Why are the scrums in rugby league not contested like in union?

Question

I realise there are no flankers but why are they not contested better? It seems pointless to have a scrum, the ball might as well be given to the team with the put in without the bother of a scrum down.

Answer 1

It used to be and they use to contest line outs but they wanted to get away from rugby its former sport so they altered and changed certain aspects to give rugby league its own unique identity.

Answer 2

The thinking behind it is that the game will be faster as the scrums should never need to be reset, it also congregates the forwards together at a restart to give the game a chance to move wider, faster.

Bradford Bulls contested scrums about five seasons ago and took loads of balls against the head, but to negate that the League allowed the ball to be thrown into the second rows feet so it could again be moved out faster.

You are completely right about it being pointless, a bit like when we have to have incontested scrums in Union.

Answer 3

because they are wimps and don't want to hurt themselves

Answer 4

Most of the time they aren't contested as the game doesn't require it to be done, but you can contest the scrum and win the ball back if so desired. I beieve Warrington were one of the teams trying to do this when they needed the points up until recently,  but with the size of some of the packs in Rugby League nowadays, you would be forgiven for just letting it go!

In the junior game, the scrums are a definate "non contested" scrum due to too many serious neck injuries a couple of seasons ago.

Answer 5

Aw geez, you noticed!  Actually they used to have genuine scrums but it slowed the game down and the TV stations didn't like it, so they changed the rules.  That's what a mate of mine reckons anyway.  Actually I think there was some stuff put about reducing injuries, which might have been true.  There used to be a lot of fairly serious injuries in league 35 some years ago.

Answer 6

The idea is to keep the game flowing and also to mitigate the risk of injury.

Answer 7

from what i understand it's to allow some open play for the 'backs' to have a run. but it seems ridiculous for me putting the ball into the second row.  I remember when i was a kid watching the scrums used to be a battle where they would actually try to push and even score trys off it occasionally.  But I honestly think that league has to become more like union to become a better game or better still BRING BACK THE  NORTH SYDNEY BEARS.

Answer 8

the only reason for a scrum in League is to keep all the forwards together so there is more room for the attacking team's backs to attack.

Answer 9

in juniors there is a safe play code and in seniors it is mostly about the TV channels saying that they want a fast game

Answer 10

I have a few mates at John Cleveland College in England. They played a rugby league tournament and contested scrums. Dominated the tournament.

Answer 11

I'm a level 1 TDRL (Townsville District and Rugby League Association).

There is less chances in league getting hurt then union.  The refs in league is strict on contesting the ball in a scrum then what they are in union.

The rules in both union and league are two different things and it's also depends on the refs in both codes.