RUGBY LAWS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 21, 7 June 1939, Page 5

RUGBY LAWS

POINTS TO REMEMBER ;p • "',l SCRUMMAGE AND OBSTRUCTION The scrummage has for many years been a source of terror to refereesand players .alike, but it was-antici* v;, pated that with the amendment in* troduced last year our troubles would be greatly minimised. While it is atL mitted that a considerable improve, ment has been effected the scrum-' mage "bugbear" is still with us. Tlie rule says the referee shall award to the team not responsible for tlie stoppage of play the right of putting in the ball. He should ordetf the player putting the ball in to put in on the side on which he is standing in onder to see that the pi ay op does not infringe. .FRONT ROW ! It is illegal for more than three players to form either front row of the scrum before the ball has been put in. It Is illegal for any player^ after the scrum has been formed, to add himself to the front row, before the ball has been put in. The ball should be put in without delay. The player putting the ball m the scrum shall stand not les s thaj> three feet from the scrum and with both hands below the lenee shall put the ball in at a fairly moderate speed so that it first touches the ground • ; beyond one foot of the nearest player of each front row. Yet often we se<* the player with the ball, standing ai„ most touching the scrum, putting 1 ball in from waist high or forcing it" in at too great a speed. A re_scruraniage is repeatedly ordered, eve.rt three or four yet it is rar<j that some player has not offended even when only one scrum has been taken. If the player does not put the ball in correctly, or if a player i« the scrum lifts a foot before the bail is fairly in, then a penalty kick must be awarded to the non-offendins team. The ball is fairly in when it has * ■ been put in albn,g a line midway be, tween and parallel to the lines o3 feet of the players forming each front row of the scrum and has touched the ground. HOOKING Now we come to hooking the ball. Until the ball has passed one foot of _ n player of e;:ch team and has touch- - ed the grouml, no front row player may raise or advance a foot to reach it, but as soon as these condition^ have been fulfilled, any foot may be moved to hook the ball. When Jl serum is ordered one team is not eniitlod to gain ground at the expenses of the other before the ball is available to restart the game. The scrummage should be assquard possible with the field of play. It is illegal for any player to prevent the ball from getting fairly, into the serum. It is illegal for any player to return the ball into the scrummage by hand or foot after it has come out* CHARGING AND OBSTRUCTION No player running for the ball shall charge an opponent who is alsorunning for the ball, except shoulder to shoulder. A player who is rofc running for the ball must not charge or obstruct an opponent not holding, the ball. A player overtaking an oj>_ ponent also running for the ball must not push him from behind. The phrase ''unless he i.s stooping to pick up the bail" has been deleted, and making an offence of this dangerous? practice will. I ,a.m be appre- . ciated by all those connected with, the game. No player shall charge, push, or hold an opponent at tha line out on the ball being thrown in from touch. No player with the ball in his posu session after it has come out from a scrummage shall attempt to force his way through his own forwards. The penalty is a kick awarded at the place of infringement. LATE TACKLES A player must not charge or oban.opponent who lias just kjek. Ed the ball. Penalty: The opposing team srui.ll be awarded at their option a penalty kick the place of-infringe ment. or at the place where the ball alights. If the ball alights in touch-in-goal the mark shall be ten yards: from the touch line and five yards from the goal line. If in in-gqal or ever the dead ball line, the mark is to be five yards in the field of playit right angles to the place where it crossed the goal line. It will be noticed that in each case the mark isr five yards from the goal !ine instead of ten as previously al'sa that for touch in-goal it is ten yard? from the touch line, irrespective of "here the ball crossed the goal linf*. Referees may experience some difficulty at first over these changes. but j an |easyi way to remember them is: j I "or breaches in touch, the mark is " "er> yard? out. and for in_goal fivr '■v;,rds. * % 1 », "At