What is the difference between a ruck and a maul?

Question

What is the difference between a ruck and a maul?

Answer 1

A ruck is formed from the tackle situation when 3 or more players joins the tackler with the goal of securing possession of the ball. There are rules which governs the way in which a players joins the ruck and the manner in which he may compete for the ball in the ruck. For instance, a person joining the ruck may only do so through the so called "gate", players are not allowed to use their hands in the ruck situation.

Mauls are usually formed from the line out in which all players involved are on their feet driving the defending team backwards, while the ball carrier protects the ball at the back of the maul. the defending team's players are not allowed to collapse the maul by taking out their oppositions feet. They have to drive them back without deliberately collapsing the maul.

Answer 2

A ruck is when the ball carrier is tackled and those two players plus one more are on the ground contesting the ball where as a maul is when the ball carrier and the tackler plus one more are still in upright and it is moving or 'rolling' towards the defending goal line.

Answer 3

The difference is that in a ruck, the ball is in the ground, with nobody holding it (although there is always somebody placing his back to the opposition so its more difficult for them to win the ball), and the players are pushing so they get past it (you cannot move it with your hands) and the ball is theirs, while in a maul, the ball is being held by someone stand-up, with the players pushing to either advance the player into the opposition´s field, or prevent this.

Answer 4

The "RUCK" is a ground ball where you use your feet to rake the ball out!...Not Stomp the opposition.

The "MAUL"? Well the ball is handled by hand and passed to the back of the pack to be delieverd by the Halfback or...Start a Rolling Maul!!

Answer 5

I find the easiest way to distinguish, is that if everyone is lying around in a heap on the groung then its a ruck (cause people have to ruck with their boots to get to ball out!!)

And if everyone is standing up with the ball off the ground (possibly moving towards the try line) then its a maul.