Bully

When a Set-Piece-Bully is formed to start or re-start play, a row of three players (Post and two Side-Posts) from each side forms (binding fully) at the place indicated by the umpire; the two Bullies should be no more than half a metre apart. A Corner from each side then binds to their two Side-Posts; the third Corner (in games of eleven-a-side) then binds to one of the other Corners on their side. A front-row Bully-player (Post, Side-Posts, Corners) is bound to a player on their side when in contact with the player(s) next to them and when their connecting arms overlap at least elbow to elbow. The Corners at both sides of the front-row will be bound only on their inner side. On instruction from the umpire, the front-row (Post, Side-Posts and Corners) of the side with Heads forms (crouches) lower than their opponents; the players in the front-row of the side without Heads remain fully upright. The shoulders of the crouching players (in the team with Heads) should not be lower than their hips.

The Back-up-Post (Bup) of the team with Heads must have shoulder contact with the Post and one of the Side Posts of their team; the Bup must also hold with two hands onto others in their Bully.

The Bup from the team without Heads MUST NOT place their head and neck between the hips of the Post and Side Posts. This Bup must have contact with the Post with at least one shoulder or with the chest (i.e. NOT the back) AND hold on to other players in the Bully with BOTH hands.

When a Set-Piece-Bully has been formed, ALL Bully players from both sides must be fully bound in the Bully or they are in a CORNERING position. If a Bup has the ball at their feet but is not fully bound (see F2-3), the ball is no longer in the Set-Piece-Bully and can be played by either side.

A Tightly-Formed-Bully consists of TWO or more players from each side in close contact (i.e. with parts of their body other than outstretched arms below the elbow) and on their feet; it may be a Set-Piece-Bully or a Bully that has formed in open play (Bully-Rush).

To start the Set-Piece-Bully, the umpire will call “CROUCH; BIND; SET”. On CROUCH the front row of the Bully with Heads assumes a crouched position. On BIND the two front rows come together, but with no pressure applied by either side. On SET the ball is inserted along the ground down the middle of the tunnel between the two front-rows by one of the Corners of the side without Heads and both Bullies may start to push. The ball should be allowed to reach the feet of either Post; if it does not reach either Post, players should respond to instructions from the umpire to get it to one of the Posts; this may include either Fly returning it into the Tightly-Formed-Bully. If attempts to get it played by either Post fail, then the Bully should be re-set by the umpire. If an infringement by any player means that the ball is unable to reach the feet of either Post, then the umpire may award a Free-Kick.

No Set-Piece-Bully or Bully-Rush may be driven more than 5 yards. A Bully-Rouge can only be scored from a Set-Piece-Bully formed on the 3-yard-line. Umpires should instruct a side to “Hold” or “Use it” if/when the Bully has travelled 5 yards; failure to respond to such an instruction may result in re-setting the Bully from the original position, or, in the case of driving over the goal line from a Bully set outside the 3-yard-line, in a goal-kick.

A Set-Piece-Bully on the 3-yard-line is formed with the 3-yard-line acting as the middle line of the tunnel. No Set-Piece-Bully may be formed within the 3-yard-line, but rather at the nearest point ON the 3-yard-line.

When a Set-Piece-Bully is formed after an infringement (Cornering, Passing-Back etc.) the non-offending side has Heads. When a Set-Piece-Bully is formed after the ball has gone out of play, the side which did not play it out has Heads.