The
Laymans Guide to the Laws of the Game
A
Maul is formed by one or
more players from each team , on their feet, and in contact with the ball
carrier. So the minimum number to
form a Maul is three, two of whom must be ball carrier and team mate.
2 players on their feet and wrestling
the ball is NOT a maul and at that point it’s still open play and no
offside line exists. The third man in can therefore come in from any
side to create the maul and only then do the hindmost feet on each side create
the offside lines. “Mauling” is the act of using upper body strength to
wrest possession of the ball.
To
join a Maul once formed , the same rules as joining a Ruck apply.
Head and shoulders must be above hips: players must be fully bound with
at least one arm on a team mate ; and they must join from behind the back feet
on their side. They must then take no action to collapse the Maul and cannot
drag opponents out of it. If they joined correctly and remain bound ,
they can be anywhere within it as it develops. The ball carrier within it cannot
use his own players ahead of him as a shield.
The
Maul ends when it comes to a stop for 5 seconds, at which point the referee will
tell players to “move it or lose
it”. If the ball isn’t used , the “turnover rule” applies and the side
NOT in possession at the start will be awarded a scrum. If it’s unclear which
side had possession then a scrum is given to the side last going forward. A
Maul that goes sideways is considered
to have stopped. Teams will be allowed only one attempt to restart each maul: at
the second stoppage “use it or lose it” applies . You can’t have a Maul in
in-goal : once the ball being carried crosses the goal line , it’s over and a
5 metre attacking scrum is given. If a Maul fails and implodes to ground , a
turnover is called even if the ball gets to ground (a failed Maul cannot become a Ruck).
