December 20, 2006
With effect from 1st January 2007, the law governing the scrum at all levels of the game will change.
Specifically, the change will see the implementation of a four stage "crouch, touch, pause, engage" sequence.
This follows a review of the scrum by the iRB Rugby Committee and its Law Project Group following recommendations made by the iRB's Medical Committee.
The new sequence is a change to Law 20.1(h) which currently stipulates a "crouch, pause, engage" sequence.
The new sequence is as follows:
1 The referee will call "crouch" and the front rows will crouch.
2 The referee will call "touch". Using their outside arm, each prop will touch the point of the opposing prop's outside shoulder. The props then withdraw their arms.
3 The referee will then call "pause".
4 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.
For more information about the changes to the law, email RFU Referee Manager Richard Glynne-Jones richardglynnejones@rfu.com
