RUGBY LAWS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 18, 31 May 1939, Page 8

RUGBY LAWS

—O POINTS NEEDING EMPHASIS THINGS TO REMEMBER The Whakatane Rugby Referees" Association has supplied the following notes on points in the game which often cause contusion to some spectators and players The referee is the sole timekeeper and judge of fact. He is sole judge of law,, subject to a right of appeal to the New Zealand Union. He is not entitled to contract out of laws of the game by agreeing with both teams to vary or not to recognise any law. He must not give any instructions or directions to either team prior to a match. He be. fore arriving at a decision, consult the touch judges or either of them on any point of fact material to their functions or with regard to time in the case of failure of his watch. He may not consult with any one else, except in regard to time, and then only if the information supplied by the touch judge is insufficient. He may allow extra time for delays, fie has power to stop a match before time has expired if. in his opinion, the full time cannot be played. He cannot alter any decision when given. It rests with him to impose penalties for and to see if any parts of a, player's dross, including boots and projections there, on are dangerous. Here are a few notes on some of the laws of the game: TACKLE LAW 16 •* Players and referees have in the past been accused of slackness in regard to the tackle'law, and it has to be admitted there have been some grounds for eompla'nt & while therhas been considerable inprcvement in this during recent year-, much remains to be done in order to obtain uniformity. Players have still to learn that when tackled they must immediately relea,se tile but'., and al-o that after p, tackle the ball must be played with the foot.of a player, who is not lying on the ground. If the tackled player played in the proper spirit and at once fairlv released th" ball very few c?ses of danger could arise, but by holding on for a short time danger may arise. This matter is in the hands of the referees, and the best way to teach n player who does not immediately release the ball is to award a penalty against hi:n. NEW DEFINITION An addition to the deiiniiioo of "• tackle which came into fo v co Inst season, provided th't a tackle occurs when the holder of the hall in th"' | 'iold of play is h"hl bv one or more I ol avers of the opposing team so tin! v. h' 1 e he is so held the ball conies 'nto contort with the ground. This clearly indie : t"s that if the player in possession of' the ball h"s his arm free,, two things are essential.in order to constitute n tackle. He must be held by an opponent, nw-l the ~ball must touch the ground while he i o heidf "" Perhaps the leest-knc.wn part of the tackle law is the playing the- ■ ball" after a tn'ckW -by a player who is lying on tfi«f ground. LAW 16f READS: No player lying on the ground after a tackle shall interfere with the ball in any way until it has been played with the foot of a player who is not lying on the ground. If a player is tackled and slides into in.goal whore it is physically impossible for him to release the because of other players falling on top of him, play should be restarted by a scrum at the spot where the' tackle occurred. TACKLE AFTER THROW,TN In a throw-in from touch, when a ruck is formed and a tackle occurs, the b"«'l must be placed on the ground immediately. Referees shoidd impose the penalty, if this is not done immediately & no player shall prevent n tackled player from releasing the ball, or getting up after he has released it. No player shall pick up the ball, after a tackled pi aver has release it or when it is on the ground alter a player has been tackled > until it has been played with a foot. If a player carrying the ball is thrown or knocked over, but not tackled, he may nevertheless pass the ball or get up and continue his run. even though the ball has touched the ground.