Offside in a ruck?

Question

When there is a ruck; at what time is it legal to move forward?

Assuming the other team has the ball of course.

I always thought it was when the opposition has picked up the ball about to pass it out or run it.

Does the ball have to be off the ground or does it actually have to be completely out of the ruck?

I got caught out on the weekend because i moved up when he had just grabbed the ball and was called for offside and was perplexed.

We won though 15-10 :) Held them up 6 times in a row in the final minutes of the game. Was quite a fulfilling victory.

Answer 1

I think you were in the right, the ref messed up. They are responsible for regulating the whole match, so they are bound to foul up at least once or twice.

Officially, "A ruck ends successfully when the ball leaves the ruck, or when the ball is on or over the goal line." (Law 16.6)

I would follow that if they don't get called for hands on the ball, that means it is out of the ruck, because "Players must not handle the ball in a ruck." 16.4 (b)

I have always been taught that once that ball is touched with the hands, you can go after the ball/player with it, which is why you see people wait before they touch it to pass it out.

Answer 2

imagine the ball has a straight line coming from it that goes across the pitch. you cant go passed that.

Answer 3

its when the scrum half picks the ball up you must have had a bad ref