other side and made a break. perfectly legal. but only happened because the other team was being lax in thier rucking. YOU MUST PROTECT THE BALL AT ALL TIMES. just bridging over loosely may not cut the mustard.

proper form in that ruck would be too low to be easily pulled/ pushed and yet still on your feet. youd essentially be in the position to do a pushup, however, not with your hands on the ground but on the player.

you must always enter the ruck from the very back and preferably in a square (perpendicular) line to the horizontal lines on the field. thats entering "through the gate."

Answer 2

Yeah, Seb pretty summed up the official side of it.  The problem with ruling on the breakdown for a referee is that often there are three to four infringements going on at once.  It's hard to really truely police the breakdown for those that have an extensive knowlege of the rules like referees so it's nearly impossible for us the generable public to comprehend what's really going on.  When you're playing you very rarely even see your own teams infringements and only see the oppositions infringements most of the time.  

Here's the real world terms to keep yourself sane when looking for the breakdown rules.

-  A ruck is formed when one player from each team forms over a tackled player.  But really, you just need to listen to when the ref screams "that's a ruck!"

-  One of the more important rules at the breakdown is that if you're off your feet (have a knee or arm on the ground) then you can't make a play at the ball.  You'll just get instantly penalised for that.

-  You've got to enter a ruck through "the gate" which is an imaginary zone between shoulder and hip on the tackled player on your own teams side of the ball.  If you enter from the side of the ruck or from the other teams side you'll be penalised for "coming in from the side."

-  If you're on your feet and you approach the tackle ball from the gate you can attempt to take the ball BEFORE a ruck is formed.  Be sure to listen for the ref screaming "it's a ruck now, hands off."  Most times if you are hit and the player on the ground still has the ball they will be penalised for not releasing the ball.

-  If you're not in a ruck and waiting to tackle someone you have to line up in line with the back player in your teams ruck feet.  If you hear the ref screaming "last mans feet" then that's what he means and you need to get back onside.  You can advance on the opposition once the ball is out of the ruck.  Ref's usually determine the ball is out of the ruck once the ball is at the back of the ruck and "a bird can c**p on it" or if the halfback has his hands on the ball at the back of the ruck.

Those are the main points Ryan.  I hope that helps mate.

Answer 3

Basically everyone has the right idea. I only know because im one of those nice refs. but with the elvs coming in this year every where but the southern hemisphere i believe the rules have changed a lot. still have to come in thru the gate but know hands are allowed in the ruck which may bring back the boots again. we will have to wait and see

Answer 4

A ruck is formed when at least one player from each side bind onto each other with the ball on the ground between them. A ruck often ensues following the tackle-ball phase. As soon as at least two players, one from each side, are in physical contact together with the ball on the ground, a ruck has formed. This physical contact, or binding, is generally by locking shoulders while facing each other. Additional players may join the ruck, but must do so from behind the rearmost foot of the hindmost team mate in the ruck; this is often referred to as "coming through the gate". Players must also be on their feet to join the ruck, and must bind onto the ruck with their whole arm around the body of a team mate.

there is no limit to the amount of people who can join a ruck, there will be times when there are only a couple of players needed, and other times when lots of players are needed to stop a turnover of the ball

the defending team can win the ball from a ruck, as it is a contest for posession and both sides are fighting for the ball.

the rest of the team will line out along the pitch waiting either to defend or attack.

the attacking players will line up, usually ina  diagonal formation waiting for the scrum half to whip the ball out of the back of the ruck so the next phase of attack can begin

the defending team will line up ina  straight line, in line with the back foot of the ruck, so they are not offside, ready to defend the oncoming attack

once the referee calls the ball out of the ruck, or the scrum half puts his hands on the ball, the opposition can come forward of the offisde line and play can begin again

here is a good website that breaks down the laws of Rugby union and explains them well

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_un...

Answer 5

right... anyone can join the ruck but that would make no sense becuse then you have no-one to run the ball and what if you lose it?

the rest of the team line out along the pitch to run the ball like i said and score tries. they can run whenever they want, basically whenever the scrum half decides to.

the defending team can get posession by rucking over the ball and 'turning it over'. but you have to come in from 'the gate' (behind the ruck not from the side).

Answer 6

the other thing thats going to cause you mental anguish is the fact that there are two sets of laws for rugby union now.

the IRB introduced the experimental law variations (ELVs) atthe start of the Super 14 this year, Southern Hemisphere teams adopted them, northern hemisphere teams did not.

This might be because the ELVs were brought in to stop the "10 man game" that England and its counterparts seem to love so much, namely, kick it til you're in penalty range.  Thats how we got a World Cup Grand Final with no tries, which, in my opinion is a total disgrace to the game.

Old rules, Seb explained it perfectly.

New rules, instead of hindmost foot, there is the "Through the gate" system, which means you must come from directly behind the ruck, and travel directly through the centre of the ruck. Also, most ruck infringements (eg hands in, holding onto the ball etc) are now free kicks rather than penalties.  The exceptions to this are 'not entering through the gate' and foul play.

Answer 7

15 players on each side. I dont think there is a set amount to a ruck but usually 3 is enough. The tighthead prop is allowed to steal the ball but that is the only way you can get possesion in a ruck if the ball is not assigned to you. You have to stay on your own side until the ruck is over.