20.8 FRONT-ROW PLAYERS

(a) Striking before the throw-in (‘foot up’). All front row players must place their feet to leave a clear tunnel. Until the ball has left the scrum half’s hands, they must not raise or advance a foot. They must not do anything to stop the ball being thrown in to the scrum correctly or touching the ground at the correct place.
Sanction: Free Kick

(b) Striking after the throw-in. Once the ball touches the ground in the tunnel, any front row player may use either foot to try to win possession of the ball.
(c) Kicking-out. A front row player must not intentionally kick the ball out of the tunnel in the direction from which it was thrown in.
Sanction: Free Kick
(d) If the ball is kicked out unintentionally, the same team must throw it in again.
(e) If the ball is repeatedly kicked out, the referee must treat this as intentional and penalise the offender.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(f) Swinging. A front row player must not strike for the ball with both feet. No player may intentionally raise both feet from the ground, either when the ball is being thrown in or afterwards.
Sanction: Penalty kick

(g) Twisting, dipping or collapsing. Front row players must not twist or lower their bodies, or pull opponents, or do anything that is likely to collapse the scrum, either when the ball is being thrown in or afterwards.
Sanction: Penalty kick

(h) Referees must penalise strictly any intentional collapsing of the scrum. This is dangerous play.
Sanction: Penalty kick

(i) Lifting or forcing an opponent up. A front row player must not lift an opponent in the air, or force an opponent upwards out of the scrum, either when the ball is being thrown in or afterwards. This is dangerous play.
Sanction: Penalty kick