RUGBY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11132, 15 February 1930, Page 11

RUGBY.

POINTS ON RUGBY RAWS80Alii Ob’ THE LATEST INTEJL Pll-MrATIONiS. A During, the coining season R.ugby enthusiasts will centre their attention on the RritjsU tear of the Dominion. As is usual with all Lours, the question of referees’ rulings crop up with persistent regularity. Wo in Ecw Zealand differ in smuo points to the ladings prevailing in South Afrieva, Australia and the Home Country. Touring teams invariably have same little trouble over different interpretations of the rules and with a, view to minimising these differences a copy of a letter from the Rugby Union at Home has been circularised by the. Xew Zealand Rugby Union. A copy of the epistle its published below :

OFF-SIDE LAW. Referees are reminded that the sole legislative power is vested in the Rugby Football Union and they must control tho game in accordance, with the laws of that body. Their attention is drawn to Law 17: A player is the field of play is offside in four cases, and in four cases only, as under : (1) If he enters the scrummage from his opponent’s side. (2) If, whilst the ball is in a scrummage, lie, not being in a scrummage, remains in front of the ball. (3) if lie stands in Front of the line-out. (4) If the ball lias been kicked, or touched, or is being carried, by one of bis own side behind him. A note is attached to the eilect that when the ball is put down and played with tho foot after a tackle, the referee may construe this as a scrummage for the purpose of section two above. The communication emphasises the following point-: A player is not off-side merely b,v reason of the fact that he is in front of the ball. BUTTING THE ALL IN THE SCRUM. Law I.) lays down that the hall is not fairly in the scrummage until it lias passed both feet of a player of each team. Any player wlm prevents the ball being fairly put into the scrummage by any of the following methods is guilty of an infringement :

(1) By touching the ball before it has reached the ground Between the opposing players. (2) Being the outside mini, By touching the ball as it goes in. (3) Being the middle man, by intercepting the ball before it has passed both feet of the outside man of each team.

Tbe infringement of this law became so general that the position of a referee, who tries to enforce it, lias become intolerable. Apart from the fact that the breach of this law has a deteriorating ell'ect mi forward play, it iu contrary to the spirit of the game that players should deliberately set out to infringe the laws. The Rugby Union Committee hopes that all who value the traditions of the game will co-operate in putting an end to this evil, particularly those who are responsible for the conduct of football at schools. TWO OTHER POINTS. The London Referees’ ,Society asks : Can a referee award a penalty try behind the posts if a player crossed liis opponents’ goal-line, and could have touched down behind tho posts hut for being deliberately tripped by an opponent —Tile answer is: Yes. Regarding dead-ball lines, it is worth noting that in cases where such lines are not marked, referees should arrange with the captains of the respective teams as to how many yards behind the goal-lines the imaginary dead-ball line shall he deemed to lie. The onus is on the captains to see that this is done. Failing tin's the referee’s decision will bo final and appeals will not be entertained.