Rucks and mauls, separated.

When a ruck forms

A ruck can form only in the field of play. It forms when at least one player from each team is on their feet, in physical contact, and over the ball on the ground.

• Players joining must come from their own side, usually through the gate behind the hindmost team-mate.
• Players in the ruck must stay on their feet and keep their head and shoulders safely above hip level.
• Hands may not be used to pick the ball once the ruck has formed, except by a player who legally won it before the ruck formed and keeps control.
• Players may drive over the ball, but they cannot collapse, seal off, or play opponents dangerously.

When a maul forms

A maul forms when a ball-carrier is held by one or more opponents and one or more team-mates bind onto the ball-carrier. The ball is not on the ground; it is being carried inside the moving contest.

• Players joining a maul must bind correctly and join from their own side.
• The maul must keep moving or make the ball available within the referee's instructions.
• Opponents may contest by driving legally, but they cannot pull the maul down deliberately.
• If the ball-carrier goes to ground, the maul is over and players must make the ball playable legally.

How officials identify it

1. Check whether the ball is on the ground or still held by a player.
2. Check whether players from both teams are involved and on their feet.
3. Set the offside line at the hindmost foot of each team's last player in the ruck or maul.
4. Watch how new players enter: through the gate, from their own side, and bound safely.
5. Decide whether the ball is available, legally won, or trapped so long that play must stop.

Where players may stand

Once a ruck or maul exists, each team has an offside line running through the hindmost point of its own last participating player. Players not in the ruck or maul must stay behind that line until the ball is out.

• A defender who stands beside the ruck and tackles the scrum-half before the ball is out is usually offside.
• A player who joins from the side can be penalised even if they do not win the ball.
• The ball is not out just because it is visible; officials look for it to be clearly available and away from the contest.

Where fans argue

• "He had his hands on it first": that can matter only if the player was legal before the ruck formed and stays on their feet.
• "The maul stopped, so it is over": a stopped maul is not automatically over; the referee usually gives a clear call to use it or may award a turnover scrum if it becomes unplayable.
• "The ball was visible": visible is not the same as out. Players still need to respect the offside line.
• "Any player on the ground is killing it": the referee judges who caused the problem and whether they prevented a fair contest or ball availability.

Who gets the restart

At a ruck, the team that drives over the ball or legally wins possession can play away. If the ball becomes unplayable after a tackle or ruck, the restart depends on why it became unplayable and who was responsible.

At a maul, if the ball becomes unplayable after the maul legally forms, the usual outcome is a scrum to the team that was not in possession when the maul began. Specific restart details can depend on how the maul started, so officials work from the sequence, not just the final pile-up.

What the referee watches

Referees look for a fair contest and safe body positions. Common penalties include side entry, offside, hands in the ruck, holding on, not rolling away, sealing off, collapsing a maul, obstruction in front of the ball-carrier, and dangerous cleanouts.

They also manage the contest verbally. Calls such as "ruck," "maul," "leave it," or "use it" help players know when the phase has changed and when the ball must be played.

Next rugby topics

• Advantage
• Lineouts and knock-ons
• High tackle sanctions
• TMO checks
• Back to rugby overview

Source material

• World Rugby Laws of the Game
• World Rugby Passport: Law 15
• World Rugby Passport: Law 16