It is not limited to country rugby though. Two colts teams folded before their season started last month with a lack of front rowers one of the main reasons the teams failed to get on the paddock.
But any suggestion rules should be changed and golden oldies scrums be played right from the kick-off has been given the thumbs down from those involved in the game.
Matakanui Combined was forced to default its competition game against Clyde-Earnscleugh on Saturday after it could not get enough front rowers for the match.
The sides ended up playing a friendly game, won by Matakanui in a close battle. But Clyde-Earnscleugh had the competition points before that match kicked off.
Lawrence was also forced to default its game against Clutha on Saturday as it did not have the numbers in the front row.
For a squad of 20 players, there have to be at least three front rowers under domestic rules and Lawrence did not have that on Saturday.
Lawrence committee member and former Otago Rugby Football Union president Willis Paterson said the side was using a 47-year-old in its front row and, with other players away, it could not field a front row and so had no option but to default the game.
``It was disappointing for the club and also disappointing for the guys from Clutha who missed out on playing a game. We didn't take the decision lightly but we just didn't have the players,'' Paterson said.
``It is just hard to get front rowers. We as a club look to develop players but it is a bit hard asking a 35-year-old midfield back to become a front rower.''
He is not keen to have golden oldies scrums right from kick-off if one team does not have enough props.
``I have coached before and know what coaches will do. That is what the rules of rugby say - you have to have front rowers ... a coach's job is to do the best for his team and he knows the rules inside out and so will use them to his advantage.''
Paterson said the club had many of its front row players playing in the Dunedin competition.
Matakanui Combined president Andrew Paterson said injuries in the front row had hit the team hard. It had enough players on Saturday but just did not have enough front rowers.
One was struggling with an Achilles injury and others were away so the club had no option but to withdraw.
He said maybe there was merit in playing a game of just golden oldies scrums - in which teams do not push - but that would penalise teams which did have a front row..
``It's just a lot of the boys do not want to play in the front row. It is quite hard work and you've got to be on to it. You can't just throw somebody in there. You might be able to do that in the lower grades but this is the top grade,'' he said.
He said the club could offer a job, accommodation and a good club to play for if a front rower wanted to turn out for the club.
The club had also defaulted its game the previous weekend to Upper Clutha but Paterson said that was because five players were injured and four players away. He said the club was in good spirit and would bounce back next week.
There is no club rugby in Central Otago and South Otago this week as it is the start of the duck-shooting season.
In the Dunedin junior colts competition, Kaikorai and Southern both pulled sides from the grade as they struggled for numbers, particularly in the front row.
