![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.intouchrugby.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Nathan.jpg\" "\\"Nathan\\"")
<\/a>\t BSc (Hons) Sports Science, P.G.C.E\nFounder of NM Sports Performance,
\nVideo analyst and Coach for NM Sports Performance
\nwww.nmsportsperformance.co.uk Click Here<\/p>\n
BLOG 8 COACHES CORNER: The good, the bad and the rugby! It\u2019s all about presentation…<\/strong><\/p>\n After a few weeks looking at what happens outside of the rugby pitch I thought it was time to have a look at a technical issue within the game. This week it will be all to do with \u201crucks\u201d and in particular retaining possession through the best way of ball presentation. The only way that a player is allowed to enter the ruck in diagram 1 is through the gate, if he\/she enters the way of the red arrows, 9 times out of 10 a referee will penalise the player. I say 9 times as there are always pieces of evidence when a player gets away with the infringement, but look, it\u2019s why we love the sport!<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe International Rugby Boards classification of a ruck is:
\n\u201c…a phase of play where one or more players from each team, who are on
\ntheir feet, in physical contact, close around the ball on the ground. Open play has
\nended. Players are rucking when they are in a ruck and using their feet to try to win or
\nkeep possession of the ball, without being guilty of foul play.\u201d (IRB 2011)
\nThis seems relatively simple doesn\u2019t it? However this is one of the most contested areas and has the most variation in interpretation by referees. One such interpretation is when does a player enter a ruck offside (often hearing \u201cNot through the gate!\u201d shouted by referees) or legally? So what is this gate? You can go looking for an answer in the IRB\u2019s law book but you may have a hard time finding it, or if you don\u2019t then I applaud you as I was unable to source it.
\nNeedless to say it does exist and is, in its simplest form the length of the ball carrier\u2019s body as he lies on the ground. This is shown in diagram 1.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSo if the gate is wide then it allows more players to enter the ruck and contest the ball (counter-ruck), which would make one think that to eliminate the opposition from counter rucking then by narrowing the gate the opposition shouldn\u2019t have the capabilities of contesting your possession.
\nMany coaches now are educating their player to fall in the \u201cLong-body\u201d or \u201cSalmon\u201d technique instead of the parallel way as we have been taught as a young player learning the game. The parallel technique is the one shown above in diagram one and the \u201cLong-body\/Salmon\u201d technique are shown below.
\nDiagram 2:<\/p>\n