FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1932, Page 2

FOOTBALL

RUGBY RULES. Changes in the rules now in force in ■Yew Zealand include the following Ball in Touch (Law 27). —1. Previously it was ru ed that the air-spaces above the touch lines and touch-in-goal lines were in ton. h and touch-in-goal respectively. Til is has now been deleted. The bail ij, still in touch when it crosses the touch-line, but if a playei is carrying it lie does not put it into touch unless he actually puts his loot (or any part of iis body) on the ground either on the touch-line or beyond it. The same applies to :he lotich-in-goal line. A play .r may therefoie lean over the touch-1 is.:■ without putting the ball ! into touch, or swing his arm or leg I over the line, ;,o long as he does nol I touch the line or Lbe ground beyond it. If khe player carrying the ball touches the cover post, however. he puts the ball into touch-in-goal, as before. i2. The t .uch-judge must keep Irs flag up till the ball lias been properly ' thrown in by a player of the team on- I titled ho d i so. As soon as this is done, he must lower his Hug. h is to be noted that the player throwing the I hall ill must have both feet in touch. 1 Scrummage (Law 15). —1. Specific di- I ructions arc now given as to how !the i ball is to be placed in the scrummage, i The player putting the ball in must i stand about throe feet from the scrummage, and with b. F, luii.;;, f v, LV : the knee must genbly propel the ball I •dong a line midway between, and parallel to, the lines of feet «» the t opposing front row loru.uds, 2m No player shall put the ball un- 1

i fairly into the scrummage, or the. bail having come out, return it by hand or font Lino the •scrummage. Toe word “wilfully” has been omitted from both these provisions. 3. All feet must now remain (irmly on the ground until the ball is fairly in tlie scrummage, i.e., until the ball has passed both feet, of a player of each team. 4. The first blnve feet of the front row of forwards of each team on the side on which the ball is being put in must not be raised or advanced until the ba.l has passed them. 5. Lacks of forwards are not now allowed to stand apart and rush together. This is to be regarded as foal play and music be dealt with accordingly. 6. So player with the hall ia ''is possession after it lias come on) o! a scrummage shall attempt to force his way through his own forwards. (Ilf-Side and Scrummage (Law 17).Anv player who is not in a scrummage ; must now remain behind the hall wuli both feet. | Touching The Ball Down (Law 2). — This i s now defined as "grounding the | ball." The ruling liowevtr, is .In* same j as before. Knock-On and I’.cooimd (Law 2).--If the ball strikes a player on my part of the h; s ” ’ I or arm and then goes forward, it is to be ruled a knork-oii. (Previously 'it was ruled |s >'■ li.mnd unless there was a propelling motion of the hand or arm. The sr:;'C applies to the hull striking ;• n! on M’n' portion of the leg from the knee <|ov. n and khen going Inrward. | This is no.v |o lie regarded as a kick,) and not as a rebound. Ball (Law 4\.- —Slight amemfmeiils have been made to the shape and

weight of the ball. The new measure meats are given below, with the ok measurements in brackets. Length ir line, 11 to ll.',ins. (same,); Circiunfer ence (end on), di) to 31ins. (same) Circumference (in width), 24 to 2ojins. (20.) to 20ins.); Weight. L3j to loozs. (15 to lAozs). kicks and penalty kicks (Law 23). I. The kick was he taken as previously, but it mlist now reach the line of the original mark where the j free kick or penalty kick was awarded, i This definitely abolishes what has neon called tin* “sidy kick.” If, in the case of a kick being charged down after a fair catch lias been awarded, it does not reach the line of the original mark, play continues 2. If a player is in front of Tine kicker in the field of play, the scrum is ordered at the original mark, as heretofore, hut if the kick is being taken from behind the goal-line and a player is in front (he live yards scrum is to lie onion'd enpo-ite the player that is in front of the kicker. It mote than one player is in front of the kicker, the referee liitl-t deride where the live yards scrum is to he ordered. 3. The leant In whom a neimlty has been awarded may take a serum at the mark instead of the penalty kick, if they so wish. Koul play (Law 3-I). Illegal pushing new comes iimGr the definition nl foul play, and is to he dealt with accordingly. Powers of referees (Law 10). A j referee mint not allow anyone hut the. player-’ nil to the playing enclosure dui’tig the match, except with Ids permission. > Half-time and no-side (Law 10). The rule now makes it clear that il

i time is up and the referee stops the game to award a free kick or a p<?«anlty kick, play must continue till the • bull next becomes dead. Carrying back over tint goal line (Law 23).- -The word “wilfully” has now been deleted front this rule, If, therefore, a defending player kicks, passes, knocks, or carries the bah back into his own in-gaol, whether wilfully or unintentionally, and the ball is then made dead, the scrum back must be ordered. Marking of ground (Law 1). —The dotted lines 10 yardts on either side of the half-way line should be continued right across the ground Obstruction in in-goal (Law 19), — According to ruling just received from The Ihighy Football Union, England, a referee can award a penalty kick to the attacking side if a defending player obstructs in Ins own in-goal and i the referee is not aide to decide J whether the obstruction undoubtedly j prevented a try being scored or not. , This dees not overrule the refcroe’la power to award a penalty try. Note:—The alteration to Law 31 (Foul Play) does not- nboli h Law 19 I (b) which permits a player to push an opponent from behind when the latter is stooping to pick up the ball.