RULES OF RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 7

RULES OF RUGBY.

IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS.

CONSIDERED BY REFEREES. CONFERENCE AT CARTERTON". {r.y Telegraph.—l'ress Association.) CARTERTON, this day. The annual conference of the New Zeeland Referees' Association opened at Car terton yesterday. » Mr. D. McKenzie presided over a record gathering of delegates who were welcomed by Mr. E. McKenzie, secretary of the Wairarapa Rugbv Union. Sir." D. McKenzie explained the effect of the new rulings and alterations In the rules to bo brought into elicit this season. In the scrummage a nvw rule provides that the ball is not fairly in till it passes both feet of the first man. If a foot is lifted before the ball has so passed there shall be a penalty. With regard to playing on the ground, und••• the nc.v rule a player may not lie mi the ground with the ball in his possession. but niu.st immediately get up or roll away from the ball, otherwise there shall be a penalty kick given against him. Another provision of the same rule ycrmils a plaver, while Iving on the ground to kick the ball. The advantage rule is altered, too, except the kick-oIF, drop-outs, and throwins from the touch, penalty kicks and free kicks behind the goal line. The knock-on rule is very strict. A scrum is to be ordered for the slighte.it infringement. ''Some workable additional powers ale given the referee," concluded Mr. .McKenzie. 'Tie can stop the game before the time has expired if, in his opinion, the full time cannot be played. This win help considerably in cases where darkness comes along with much time left foi play. If a referee is unable to olliciaU during the whole period of a game he has power to appoint a substitute. Fail ing an agreement between the two captains, the referee cannot alter any deci sion given and is not entitled to contract out of the laws of the game. The referee is the sole judge of time and if he appoints a timekeeper to assist him it doco not relieve him of responsibility. The referee cannot agree to a suggestion, it made by the captains, to vary or not recognise tiny law."' A remit from the Wellington Union that a fair catch be exactly the same as laid down bv the English Union, was lost. An Otago remit, that the referee put the ball in the scrum, was carried. It was decided to ask the New Zealand Union to consider the request that the opposing wing-forwards be placed one on each side of the scrum. Regarding the amendment of rules. delegates raised the point that any interpretations decided upon by the conference could uot be put into force until the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr. IT. J. McKenzie sug gested that the New Zealand Union meet immediately after the conference and approve or reject the conference's decisions, so that interpretations could be put into force when the season opened next Saturday. MK S. 8. Dean assured the conference that the New Zealand Union would meet 'next week and consider the interpretations before opening the season. The work of the conference yesierday afternoon and evening comprised a tlior ough perusal of the latest edition of the laws of the game, as passed by the Eng lish Rugby Union, and notes and rulings thereon agreed upon by New Zealand These Were dealt with individually and either agreed upon or amended. Thev will be forwarded to the New Zealand Union's management committee for,approval and will come into force with the opening of the season, which will b- general throughout the Dominion next week.