A scrum is a method of restarting play in rugby that involves players packing closely together with their heads down and attempting to gain possession of the ball. Depending on whether it is in rugby union or rugby league, the scrum is utilized either after an accidental infringement or when the ball has gone out of play. Scrums occur more often, and are now of greater importance, in union than in league. Starting play from the line of scrimmage in gridiron football is derived from the scrum.
In the game of rugby union, there are 15 players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs. In addition, there may be up to eight replacement players "on the bench", numbered 16–23. Players are not restricted to a single position, although they generally specialise in just one or two that suit their skills and body types. Players that play multiple positions are called "utility players".
A rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Each of the thirteen players is assigned a position, normally with a standardised number, which reflects their role in attack and defence, although players can take up any position at any time.
Terence David "Terry" Holmes is a Welsh former rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who won 25 caps for Wales as a scrum-half, and later played rugby league for Bradford Northern.
Five-eighth or Stand-off is one of the positions in a rugby league football team. Wearing jersey number 6, this player is one of the two half backs in a team, partnering the scrum-half. Sometimes known as the pivot or second receiver, in a traditional attacking 'back-line'. play the five-eighth would receive the ball from the scrum half, who is the first receiver of the ball from the dummy-half or hooker following a tackle.
SANZAAR is the body which operates Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship competitions in Rugby Union. SANZAAR meets annually and is composed of the CEOs from its member unions.
Andrew "Andy" Gregory is an English former professional rugby league footballer. A Great Britain international representative scrum-half, he is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame. He was also the first man to win the Lance Todd Trophy twice, first player to win five Challenge Cup Final winners medals, first player to play in eight Challenge Cup finals, only one of only two players to have played in six Ashes series against Australia ; Andy Gregory and Garry Schofield.
Terence John Cobner is a former Welsh international rugby union player and British Lion. He was born in Blaenavon, Monmouthshire and currently lives in Pontypool.
Arthur John Michael "Mackker" McCabe was a pioneer Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer. He represented for Australian in rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics.
Thomas Sydney Griffen was an Australian rugby union player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. Griffin, a hooker, was born in Sydney, New South Wales and claimed a total of six international rugby caps for Australia.
Gary van Ginkel Botha is a former rugby union player, that professionally played as a hooker between 2002 and 2013. He spent the majority of his career at his home-town team the Blue Bulls and their affiliated Super Rugby team the Bulls, but he also had spells at the Sharks, at English side Harlequins and at French Top 14 side Toulouse. He also played in 12 test matches for South Africa from 2005 to 2007.
Between late 1957 and March 1958 the Australia national rugby union team – the Wallabies – conducted a world tour encompassing Britain, Ireland, France and Canada on which they played five Tests and thirty-one minor tour matches. The Wallabies won 17, lost 16 and drew three of their games in total. They lost all five Tests of the tour.
John Arthur Fihelly was a rugby union player who represented Australia, a professional rugby league footballer, a founder of the Queensland rugby league, and a Labor Party politician.
John Garven "Jock" Blackwood was a rugby union player who represented Australia.
Francis Wallace Meagher was a rugby union player who represented Australia.
John Wylie P. Breckenridge was a rugby union player who represented Australia.
Howard Poole was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff. Although never playing for Wales he was selected to play in the 1930 British Lions tour of New Zealand and Australia.
