1. Regional Panel Meetings Nov/Dec 2005
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

2. Steve Savage Panel Development Officer
The Scrum
Steve Savage
Panel Development Officer
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

3. Scrum Restarts the game Confrontational area Safety must be observed
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

4. Coaches Expectations Understand scrum mechanics
Understand roles – attack/defence
Be accurate – no guessing!!
Reward the dominant scrum (as long as it is legal).
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

5. Refereeing the Scrum Brief front rows and replacements before the game
Referee to mark the ground
Scrum forms; hookers over the mark, correct distance, same height, square and stationary
Make sure the ball is available
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

6. Scrum Engagement Referee /calls There is a pause between 1 and 2
“Crouch and Hold (one phrase)
“Engage”
There is a pause between 1 and 2
Timing of pause??
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

7. Refereeing the Scrum
Don’t allow front rows to stand up after the engage is called.
Zero tolerance to front rows not engaging correctly after call of “engage”.
The scrum is stationary and square before ball is put in.
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

8. Refereeing the Scrum Check angles and binding
Look at feet and body positions
Back row binding (full arm round second rows) use TJ’s
Insist of a credible feed (remind 9’s prior to the game).
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

9. Refereeing the Scrum Be aware of what is an illegal and legal wheel.
Be prepared for scrums where front rows go up – why??
Understand the “soft hit”.
Use your Touch Judges for advice and management.
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

10. Current Trends in Scrummaging
What is the “tight head” doing on his own ball? 2 shoulders
What is the “loose head” doing on the opposition ball? Round corner.
Are flankers “crutch binding”.
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

11. Summary Talk to coaches and front rows about their roles.
Understand scrummage techniques, and what teams are trying to achieve.
Remember the better referees referee the scrum well !!!
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

12. Richard Glynne-Jones Referee Manager
CRB Checks
Richard Glynne-Jones
Referee Manager
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

13. CRB Checks Rugby Football Union (RFU) Checks
A referee will not be appointed to U18 fixtures unless he/she is either in possession of a disclosure certificate issued by the RFU or is going through the process of being checked.
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

14. CRB Checks (2) Checks through other Organisations
A referee will not be appointed to U18 fixtures unless he/she is in possession of a disclosure certificate from another organisation that has been issued within the past twelve months. However, in this case, Chris Rawlings at the RFU will still require the following:
A photocopy of the disclosure certificate, to include full name and address, date of birth, date of certificate issue and disclosure number
Countersignitory name and full address of registered body
A signed letter from the referee concerned, indicating the registered body’s permission to confirm details relating to the disclosure issued by the CRB
Please note that, if the certificate was issued over twelve months ago, it will need to be renewed.
Rather than go through the process of asking the other organisation to release the necessary information, the referee may, however, choose simply to complete an additional form through the RFU.
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

15. CRB Checks (3) Expired CRB Checks
Disclosure certificates are valid only for a period of three years, after which time the referee will need to complete a new application form. To facilitate this process, the relevant documentation will be sent to the referee direct from Twickenham; the relevant Society Officer will need only verify Section X before returning the form to Twickenham.
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

16. CRB Checks (4) Provision of the Disclosure Number
Should you require confirmation that a referee has undergone a CRB check, he/she should ideally provide a photocopy of the disclosure certificate (for example, if a referee moves Society). However, provided the check has been carried out through the RFU, it is satisfactory for him/her to only provide the disclosure number. Its validity can then be confirmed by Chris Rawlings at
Please note that this does not apply to disclosure numbers issued by other organisations.
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

17. Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

18. Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union

19. Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football Foundation
and the Rugby Football Union