Strange rugby tactic confuses

Not for the first time, rugby union fans have been left scratching their heads about the breakdown rules after a New Zealand Super Rugby team tried an intriguing new tactic during a match.

Footage of the incident captured early in the first half of the match between the Stormers and the Chiefs shows Duane Vermeulen catch the ball from the kick-off before being tackled by James Lowe.

With Duane on the deck and presenting the ball, the Stormers forwards go to clean out their rivals from the ruck, but not a single Chiefs player joins the breakdown.

Instead, two of the New Zealanders went to what appeared to be an offside position to block the halfback from passing the ball from the base of the ruck.

With the Stormers visibly confused by the Chiefs' tactics, the game momentarily paused.

The referee finally calls an end to the mess by blowing for a penalty in favour of the Stormers and calling over Chiefs' skipper Liam Messam to, thankfully, explain his decision.

It is believed that the Chiefs assumed that the play was not a ruck because none of their teammates had joined it and therefore, there was no offside line.

However, the official did not end the confusion, with the Chiefs players penalised for not entering through the gate.