Players in a ruck must bind on to either an opponent or a teammate.
Such binding must involve the whole arm - just placing the hand on a teammate or opponent does not constitute binding.
Players joining the ruck must endeavour to stay on their feet, though in reality they may often be knocked over by arriving players - their own or the opposition's.
When they join a ruck, players must have their head and shoulders above their hips.
Forbidden practices include jumping on top of the ruck or intentionally falling or kneeling. These are considered dangerous play. A ruck cannot be intentionally collapsed, though this is difficult for a referee to assess.
Players on the ground are out of the game until they are back on their feet. They must endeavour to move away and not interfere with the ball in any way, such as pushing it towards their side of the ruck, or even picking it up.
However, if players legally have their hands on the ball after a tackle and before the ruck is formed, then they may continue playing the ball with their hands.
The clear distinction here is they must come at the ball from the correct direction and have their hands on the ball before any opponents other than the tackled player arrive at the breakdown.
Once we have players, on their feet over the ball, what does the act of "rucking" consist of?
"Rucking" is defined as an action aimed at obtaining possession of the ball by using the feet only. Rucking may only be done near the ball.
Players must not intentionally ruck other players on the ground but try to step over them.
In law, they must not intentionally step or trample on them.
Having played all my rugby a long time ago in Canterbury and Otago, a lot of the above does not sound like "rucking" as we knew it.
Some of the older readers may also cringe at what players are not allowed to do at a ruck these days.
Players are often penalised for offside at the ruck.
Players joining a ruck must do so from behind the hindmost foot of a teammate and not from the side.
The offside line for players not joining a ruck is the hindmost foot of players from his team in the ruck. The so-called "guard dogs" must have their feet behind this line, otherwise they are offside.
This is one part of the ruck that needs to be tidied up as these players often impede opposition trying to get to the ball after it emerges from their ruck.
As a referee it is often difficult to accurately assess when the ruck starts and whether players are complying with all the rules.
In reality we could blow the whistle at the first sign of non-compliance but that would make for a very boring game, as the ruck is still a prominent part of the modern game of rugby - just not as prominent and important as it used to be.
What referees are looking for is a fair contest for the ball when it is on the ground, players are on their feet, and legally using their feet to gain possession of the ball.
