1938 RUGBY YEAR

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 9

1938 RUGBY YEAR

Review By Referees’ Association "The main interest in the 1938 football season, from the referees’ point of view was the introduction and interpretation of the extensive alterations in the laws of the game made during the previous season in England and adopted by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union last year,” states the annual report of the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association. "These alterations affected mainly the scrummage, the tackle, and the penalty kick, and were introduced in an endeavour to simplify the then existing complicated laws affecting these phases of play, aud after last year’s experience it eau be safely said that the laws as now more simply framed have resulted in a better understanding of their meaning by players and referees alike. .“During 1910 a New Zealand team wil. be again visiting South Africa in an endeavour to wrest from .the_ Springboks the ‘ashes’ won by them in New Zealand during their visit here in 1937. The team no doubt will be selected upon the form displayed by players during the coming season and with this incentive, players will be endeavouring to play their best football and the public should be treated to some fine exhibitions. It must be remembered that good football can be marred by poor refereeing, and it is therefore essential that our members should make every effort to become efficient in their duties so that they may play their part in making the coming season in every way a successful one. “Considering the extensive alterations in the laws made last year, the number of questions received for interpretation was remarkably few, and only two general circulars of questions and answers were issued. However, other questions were received from associations which, in the opinion of the executive, were not of general interest to all associations, and private replies were given in these cases. “The lack of questions indicates the great benefit received by those associations who were represented at the Oamaru conference last year, where a large attendance of delegates discussed very fully the interpretations of the altered laws. These delegates returned to their respective associations with a clear understanding of the alterations and were able to advise their members regarding anv difficulties of interpretation.”