I need help understanding rucking?

Question

I have my first game this Saturday...

Please explain rucking from a defensive standpoint and offense.

If I am on offense and my teammate gets tackled, why can't I run up behind her and grab the ball of the ground? Why do I have to form a ruck first?

And from defense... I really don't get it from a defensive side all together. If someone from the other team get's tackled in front of me, am I supposed to run up and kind of hover over the ball and wait for someone on the other team to come ruck with me? And then I try to push them back and get over the ball? I don't understand.

Help please!

Thanks.

Answer 1

I understand your confusion, but it is all about reading the situation......

If your team mate has been tackled, brought to ground and presented the ball.....you can go in and pick up the ball, however, it may not be wise to do so. If other defenders are trying to get the ball then it is your duty as a supporting player (regardless of position) to protect the ball as you described and wait for more support to arrive and recycle the bal (remember stay on your feet). If you try to go it alone in this situationyou are likely to get tackled and the oposition have another chance to get the ball.

That said if there is no defence any where near pick the ball up and go girl!!!

Ok, in defence, first establish if a ruck has been formed, if there are just two players on the ground it is not a ruck, you can simple go round the side collect the ball and run off. This looks wrong, but is leagal as you need three players to form a ruck and then the offside rules come in to play.

Once a ruck has formed, you can drive the opposition of the ball but once again stay on your feet, even if your knees are resting on the players on the ground this can be classed as 'going over the top' and you will be penalised.

Once involved with driving in a ruck you can not pick the ball up with your hands. If it is at your feet a the back of a ruck you will either have to break from the ruck before collecting or wait for the support to come and help.

If the ruck has already formed you are probably best off standing just to the side as it is difficult to win a ball from aa well set up platform and you will be ready the quickly stop the next phase of attack.

Basically if you are there quick you may get away with picking up the ball, if not drive and protect and wait for your team to come and recycle.

Answer 2

If the tackled player is held on the ground no other person can touch the ball until the tackled player has placed or moved the ball back.

If you are the first person to the tackled ball, stay on your feet and the tackled player has placed the ball, you can pick it up.

The ruck forms when "one or more players from each team, who are on their feet, in physical contact, close around the ball on the ground". When this happens, only the tackled players team can use their hands to win the ball (must be on their feet to do so). The defensive team must try to push over the tackled player and win the ball with their feet - the defensive half back can use his hands to dig the ball out but no other defensive player may put their hands in the ruck.

If the ball does not come out of the ruck after 5 secs, a scrum is awarded to the team driving forward, or if stationary, the scrum goes against the team that had the ball before the ruck.

Rucks are a really annoying but vital part of the game.

Annoying because teams can use rucks to slow the game down and prevent the ball coming out - known as "killing the ball" - which usually results in a turn over. Often the referee can't see half the stuff going on, and defensive hands are all over the ball preventing it from coming out. Punches are often thrown in frustration.

Vital because a well drilled team will never lose an attacking ruck, use them to pull in defensive players, and build phases of play that combine to make up complex attacking set plays that involve multiple options to surprise, trick, exhaust, and beat the defensive set plays.

Answer 3

i hope you get a top referee to explain this as i have played rugby for 30 years and watched it for 50 and i still have not got the faintest idea as to what it is all about and penalties are given for no apparent reason.