Maul - June 2026 : WR revised guidance

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

Anyone having/had issues pre-season (northern hemisphere) with the revised guidance for who should/shouldn't be in a maul?

I've AR'd two pre-season games N1/N2 level. First one was ok whereas second one was a bit messy. Forwards coach of a team in second game (and also a second row) had never heard about the new guidance (no change there then) and suffered accordingly, giving away a few PKs.

From the perspective of the referee I've worked with, the days of hanging on the maul (having not changed your bind) have gone and if you're not in a position to push then you need to leave and rejoin.

I think teams will need to adapt quickly and it could get messier as teams hold in "non-pushers" looking for the PK.

 

[didds]

so if you are first man in on a carrier and grasp the ball and that then turns into a maul that spins around, such that you are now facing your own dead ball line and unable to push, you need to let go and remove yourself?

And similarly of course the ball carrier who is also now facing his/her own goal line and unable to push?

Unless a PULL in these circumstances is treated as a push (as after all, in force vectors they are the same in effect)

 

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

so if you are first man in on a carrier and grasp the ball and that then turns into a maul that spins around, such that you are now facing your own dead ball line and unable to push, you need to let go and remove yourself?

And similarly of course the ball carrier who is also now facing his/her own goal line and unable to push?

Unless a PULL in these circumstances is treated as a push (as after all, in force vectors they are the same in effect)

My understanding is that if you are in the maul contesting the ball you can be "backwards" but if you're beyond the ball facing backwards and "pulling" then out you go. The old (last year) call of "don't change your bind" allowing pullers to stay at "wrong end" of the maul bound to an opponent has gone.

It's at the back end of this stuff (but the rest is worth a look).

World Rugby Law Updates for Season 2026/27.

 

[Marc Wakeham]

THe wording of this RFU document is poor:

The RFU document says:
Leaving the maul
once a player moves beyond the ball or is no longer in a position to push / drive, they are considered out of the contest and must leave the maul.

So, according to the RFU, there are two reasons why the player must leave.

1: he is in front of the ball in the maul.
2: he can no longer push / drive the or allows them to be exclusive.

Now then: As soon as the player in posession transfers the back t oa player behind him he has put himself in front of the ball (no longer behind). Does thjis player with mayber 10 please binding him in have to leave or be liable to sanction? clearly he can't he is bound in!


Granted the second box does refer to "bound on the outside of the maul" and the third box reintoroduces the ambiguity. The tall second row who is stood up in the middle of the maul having passed the ball back is not in a position to push and is infront of the ball.
Why not stick to what WR say below which is far clearer?


He is what world rugby says:

The maul (including those formed at a lineout) continues to be a key contestable area of rugby union, and everyone is committed to that being maintained. Players in a maul should be contesting for possession of the ball, or pushing/driving to gain or defend field position.


This guideline reinforces those philosophies.

• The maul is a key contest for possession in rugby union in which both the attack and defence must comply with the law.
• Players must join (or rejoin) the maul by binding onto the hindmost player in the maul, not by creating a chain of two or more players and swinging up, or round, the side.
• Any player bound on the outside of the maul, may contest possession with their other arm, or may continue pushing/driving on the maul, but must not be in a position to pull/drag the maul.
• Once a player loses dominance and moves to be in a position to drag or pull, they should remove themselves from the contest or will be liable to sanction.
• Players must leave the maul if they become unbound or are not in a position to push/drive.
• “Bound” means with the whole arm in contact from hand to shoulder

WR are talking about player joining / rejoining a maul. For me reading the WR guidence is much clearer than the RFUs mishmash.

 

[Marc Wakeham]

so if you are first man in on a carrier and grasp the ball and that then turns into a maul that spins around, such that you are now facing your own dead ball line and unable to push, you need to let go and remove yourself?

And similarly of course the ball carrier who is also now facing his/her own goal line and unable to push?

Unless a PULL in these circumstances is treated as a push (as after all, in force vectors they are the same in effect)

The first line is the same as the ball carrier bound in so ok.? yes or no? The RFU wording seems not to say so.
The second one is contesting the ball. Until he transfers it back.