How do scrums work at U9 and from U10?

Q: How do scrums work at U9 and from U10?

SA Rugby's Scrum Law Modifications (updated January 2026): U9 (first year of contact) Scrums are uncontested and used only to restart play. There is no hit on engagement and no pushing; the hooker must hook the ball. Either 5-player scrums with a maximum of 10 players a side, or 8-player scrums with a minimum of 15 players a side. Calls: "Crouch", "Bind", "Scrum". U10 to U16 Full 8-player scrums: the first introduction to competitive scrumming. Passive engagement with no hit. The ball goes in on the "Scrum" call and the contest starts then. A team may push no more than 1.5 metres, then the contest stops. No deliberate wheeling; if a scrum wheels past 45°, the referee stops play and resets it, and there is no turnover. Only trained forwards may scrum, and only the hookers may hook the ball. If the packs are badly mismatched, the referee should order uncontested scrums.

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SA Rugby's Scrum Law Modifications (updated January 2026):

U9 (first year of contact)

Scrums are uncontested and used only to restart play. There is no hit on engagement and no pushing; the hooker must hook the ball.
Either 5-player scrums with a maximum of 10 players a side, or 8-player scrums with a minimum of 15 players a side.
Calls: "Crouch", "Bind", "Scrum".

U10 to U16

Full 8-player scrums: the first introduction to competitive scrumming.
Passive engagement with no hit. The ball goes in on the "Scrum" call and the contest starts then.
A team may push no more than 1.5 metres, then the contest stops.
No deliberate wheeling; if a scrum wheels past 45°, the referee stops play and resets it, and there is no turnover.
Only trained forwards may scrum, and only the hookers may hook the ball.
If the packs are badly mismatched, the referee should order uncontested scrums.