LAWS OF RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 89, 9 January 1935, Page 2

LAWS OF RUGBY

Effect of Recent Changes BALL IN SCRUMMAGE

(By

“Five-Eighths.”)

Since the close of last season the Rugby authorities at Home have made a few alterations to the laws of the game, and for the benefit of players, referees and the general public, the effects of these changes are set out

Putting the Ball Into the Scrummage.

The side not committing the breach still has the right of putting the ball into the scrummage, and where there is a doubt in the matter the right is given to the defending team. The law also states that the referee may order the ball to be put in on either- side he may choose, but the instruction that “he should only exercise this option In special circumstances'’ has been deleted.

This gives the referee greater authority, but he would be wise not to interfere unduly, and only exercise his authority when circumstances warrant it. Hooking the Ball.— The change here is the most important one that has been made. Last year, in practice, the hooking had to be done by the “fourth foot,” and this “fourth foot” could be raised and brought into action as soon as the ball had passed both feet of a player in each team. In order to make the new rule quire clear, a diagram is printed below, iu which A, B and C are hooking against X. Y and Z. The ball is being put in on the side of A and X.

The ball is now in play when it hits touched the ground, has been put in fairly aud straight, and has passed one foot of a player of each side, but no foot of the first three feet of the front row forwards of each team on the side on which the hall is hcinn put in shall he raised or advanced until the hall has passed that foot. When Ball is in Play.

Thus, when the bail is being put in as along the dotted line of the diagram, it is in play when it reaches the spot 81, and it can then be hooked, because it has passed one foot of a player on each side. But the only feet that can be brought into play are Al and XI. B2 and Y2. The other feet, A2 and X2, Bl and Yl, must not be lifted, as the ball has not passed these feet. As the idea must always be to hook the ball at the first legitimate opportunity, this will he the general practice. The outside man of the front row will follow through with his outside foot, and the middle man will use his second foot. Note, however, that A must not lift his first foot when the ball is in front of XI, but only after it has passed that foot. This will resemble the old style of hooking in the 2-3-2 scrummage, when both hookers used the outside foot. When the ball gets to 82, A and X can use either foot, and B and Y can use No. 2. But B and Y cannot use No. 1 foot, because the ball has not passed that foot. A and X could then “chop” with the inside foot or follow through with the outside one. When the ball gets to 83, any foot can be used. The other laws as to the scrummage still apply. The old rule made our traditional 2-3-2 scrummage almost impracticable, but it would be more effective under the new rule, because the first man can assist with the hooking. Clubs, how-

ever, would be well advised to continue with the three-front scrummage so long as New Zealand adheres to that formation in its important engagements.

Kick-off.-—A change has been made. In this rule. After a converted try, a' penalty goal, a goal from a mark, or a potted goal, the ball will be kicked off, as formerly, by a place-kick from the middle of the half-way line. But after an unconverted try it will be kicked off by a drop-kick from that spot.

Opposing players must still stand 10 yards away, but they may charge as soon as the ball is kicked, and may thus prevent it going ten yards without penalty. Formerly, if they prevented the ball going 10 yards down the field a re-klek was ordered.

The onus is still on the kicking side to see that the ball goes 10 yards down the field, and if it does not do so, a scrummage or re-kick is ordered unless the ball is first plavcd hv an opponent.

Free Kicks and Penalty Kicks.—The new rules make the position quite clear. Opposing players may jump or charge ns soon as the kick has been made, but not before. This also applies to kicks taken behind the goal-lines.

Injured Players.— lnjured players who have been compelled to leave the field may not come back and take part in the game again until they get the permission of the referee. This is done In the interests of the players themselves, and the referee will satisfy himself that the injured man is fit to continue before granting permission.