Where did the terms rucks, mauls scrums etc come from?

Question

When/ where did they derive?

Answer 1

I imagine rucks and mauls came because they were terms already synonomous with violence and confrontation which is what those game situations are.

I can't help you with scrum however, sorry.

Answer 2

They could have been named by Dr William Webb Ellis, who invented Rugby, in a place called Rugby. It might have been the reason caused to the sound of the words. Ruck, Maul and Scrum are rough/violent words. Hope This helps. Otherwise I can't help I'm sorry.

Answer 3

ruck 1       (rÅ­k)  Pronunciation Key  

n.  

A multitude; a throng.

The undistinguished crowd or ordinary run of persons or things.

A play in Rugby in which a mass of players gathers around a ball dropped by a tackled ball carrier, with each player attempting to gain possession of the ball by kicking it to a teammate.

The mass of players during such a play. Also called loose scrum.

People who are followers, not leaders.

Sports

A play in Rugby in which a mass of players gathers around a ball dropped by a tackled ball carrier, with each player attempting to gain possession of the ball by kicking it to a teammate.

The mass of players during such a play. Also called loose scrum.

[Middle English ruke, heap, probably of Scandinavian origin.]

maul       (môl)  Pronunciation Key  

n.  

also mall (môl)

A heavy, long-handled hammer used especially to drive stakes, piles, or wedges.

A heavy hammer having a wedge-shaped head and used for splitting logs.

A play in Rugby in which a mass of players gathers around a ball carrier being tackled and attempts to gain possession of the ball when it is released.

The mass of players during such a play.

Sports

A play in Rugby in which a mass of players gathers around a ball carrier being tackled and attempts to gain possession of the ball when it is released.

The mass of players during such a play.

tr.v.   mauled also malled, maul·ing also mall·ing, mauls also malls

To injure by or as if by beating: The boxer mauled the other fighter. The critics mauled the novelist's first effort. See Synonyms at batter1.

To handle roughly: The package was mauled by the careless messenger.

To split (wood) with a maul and wedge.

[Middle English malle, from Old French mail, from Latin malleus; see melə- in Indo-European roots.]