ALTERING RUGBY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1920, Page 3

ALTERING RUGBY

NEW RULES APPROVED. The new rules affecting Rugby football now in course of consideration and which will probably take effect next year are as follows: An amendment to Law 2, providing for the referee putting the ball in every scrum. To Law' 5, providing that after an unconverted try has been scored, the game shall be restarted at half-way, as is done after a goal has been kicked. This has been agreed to by the English Union. A player .who makes a fair catch must take the kiok himself; and there must' be no charging of free kicks. The English XJnion has approved of both amendments. While the ball is in a scrum, no player must advance beyond a line drawn through the back line of his own players. This •is intended to restrict wing-forward play. There are amendments to Law 11 to prevent obstruction and interference, and provide freekioks as penalties instead of scrums. A player who shouts “All on-side” when his players, are not on side will be penalised. Kicking into touch from a place within twenty-five yards of the kicker’s goal-line will not be permitted, unless the ball bounces into touch or unless the kick is a free one. The penalty is that the opposite side shall throw in the ball to a line-out opposite to that at wdiich the kicker was when he kicked the ball. The chairman said that this was tlm most important alteration. He did not like the r’ lc on paper, but he had been converted after hearing the views of well-known Auckland players and officials. It would virtually prevent kicking into touch by a team on defence Law 13 will provide that after a try the kicker may bring the ball out and place it himself. Charging by the opposing side will be prohibited. Scrums ten yards out are provided for xvhen the defending side “forces” or causes the ball to go into touch-in-goal or over the dead-ball line. If the attacking side sends th e ball into touch-in-goal or over tho dead-ball line, the old-time drop-out at the twenty-five will follow. Under a new rule no scrum will be allowed within ten yards of either touchlme.