Why Rugby’s Scrums Are Under Threat

Rugby’s Scrum Wars: A Prop’s Fiery Defence of the Game’s Dying Art

An unusual email landed in the inbox of journalist Will Kelleher in December 2025. The sender was Will Collier, a French prop forward recovering from a concussion. Inside was a passionate defence of the scrum—a rugby element he believes is misunderstood and under threat.

Collier wrote the text after reading criticism of South African and Irish scrums. Frustrated by what he saw as ignorance, he described the physical and mental intensity of a tighthead prop’s role in the southwest. The piece detailed his pre-scrum routine, the psychological battle against opponents, and the pride of dominating in the set piece.

His admiration for the Springboks’ fearless approach—especially when taking on opponents from deep in their own southwest—shaped his argument. He contrasted this with the Six Nations, where new rules have reduced scrums and, in his view, weakened their importance. At Castres, Collier found a club where props are valued and scrums celebrated like tries. This environment reinforced his belief that critics simply don’t grasp the scrum’s complexity. His solution? A ‘school’ for those needing education in the department of education, complete with a trip to South Africa to witness scrum mastery firsthand. The text, written with little editing, ended with a mix of humour and frustration. Collier joked about opening an academy for scrum sceptics but made a serious plea to journalists: teach the public what they’re missing.

Collier’s message arrived as part of a wider campaign announced on December 15, 2025. The project includes a training centre for those unfamiliar with the scrum’s technical and tactical demands. His call for better education—both in media coverage and on the field—marks a push to preserve what he sees as rugby’s defining contest in south park.