RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2410, 27 January 1909, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

IMPROVING THE GAME. ALTERATION OF RULES. ["Press Association.] "W'ELLINGTON. Jan. 2(j. The -Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union recently appointed a sub-committee to revise the rules. The sub-committee met today and fina'Uy agreed on a list oi alterations to the laws. These alterations have the effect of making certain rules read as follows:—Rule 1— Before the last sentence insert •■tiregame shall be played in four spells ot 20 minutes each, with an in terra.’ after the second spell.’’ Rule 2 —ln the notes to the 'definition of “tackle’’ delete the words “neillicr would a player under similar circumstances (viz., when a man tackled has allowed tiro iff ill to touch tire ground) be allowed to pass the ball to one oi his own side.” Amend the sentence “if a player carrying the ball be thrown or knocked over (but not tackled), and the ball touches the ground, he may nevertheless get up with it and continue his -run or pass it,” to read “if a player carrying tire bill be brought to the ground and tin ball touches the ground he may nevertheless get rip with it and continue his run or pass it, provided it be done immediately.” Delete tire last two notes ‘'to hackle” and in notes to “a scrummage” ; delete first -and four th notes and insert “in every ease when the referee orders a scrummage hi* shall (himself put the .ball into tire arid scrummage.’ The ’notes to be deleted refer to the way the ball should be put in by players according to the old styfe in law 3 (which defines the duties of the referee). .Section (f) now reads as follows: “At quarters, and no-side, he (the referee), being tiro sole timekeeper, shall not whistle for- quarter-time, half-time, three-quarter time, or no-side until the ball be lioild or out of play.’' Law 5, section (b) now -reads: “The game shall bo restarted bv a kick-off after quarter-time 'and three-quarter time by the opposite side to that winch started the game, raiul after half-time by the side which started lire .-cane.” Law (i— Delete 'section (c) and note thereon (which provided that the hall must not be* picked up when it war on the ground -after a player had been tackled). Law 7 (the off-side rule now reads “n player is placed off-side if he crosses an imaginary fine drawn, through the back of the scrummage on his own side while the ball is in tiro scrummage, etc.”) ’Phis -will, have the effect of abolishing the “wing forward,”. whose play has boon very objectionable to many Rugby "purists.” The first land third notes to the same rule (allowing an outside player to enter the scrummage under certain conditions) are deleted. Law ID—-The third danse (which provided for the charging of free kicks -and trys at goal) now reads: “In all eases of free kicks or kick nit- goal the apposite side shall riot charge such kick. The notes to that clause (except the fifth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth have been deleted). * Law 11, section (k), is deleted (this section provided for-the nuLrclitrg of-a free kick against any man who “not in the ..scrummage wiifulUv obstructs his opponents’ backs by remaining oar his opponents’ side oi the ball when it is in « scrummage,' a.s by the previous new rule siren player would be off-Side the section is rendered wmrneeessary. Law 3soction (a), and the second clause are amended to provide that the ball. T thrown -in from touch “so as to aligln at right angles to and at. least fiu yards from the touch-line. ' .The sub-committee: s report \\ ill nop have to bo confirmed at n special meeting of delegates to the Ne.v Zealand, Union. It the meeting be held at Wellington on March 4th, at 7.30 n.m.