New Scrum Laws from the IRB

The IRB (International Rugby Board) has come down with new laws about scrumming that will take effect in January. Thus, the next time we play, these will be the laws.

Four Stage Scrum Engagment

Instead of the three-stage engagement we've been doing for years, there will now be four steps: Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage. But there is a little more to it than that.

• The referee will call “crouch”. The front rows must crouch so that when they meet, each player’s head and shoulders are no lower than their hips.
  
• The referee will then call "touch". Using their outside arm each prop touches the point of the opposing prop’s outside shoulder. The props then withdraw their arms.
  
• The referee will then call “pause”.
  
• Following a pause the referee will then call “engage”. The front rows may then engage. The “engage” call is not a command but an indication that the front rows may come together when ready.

Also restated in the newly approved guidelines:

The scrum must be stationary and the middle line of the scrum must be parallel to the goal lines. A team must not shove the scrum away from the mark before the ball is thrown in.