DECISIONS ON LAWS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28554, 7 April 1958, Page 17

DECISIONS ON LAWS

Referees’ Conference Concludes The New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association’s annual conference concluded in Christchurch on Saturday. The morning was spent in discussing amendments to the laws which were not covered during the first day’s meeting and in the afternoon delegates considered remits and elected their officers. The following officers were elected: President, Mr W. S. Blagdon (Otago); vice-presidents, Mr R. L. Parker (Bush) North Island, and Mr J. G. Herrick (Nelson) South Island; representative to general meetings of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr C. R. McCallum (Canterbury); executive, Messrs E. J. B. Matthews (Horowhenua), S. H. Palmer (Wellington), K. E. Perry (Wellington), H. B. Simmonds (Wellington), A. C. Swan (Wellington), C. H. Williams (Wellington), A. J. Wilson (Wellington). The following amendments to the laws were discussed: — Penalty Kick. — Mr C. R. McCallum (Canterbury) said that under the new law there appeared

to be nothing to prevent a kicker from returning behind his own goal line to take a penalty kick, and kicking behind him to a player of his own side who could force the ball and thereby gain ■ the advantage of a drop-out. The . ruling on such an occurrence was • that if a player retires behind ' his own goal line to take a penalty kick, the ball must reach j the goal line unless it is first played by an opponent. ( Because of a conflict that exists between the notes and the law ; on the penalty to be applied after an infringement from a penalty j kick, the conference recommended that the final clause in the note on this subject should be sent to ; the union with a request that the note be removed. The effect of the anomaly is that through unfair play in some 'circumstances, the player who plays unfairly, under the note to the law, gains an advantage he should not gain. Kick at Goal after a Try Under the new law it is not necessary for a placer to hold the ball. A ruling given for a situation where the ball rolls over before the kicker has commenced his run to the ball or offered to kick it, is that he may readjust it. He may also realign it after going back, but not if he has commenced his run to the ball. As soon as he commences his run to the ball the opponents may charge and the kicker may not break off his run and the charge be disallowed if he decides he wishes to readjust the ball. If a kicker intends to kick the ball from a standing kick, the opponents may charge as soon as he swings his foot. Foul Play, Misconduct.— The New Zealand Union will be asked to clarify the four heading—unfair play, unlawful interference, foul play, and misconduct. Illegal tackling was defined as foot tripping, hip throwing, judo or wrestling holds, crash tackling, straight-arm tackling, and any other type of tackle which, in the opinion of the referee, could cause injury.