For new players and spectators, the breakdown can be one of the most confounding aspects of rugby union. The most critical element of the breakdown, the ruck, may seem particularly mystifying at first, but it’s really quite simple. To help explain what the ruck is, how it works, and how to properly ruck, we’ve created this introductory guide to everything you need to know about the ruck in rugby.
What is the ruck in rugby?
The ruck in rugby is an essential part of the breakdown in which the attacking team attempts to retain possession and recycle the ball for a new phase of play.
Following a tackle, a ball carrier’s supporting teammates will attempt to step over the ball to “seal” it and retain possession. When a defender engages the sealing player(s) over the ball, the ruck is formed. At this point, defenders are not permitted to try and pick the ball up off the ground and can instead only attempt to drive the rucking players backward to contest possession.
The attacking team, in the meantime, will attempt to play the ball out for a new phase, usually with the scrum-half picking the ball out of the ruck to begin a new phase of play. At this point, the ruck is over and open play resumes.
What is “the gate” in a rugby ruck?
The gate refers to the width of the tackled ball carrier’s body on the ground, and it represents the channel through which defenders may legally engage the ruck. Failing to do so results in a penalty for entering through the side of the ruck. Tackled players can narrow the gate to make matters easier on their teammates by presenting the ball backward in a pike position, effectively reducing the gate to the width between their shoulders and their hips.
Confused by some of the rugby terms included in this article? Check out our glossary for some helpful definitions!
How to ruck in rugby
Although the ruck is only officially formed following a tackle, understanding how to ruck starts while all players remain on their feet. As a ball carrier heads for contact with a defender, they should have supporting teammates communicating with them to let them know whether they have imminent support or not.
For example, if a ball carrier has close support before contact, players may let them know by telling them to “go to ground” once the defender hits them. This gives the ball carrier confidence that they can present the ball back and their team will be there to secure possession. If support players are far away, such as when a ball carrier makes a big line break, they may call “keep your feet,” indicating to the ball carrier that they need to fight to delay the tackle and give the supporting players time to catch up and ruck over.
Once the ball carrier does go to ground, assuming they present the ball back in a pike position as described above, the first supporting player to arrive should step over the ball and form a strong, low base, maintaining a flat back and keeping their legs underneath them to support their own weight while sealing the ball. In addition, the sealing player should grip onto the jersey and shorts of the tackled ball carrier, creating a strong foundation that is difficult for the defense to move.
Supporting players arriving after the ball is sealed should bind onto the sealing player and form a similarly strong, low base and adding more weight to prevent defenders from challenging the ruck. If done properly, this will secure possession and allow the scrum-half to quickly and cleanly gather the ball from the ground and recycle it for a new phase.
Want to learn about other key elements of rugby union? Check out our rugby scrum guide, our introduction to rugby lineouts, or our primer on rugby mauls next!
Clearing out
Rarely is the breakdown as clean as it is described above. Oftentimes, defenders attempting to poach the ball from the tackled player will be in the way before a ruck can be formed. When this happens, the first support player to arrive should attempt to clear out the defenders by moving through the gate at speed, wrapping the defender up, and driving them off the ball. The next supporting player to arrive should then seal the ball, with additional support players joining in the fashion described above.
What is counter-rucking?
Counter-rucking occurs when a defense challenges the attacking team’s ruck, trying to drive their players off the ball and either create a ruck of their own or simply pick the ball up to turn it over once the attacking team’s ruck is dissolved. Counter-rucking is most common when an attacking team has little support and has formed a weak ruck or when there is an obvious strength mismatch between the counter-rucking defenders and the rucking attackers.
For example, if the first supporting player to arrive clears out a defender attempting to poach and the next supporting player is left to seal the ball alone with no additional support, two defenders may bind together to push that lone sealing player off the ruck, exposing the ball and paving the way for a turnover before the attacking side can regroup.
To effectively counter-ruck, defenders should enter the ruck at speed but under control, engaging the sealing player below their own level and driving them up and off the ball. Whenever possible, additional defenders should either bind on to increase the power of the counter-ruck or follow closely behind to quickly turn the ball over once it is exposed.
For more helpful tips on how to play rugby, check out our introductory guide on some basics to the game, how it works, and how you can start playing.
Who rucks in rugby?
Every rugby player can and should ruck when they are the nearest player to a tackled teammate. There are 15 rugby positions on the pitch and every single one is responsible for rucking when the need arises. As a result, it’s important that each member of a rugby team has basic knowledge about how to properly ruck, as it is only a matter of time before they will be required to secure the ball in the breakdown.
That said, there are some positions that will have to ruck more often than others. The forward pack will frequently be called on to ruck, especially for teams that like to run a grinding, forward-heavy attack. In the backline, the centers are the most likely to ruck, though wings and fullbacks are not exempt from sealing a ruck now and then either. Even the scrum-half and fly-half should be prepared to ruck in a worst-case scenario, though it is best if other players are able to secure the ruck before them, freeing them up to create opportunities in the upcoming phase.
Penalties in the ruck
There are a number of penalties that can occur on both sides of the ball once the ruck is formed. A penalty results in loss of possession for the offending team and requires them to retreat 10 meters.
- Not rolling away: When a tackler brings a ball carrier down, they must make every attempt to get clear of the ruck that is about to form. Laying on the ground and interfering with the ball carrier’s ability to present the ball back and the scrum-half’s ability to play the ball out will result in a penalty for not rolling away.
- Not releasing: When a player is tackled, they get one movement to present the ball back to their team and then must release it. If there are no supporting players present to seal the ball and secure possession, the defense is permitted to poach the ball by stepping through the gate and picking it up. If a tackled player holds onto the ball to prevent this, they will be penalized for not releasing.
- Entering the ruck from the side: Once a ruck is formed, all players must enter through the gate. If a defender attempts to counter-ruck through the side of the ruck, they will be penalized.
- Diving over the ruck: All players must enter the ruck on their feet and under control. Diving into a ruck off your feet will result in a penalty for diving over.
- Hands in the ruck: Once the ruck is formed, defenders are no longer permitted to poach or jackal the ball. At this point, counter-rucking is the only permissible way to contest possession and sticking hands in the ruck to attempt to play the ball is illegal.
Penalties that occur in the ruck may be difficult to decipher for new players at first, as there is a lot going on at the breakdown and it can be rather messy. However, by watching rugby and attending training sessions, these violations in the ruck will become much clearer.
In addition to these penalties in the ruck, there are a lot of other rugby rules and penalties to be aware of — check out our guide to learn more about common violations of rugby laws.
The ruck is one of the most important parts of rugby
Without proper rucking, a rugby team cannot retain possession of the ball for more than a single phase — and without possession of the ball, victory is an impossibility. This makes effective rucking a critical element of rugby union. It also means strong counter-rucking is a potent defensive weapon that can frustrate an opponent and leave them without the possession they desperately need to score and win. Any rugby player should make learning when and how to properly ruck a top priority for improving their game; after all, everyone will have to ruck sooner or later.
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