Rugby rucks and mauls explained

What happens after a tackle

Rugby does not stop after every tackle. Instead, play flows into a short contest for the ball, called the breakdown. The two most common versions are the ruck and the maul. The simple difference: in a ruck the ball is on the ground, and in a maul the ball is being carried off the ground by a player who is held up.

What a ruck is

A ruck forms when the ball is on the ground and at least one player from each team is on their feet, in contact over it. After a tackle, the tackled player must release the ball, and teammates arrive to protect it. The defense arrives to try to win it. In standard rules, players in the ruck may use their feet to move the ball back, but not their hands. Once the ball comes out, play moves on.

Key ruck rules in plain English

• Stay on your feet. Players must not fall on the ball or on players on the ground.
• Enter from behind. Players join through the "gate," meaning from behind the ball and their own side of the ruck, not from the side.
• Stay bound. Players join by using their arms to grip a teammate or opponent, not by diving in.
• No hands on the ball once the ruck forms. Playing the ball with hands while it is in the ruck is penalized.

What a maul is

A maul forms when a player carrying the ball is held by one or more opponents, and at least one of the carrier's teammates binds on. All of these players are on their feet and move as a group. The ball stays in the carrier's hands or passes between players, off the ground. If the maul stops moving forward or the ball becomes unplayable, the referee usually awards a scrum.

Ruck and maul compared

From tackle to ruck, step by step

1. The ball carrier is tackled and brought to the ground.
2. The tackler releases the player and moves away from the tackled player.
3. The tackled player must pass, release or place the ball right away.
4. Teammates of the tackled player arrive over the ball to protect it.
5. Defenders may try to take the ball or push the attackers back.
6. When the ball is clear, the scrum-half passes it away or a player picks it up and runs.

Why penalties happen here

The breakdown is where referees blow the whistle most often, because it is crowded and fast. Frequent penalties are for players not releasing, going in from the side, falling over the ball or playing the ball while off their feet. These are all things beginners do by accident. If the referee explains the call, that is usually a coaching moment, not a punishment.

Rucks and mauls for young players

At younger ages, many programs use rules that make the breakdown simpler. Examples include a tag or touch version where there is no ground contest, a limit on how many players may join, or a rule that the ball is played away quickly. Tackling and rucking rules are one of the biggest differences between age groups and leagues, so ask yours how it works at your child's level.

Quick glossary

Gate

The imaginary entrance to a ruck, behind the ball and behind the last foot of your own teammates.

Clear-out

When a player drives an opponent away from the ball at a ruck to protect it for their team.

Bound

Gripping another player with the whole arm, which is required to join a ruck or maul.

Common mistakes to watch for

• Joining from the side instead of through the gate.
• Holding on to the ball after being tackled.
• Diving over the ball, which can cause injury and a penalty.
• Staying on the ground and trying to play the ball.

To see where the ruck fits in a full game, read rugby rules for beginners, and for the restarts that often follow a stoppage, see scrums and lineouts explained. Safe tackling, the move that starts every ruck, is covered in rugby tackling basics for parents.

What to watch for as a parent

You do not need to follow every detail. Watch which team gets the ball out quickly, because that team usually wins the breakdown. Notice whether players stay on their feet and arrive in a tidy line behind the ball. A quick, clean breakdown is a sign that a team is well coached, and a messy one is a normal part of learning. Referees at youth level will often talk players through what they did wrong, which is the best free lesson in the laws.

How it compares to tag rugby

In tag or touch rugby there is no ruck, because nobody is tackled to the ground. Instead the tagged player passes or restarts play, and defenders step back. That is one reason tag is a good way to learn the flow of the game first. You can read more in our guide to tag rugby vs contact rugby.

When children later move on to contact, the rucking rules above become much more important, and coaches usually teach them step by step. Ask your coach how your child's age group handles it, because many leagues change how many players may join a ruck or how long it may last.

Sources and further reading

1. 15 Ruck World Rugby
2. 16 Maul World Rugby
3. Laws of the Game World Rugby

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a ruck and a maul?

In a ruck the ball is on the ground, while in a maul the ball is off the ground in the carrier's hands. Both involve players from each team on their feet.

Can you use your hands in a ruck?

Not on the ball once the ruck has formed. Players may use their hands to bind to teammates but must use their feet to move the ball.

Why does the referee whistle so often at the breakdown?

It is crowded and fast, so rules like entering from behind, staying on your feet and releasing the ball are easy to break by accident.

What is the breakdown in rugby?

The breakdown is the contest for the ball after a tackle, usually in the form of a ruck or maul.

Do youth leagues play rucks?

Many use simplified or non-contested versions at younger ages. Ask your league how it works for your child's age group.