From the start of next season there will be a global trial of the “crouch,
bind, set” scrum engagement sequence, aimed at enhancing player welfare by
reducing impact on engagement.

The International Rugby Board Council’s approval of the sequence, on player
welfare grounds, comes with a call for game-wide commitment from law-makers,
match officials, coaches and players, to ensure a fair and positive attitude
in dealing with scrum issues.

Implementation follows extensive evaluation of the sequence during the
recent IRB Pacific Rugby Cup, which showed the potential for a more stable
platform leading to fewer resets and more successful scrums.

Props will now be expected to crouch on the referee’s call, bind using their
outside arm after the referee has called "bind". The front rows will
maintain the bind until the referee calls “set”. At that point, the two
packs will engage.

The IRB will also instruct referees to ensure that the ball does not enter
the tunnel unless the scrum is square and stationary and that a straight
throw-in is strictly policed. The RFU will be providing a game-wide
educational process, featuring coach and match official workshops, from July
so that everyone is fully informed for the new season.

The five Law changes currently being trialled and the trial change to
television match official protocols will be considered by IRB Council at its
annual meeting in 2014. This new scrum engagement trial will be before
Council at its interim meeting the same year. Any amendments approved will
be in place a year ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015.

The Scrum Steering Group includes RFU Community Rugby Medical Director Dr
Mike England; RFU Area Manager, Gavin Williams and Dr Keith Stokes, of the
University of Bath research team, with technical input from England scrum
expert Graham Rowntree.

We are all responsible for player safety – so please do visit this site for
updates and videos of the new engagement sequence. For your advice, the
implementation of this new scrum sequence will be from the first pre-season
friendlies, warm-ups and training sessions. But, given the need for proper
education, it does not include summer tours or sevens tournaments.

See the video of the new engagement process

Further information from the RFU.