FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 320, 11 January 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY RULES. XEW ZEALAND 'AMENDMENTS. On excellent authority it is stated ,li.u I'nc suggested amendments discussal by the New Zealand Rugby Union ' ivitli Mr. Uuurge ilartnett, manager of the Anglo-Welsh tram which toured Sew Zealand riceink, and submitted to the Rugby I'liinii, are as follows: Law ■».--!: i) A tackle: That a player brought to 'he ground be allowed to pass the ball, even though it has touched the gr,.:md, provided it be done immediatcl,-. (h) Scrummage: Add, "in every case wnen the referee, orders a scrummage, lie shall himself put tlie ball into the scrummage." (<■) Ball in scrummage: A player cannot lift his leg until the ball touches the ground, and unless the ball is put past the first man of the scrummage that has the shorter front it shall not be considered to have been put fairly into the scrummage. (d) Knocking on and throwing forward: That it should not be considered a knock-on if the player so doing recovers possession before the ball has touched the ground, (e) Fair catch: Add after '-catch," in last line of definition, "or by immediately calling out 'mark.'" Law 3—(f) Section E: That the referee be allowed discretionary power whether the game shall be stopped, (g) Section F: Delete the world "held or." Law 4—(h) Scoring: fioal fr'om n mark or a penalty kick to count two points. Law fi—(i) Section Ito be deleted. Add after "goal line" ii. last line of notes, "but when the ball is on the ground after the player has been tackled, it may be picked up by any player other than the man so tackled.-' Law 8—(j) Add new section (o), when he has run behind one of his own side who has last played the ball. Law 12.—(k) Section A to read, .'"Throwing ball out so as to alight aminimum distance of five yards from and at right angles to the touch-line." As will be readily seen by players, some very important alterations would be effected' if these amendments were adopted.