CHANGES MADE IN LAWS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 5

CHANGES MADE IN LAWS

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Moves To Encourage Open Play

DISAPPOINTMENT AT “MILDNESS” fN-Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, March 24. General disappointment will be felt at the International Rugby Football Board’s mild alterations in the laws of the game, says J. P. Jordan, Rugby critic of the ‘Daily Telegraph.” The wholesale changes proposed by the Dominions have either been defeated or toned down to an extent which makes them unrecognisable, he says. The board hopes the changes will counteract intensive spoiling and encourage open play. Perhaps that will be so, but to no appreciable extent, and they will certainly add Co the responsibilities of referees, he adds. The main alterations, which were announced yesterday, concern the scrummage, the off-side law, the penalty kick and touch. Many of the changes are in the wording of the laws with a view to clarification. This applies particularly to Law 15, governing the scrummage. They come into effect at the start of next season. It is emphasised that it is illegal for any player intentionally to fall or kneel m the scrummage, or cause it to collapse, or for either team wilfully to delay the formation of the scrummage. In future, every scrummage shall be formed as near as practicable to the place of infringement, and not necessarily 1(J yards from the touchline as is the law

now for scrummages between the 25-yard lines. It is made illegal for the front row to form down some distance from its opponents. and rush against them. This becomes law, whereas formerly there was a note to referees to stop the "dangerous practice” under Law 34 relating to "foul play and misconduct.” The ball must be put in without delay as soon as the two front rows, each consisting of three men, have closed together. It has been the practice to wait until all the forwards have joined the scrummage. ' The Player putting in the ball shall stand one yard from the scrummage, and midway between the two front rows, so that it first touches the ground immediately b , e y° nd the nearer second foot. The ball shall be put into the scrummage again if it enters and comes out at either end of the tunnel, or if on its way out, it passes between the first and second feet of either front row. As the law stands now, this applies only if the ball ‘comes out in such a way on A the side on which it has been put in. Binding in Scrums . A note to the offside law (18) lays it down that "a player is not in the scrummage unless he is binding with either arm mage ” er ° f Ws own tearn in the scrum-

This should curb the activities of wingforwards, who merely lean on the scrum and break away dirdctly the ball is put

Careful attention has been paid to the line-out. A player will be offside if, before the ball has touched a player or the gr HP nd, .J? e wilfully remains or advances with either foot in front of the line along which the ball must be thrown in, unless he advances solely in the act of jumping for the ball. He is also offside if. after the ball has touched a player or the ground, he, not oeing in possession, advances with either foot in front of the ball, unless he is lawfully tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent who is participating in a line-out and this will mean that a forward of hjs own side must keep behind the player in possession of the ball, ♦i.,. addition to law 20, which states that no player shall hold an opponent who , not carrying the ball, provides that i^l a iT r A, Sha i l not be Penalised for holdth? < dra f away a P la yer lying on the ground in close proximity to the ball, but not in the scrummage.” On law 24 dealing with the penalty h th V- W decided that the bail may be kicked m any direction towards an opponents goal line, but it must travel at least five yards (not 10 yards as now), or to the kicker’s goal line if the kick is taken from behind it. Line-out Play

If the kicker has indicated to the referee that he intends, to attempt a kick at goal, It is illegal for him to kick the ball in any other way. Law 27 (touch) makes it illegal for any player participating in a line-out to push, charge, shoulder, or bind with, °f in an y way hold another player of either team, or use any other plaver as a prop to enable him to jump for the ball.’ From next season unlawful interference and misconduct while the ball is out of play will be dealt with by the atfard of a penalty kick where the ball would next have been brought into play if the infringement had not occurred. The referee should either caution the offending player or order him off. For a second offence he must order him off. A player must not risk being penalised to gain or save a try by foul or unfair means. Obstruction or infringement must be "very sharply dealt with” by the referee. A player ordered off shall take no further part in the match, and the referee must, without delay, send a report naming the player and describing the incident to the controlling union. The present law prevents him playing in subsequent matches until his case is decided on. The board agreed that "approved plastic studs might be used on players’ boots instead of leather, rubber, or aluminium, provided they conformed to the present dimensions.” The board does not mention the reported proposals to reduce the value of the penalty goal from three points to two, the unintentional knock-on or . kicking directly into touch only from the 25 of the player concerned. HURUNUI SUB-UNION A successful season was reported at the annual meeting of the Hurunui Rugby Sub-Union recently. The balance-sheet showed a loss on the year's work of £B. Mr C. W.' McKeegan was elected a life member. Officers were elected as follows: Patron, Mr C. W. McKeegan; president, Mr S. Maxwell; vice-presidents, Messrs C. Williams, W. Le Pine, F. Forrester, C. Burrows, W. Chapman, J. Donnovan; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Burrell; assistant secretary, Mr E. A. Harrison; trustees, Messrs S. -Maxwell and K. Rodgers; executive, Messrs F. Forrester, N. Mackintosh, A. Stubberfield, T. E. Crossen; senior selector, Mr R. B. Henderson; junior selector, Mr F. Shadbolt; delegates to Canterbury Rugby Union and Canterbury Sub-Unions Messrs W. Drake, J. Burrell, 9. Maxwell and N. Mackintosh; delegates to Canterbury Rugby Sub-Union executive, Messrs S. Maxwell and F. Forrester. Arrangements were made to commence the competitions on May 1.