RUGBY RULES

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 754, 1 March 1910, Page 4

RUGBY RULES

THE PROPOSED ALTERATIONS. '.. ' FULLi DETAILS!' ;, ' The delegates to the conference of representatives of the New Zealand, Queensland, and' New South Wales Bugb/ Unions report that tho following recommendations to the unions named have ljeen agreed to:— ' ■ 'Appointment of Referees.—"That a list ef not less than three local referees be submitted by the homo union to the visiting team, who may ask for the names to be'supplemented. In the-caso, of-.test matches in Australia, the' election may be made through tho home union from referees submitted by Quoensland or New South Wales Rugby Unions." Interchange- of Rulings.—Tho suggestion made by New South Wales Union that the word "forthwith" be inserted after the words "shall be" in 1907 conference resolution yas agreed to, the recommendation now reading: "That all decisions on'points of the game given by any of three unions and all decisions receive.! by any union from the International Board or the Rugby Football Union shall be forthwith communicated to the other unions."

Representation on a law-making Body. —Correspondence regarding tho proposal for the formation of an imperial council or board ,a,nd tho various unions' replies thereon , was placed on the table. A long discussion took place- in regard to the position occupied by the International Board in regard to laws of the game, and in regard to the representation of the home unions on the boaTd. Tho matter of the representation of Australasia on the body that were responsible for the interpretation of the laws of the. , game was debated,, and-it was finally agreed to make the following reoommendation to the three unions:— "That representation should be made to the Rugby Football' Union asking-them to secure if possible for the- combined affiliated unions of New Zealand, Queensland, and New South-Wales represents tion on tho International Board in regard to matters connected with the amendment, alteration, or interpretation of the laws of the game." '■:,-.'■ : The matter of tho formation 'of an Australasian Board was also ■ discussed, and it was decided to'take no further action in the matter. ■'•;-.■ '■".. ! . Course of action in cases. of 'players, "ordered off ."—After debate, the. follow-, ing recommendations'were agreed to:— 1. That a coinmon. course of "action be adopteo" in regard to players ordered off tne field in matches ■ between. Now Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, and Australia.. . . ■■"., ■ ;,:. . V 2.\ln ' all such' cases'an inquiry .shall be held by the union in whose jurisdiction the match; is played, and -at the expense of the. union holding the inquiry. ._ 3. The union holding the inquiry .ahnll in case the player ordered off.is not one' of its members, .take full, evidence of the incident and forward it, together'' with its opinion, to the union' concerned for adjudication. .-',. , .' ;..;.' i. Pending decision any player shall be disqualified from playing. The conference resolved that the unions [ be recommended to adopt the resolutions adopted at the .first sitting of this conference regarding appointment of referees, interchange of rulings, and the course of. action;in regard to players ordered off in "matches between New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, and Australia, together with the following resolution regarding gonoral .'-disqualifications as an' , , agreement between the three unions. ...General. Disqualifications.—Any • dis--■qualifications or-'suspensions!- for any' period exceeding two months, imposed by any of the three unions shall bo communicated to the others and endorsed by them. ■ : .'. ■•'•■ *' The councilare.considering the"fpllow? ing suggestions in regard to the laws of' .the-game:-.- , r -..--,. V;." ~ :; V n t .3 Law l.'lho proposal of the New Zealand. Union that "The game shall be played in-.four spells-of-,20 minutes each" with an interval after the second spell," was declared lost, New Zealand dissent ing. 'The New-.-'Zealand dolegatos urged that' ;™e climatic conditions in certain parts of, tno Dominion were such that the side that played with the prevailing wind for a-period of 45 minutes had the game wot,,and that 20 minutes spells would militate against tho element of luele that existed at present. It was eventually decided that-Law i be altered to read as under:— ■ i.L he captains of the respective sides : ■ shall- toss for- --the ' choice of ' in-goal or ■the., kick-off. Each side shall play an' equal time from each i.n-goal. The period oi play shall be divided into two or four equal spells; and a match shall be won' by a majority of points; if no points be (scored,-'or-the 'number bo equal, the' match shall be drawn. . Held, is ..when the ball is held by opposing _ players, and includes the case when the holder of the ball is held bv one or more players of the opposite side ■ so that he cannot pass it. Uo above definition to tike-the.'-place of the definition of "A taoklo"-and "held"l n uL e ,P resent Ku eby Football "TJnionV handbook. . -. ■ . ■ Also decided that Law, 6 (c) be deleted' A scrummage was altered to read "A scrummage which can only take place in the field of play is formed by one or more ] p ayers from eac£ side closinground the ball when it is on the ground or by their closing up in readiness to allow the ball to be put on the ground between them. In every case when the referee orders a scrummage he shall himself put the ball into -the scrummage" Tho above was carried by New Zealand and Queensland for, and New South Wales against. . ; : ' ' . A try was altered to read: "A try is gained by the .player who first has .his hand on the ball on the ground in-his; opponent's in-goal with the intention of" scoring." '■'.A touch down was altered to read: "A. touch down is when a player touches 'down, as above, intentionally in his own , - in-goali" ; : . ; A fair catch was. altered to read: "A fair catch is. a catch made direct from a kick, or knock on, or throw, forward, bygone of the oppositte side; the catcher must immediately claim the same by mn.king a mark with his heel at the spot where he made the catch, , or by'calling put 'Mark.'" -~..'• Law 5 (b) was altered to read: "After any score by the side scored against." ~ ; Law 7 was.altered to read: "A player 13 :■; placed on off-side if he crosses an imaginary' line • drawn through the back of the scrummage on his.own side while the ball is in the scrummage, or if the ball has been . . . must be behind the ball when kicked." The above alteration was carried—New Zealand and Queensland for, and New South Wales against. Law 8 (c) was altered to read : "When one of his own side is in front of hiiri • with the ball." .... Law 8 (d) was altered to read:."When ono of his side is in front of him, having kicked tho ball when behind him." An off-side otc. (lawS) was altered to read: "An off-side player'shall not play, the ball, nor actively.iior passively obstruct an opponent, nor approach nor wilfully remain within' ten yards of an opponent waiting-for tho ball."■'. Law: 10 was altered by tho omission of words: "The opposite sidj may .come up to, and charge.-. '. ..the charge may bo disallowed'," and the substitution of the following , in lieu thereof:—"Tho opposite sido may come up to, but until the ball has been kicked, must not' puss beyood, a line drawn' through the mark and-parallel to the -goal'lines. If any of the opposite side pass beyond the line' before the kick has been- taken the kicker's i sido may claim that the lack be rc-taken." Law 11 (k) was altered to road: "Not in a scrummage wilfully obstruct his opponent by being on his opponent's side of the imaginary lino drawn through the back of the scrummage. . Tho above, was carried—New Zealand and Queensland for, and New South Wales against. It wos decided to substitute the following in place of "The place of infringement shall be taken as the mark, and any, one of the side granted the free-kick may place or kick.the ball," in Law-11, after (n):— ' '■.-. ' "Any of the side granted the free-kick may place or kick tho ball as if a mark had been made:— , , ■ ... ' (1) If.the. act has boon .committed in tho field 'Of play at the place of infringement; (2) if in touch, at a spot in the field of

play five yards from the touchlinc, and I opposite to the place of infringement; (3) if in' touch-in-goal or' in in-goal, at a spot on the goal-line five yards from tho nearer corner flag. Law 12.—New South Wales XJnion'a proposal that rule 12 read, as under":" ."The ball is in touch, wbfch it -or .- a' plnyer- carrying it.touch, or cross the touchline; it shall then l>elong to the side which did not cause it to go into touch. One of the side . . . methods," was not agreed to. New South Wales for, New Zealand and Queensland against. Law 12.—An alternative proposal from New South Wales that the words "except when carried in" be omitted from the rule -was also lost. The proposal.of New Zealand that law 12 (a) be altered to read, "Throwing it out go as to alight at right aDgles to, and at least five yards from, the touchlineor" was adopted. . ;Law 12 (b) was altered to read as fol- ■ lows:—lf the referee blows his whistle because the ball had been thrown out so as not to alight at right angles to, or nt least fivo yards from, the touchline, the opposite side shall bring it in as in 12 (b); but tho whistle is not to be blown if r.ny advantage is gained by the opposite side. Law 13.—1t was agreed to omit the words "as to charging, etc." law 13 was altered to read, "After a touch down, or if tho ball after crossing the goal-lme . . and cqui-distant from the. touchline. Law 19.-It : was-agreed that the latter part of law 19 headed "Other irrcgularitios not provided for," be deleted, and'that in lieu thereof the following to bo caHed law 20, be substituted:— , If when a law is brpken or any irregularity of- play occurs any advantage is gamed therefrom by tti© opposing side the referee shall not blow his whistle, but shall allow tho game to proceed; but if no advantage is pined by such, side, and » «<> other penalty is provided, tho ball shall be taken back to the plice where the breach of the law or irregularity of play occurred, and a scrummage formed there." . "The .conference then decided to recommend to the thr«o unions that' the Rugby football Union be asked to make the foregoing, alterations in the laws of the game. " li. i , that tlle conference recommend to the three unions that the Rugby Football Union be asked in the event, of the above not-nieeting.with their approval as alterations to. the laws of tho game that permission be given to the unions of New Zealand, Queensland, and New, South Wales, in view, of : the-local and climatic conditions, to mako the .foregoing alterations in the laws of the game, such alterations to ,be operative only in matches played under the jurisdiction of. the three unions named,and mot to apply tofixtures with bodies outside of -Australasia and New Zealand, in which cases the laws as issued, by the Rugby.Football Union to govern the contests. .. ; -. : ....

Also, that, the .conference'recommend that, the three unions he recommended to ask the Rugby Football Union that in the event .of :thfe above- hxo, rwnmrriendations not meeting with the approval pi the Rugby football tTnion that permission be Riven, to the three unions to- make the following alterations in tho laws of the game to be operative.only in tho jurisdiction of the .three unions as above: — ~- .. Amendment to lam- 12 (a), as above. Altered definition of held and omission of definition.of taoklo-and law.G.(c).. .- ' It was further agreed Ithat in making the above requests that it be urged that the alteratiens suggested do not nffect the fundamental principles of the,game, and that the proposals are made to meet the local conditions.

.; . ...THE SOUTHERN CLTJB: .. ~ The -:report' to be presented at the-.an-nual meeting" of the Southern Football Club on Wednesday-.- congratulates'; .'. the fourth-class ■ tpiirir for .'"their - splendid.- record in- winning the fourth-class, championship, playing and winning 14 games, scoring 249 points against.lo. The good progress the-senidr, junior,, and teams, is also , 'commented on. The' fifth-class , 'team had-not the opportunity of flaying off: for the fifth-class championship,- the Rugby ..Union having decided to championship closSd-on account ofnhEanbers who were oveiy age playing in thislgrade. - jTrOjijtiies won season were won l as follows:—Senior;' best all-round player; L. Campbell,-•■Junior, best allround, player, J. Johnson; Fourth, best all-round player, J. '.Flanagan; ' Fifth, best ■ all-round player, -,JQ..' ; Gray. Appreciation is "expressed of the support of the club's patrons. Donations were received -from Mr; -J. P. .Euko; president, the Eev. Walker, Dr. Kempi and; Mr. A.,-Hi Fulford vice-presidents, and Messrs. M. Hogan, P. H. Smith, P.' C.Peters, and "A. R. Hornblow.' '.-•■ . . In conclusion, tho report says the club is now upon, a very satisfactory footing, and, the coming season is looked to withsanguine expcctiitimi. The teams will be considerably strengthened with the ad-vent-of young players,' arid it is to these the- .c ub looks- for the future success of the club in every grade. , ...