When a runner has come into contact with opponents and cannot advance the ball further, players may bind themselves into a maul. There must be at least three players bound. The maul ends when the ball is on the ground; when the ball or the player who had been carrying it emerges from the maul; or when a scrum is ordered. A maul is similar to a ruck, except that the ball is not on the ground.

a technique in Union whereby the ball-carrier gets his teammates to bind onto him and drive him forward

A maul occurs when a player manages to stay on their feet when tackled, and the ball is held away from the opposition and is transferred with a handling movement to a support player.

when one or more players from each team (while on their feet) close around a player with the ball. They must close from opposite sides (like front and behind), and cannot tackle around the legs for safety.

the mess that results when you don't carry out proper due diligence, often confused with a legal scrum.

A loose formation brought around a player who is still in possession of the ball and has not been brought to the ground.

typically after a runner has come into contact and the ball is still being held by a player - once at least three players have bound themselves a maul has been set. The primary difference from a ruck is that the ball is not on the ground. See Ruck