RUGBY FOOTBALL

Chronicle (Levin), 28 May 1946, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OFFSIDE AND ITS PENALTIES JNTERPRETING THE RULES (By Full-back) These notes are compiled with the object of assisting all those interested in rugby football. The opinions expressed are taken from the Laws of Rugby Union Football and the interpretations of them are laid down and accepted by all unions throughout the world. Some of the points raised will come as a surprise to many followers of the sport, and there may be some disagreement with certain of them. However, any criticism will be welcomed, provided it is made after a close study of the rules. When a Player is Off-Side Law 18 states that a piayer is offside (a) if he enters the scrummajge from his opponent's side; (b) if while the ball is in the scrummage, he not. being part of the scrummage .remain with either foot in front of the ball; (cj if at a throw in from touch, before the ball is played, he stand or move in front of the line at right angles to the Gouch lines through the place wnere the ball went into touch. Note: This merely applies to the case of the player participating in the iineout. It is- not mtended that a player before throwing in the ball from touch should wait until the players of his own team have returned to or behind the line-out. The penalty for infringement of these three ciauses is a penalty kick awarded at the place of infringement. Continuing, Law 18 states that a player is ofi'-side (dj if, in his own in-goal, he is in front of one of his own team who is taking a freekick (a kick from a mark or as it is called "a fair catch") or a penalty kick (a kick awarded for an infringement by the other team) from behind the goal-line. Otherwise a player cannot be off-side. in his own in-goal. Thc penalty is a scrummage five yards from the goal-line, in the field of play, opposite the mark. Law 18 aiso says that a player is off -side (e) if the ball has been kicked or touched, or is being carried by one of his own team behind him. No off-side player shall play the ball or in any way obstruct an opponent, or approach, or wilfully femain within 10 yards of an opponent waiting for the ball. Penalty: A penalty kick awarded at the place of infringement, or a scrummage where the ball was last played by the opposing team at the option of the other team. If the ba;ll was last played in in-goal the scrummage shall be awarded five yards from the goalMine on a line through . the place parallel to the touch lines. ' , : ' No player Shall shout "all on side" or words to that effect, when any member of the team is offside. Penalty: Penalty kick awarded at the place where tlie shout was given, or scrummage where the bail was last played by the off end - in'g team, at the option of the other team. If the shout were given from in touch, the kick shall be awarded ten yards from the touch line through the place parallel to the goal lines. If the ball, of a player carrying it touch a player who is accidentally off-side the referee -shall order a scrummage at the place where such off-side occurred. This is subject to the rule stating where scrummages take place on 'various parts of the field of play. When a Player Becomes On-Side Law 19 states that an off-side player becomes on-side (a) when an opponent carrying the ball has run five yards; (b) when the' ball has been kicked by an opponent; (c ) when an opponent has intentionally touched the ball provided that he does not catch or gather it; and when one of his own team has run in front of him either carrying the ball or after having kicked it when behind him. Such kicker must be in the field of play-to put the off-side player on-side, tnough he is not dcbarred from previously following up in touch. Next week notes pertaining to the foregoing rules will be published.