RUGBY RULERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1704, 22 March 1913, Page 3

RUGBY RULERS.

THE CONFERENCE OF REFEREES.

COMPLEX " LAWS."

MASS OF QUESTIONS AND REPLIES,

The annual conference of the New Zealand Referees' Association was held yesterday. Mr. R.M. Isaacs presided, and thcro wero also present the following delegates Messrs. H. Gill (Hastings), N. A. Knox (Auckland), J. F. Manning- (Manawatu), R. Northover (Wanganui), D. M'Kenzio (Wellington), H. Frost (Auckland), Jl H. Morison (Marlborough), E. til'lCenzio (Wairarapa), G. R. Freeman (Horowhenua), A. Lees (Taranaki), T. H. Jones (Canterbury), L. Sievers (West Coast) ( W. J. Meredith (Nelson), J. F. O'Sulhvan (Poverty Bay); 1 'l'ho chairman welcomed the delegates, .and expressed a htipo that their deliberations would be for the good of tho Rugby game generally. LEADING CASES'. A number of questions from district associations, and tho decision of tho executive thereon .were considered. Tho decisions were: continued, Avith one. slight amendment. From Otago Referees' Association, Question: With lefercnco to a decision given last season, where it was Tuled that an .attacking forward in a scrummage could put his hand on the ball and scoro a try, if the ball was in a scrummage, and over his opponents' line, and asking tho reason for such ruling if his opponents cannot "force" tho ball. .Decision: It was decided to point out tho noto on page 15 of the Handbook, it is made clear that either side .possesses the same powers of handling tho ball in the circumstances named.

. Question.—ln the Dunedin versus University match. A Dunedin player took the ball, down to tho University 25. ■ A University player picked' it up and ran up to:about half-way; lie then attempted to kick tho ball to his players some yards from him, but in doing so he kicked it back to a' Dunedin player (who was running to- t'et on-side), who caught it and claimed a mark: Was it a mark? , Decision: That the fair catch claimed by tho Dunedin player was perfectly fair, .and should be awarded, as he was onside, and had made a catch direct from a kick by one of his opponents. The fact of the University player kicking the ball had put all tho Dunedin players on side, and there was nothing to prevent any Dunedin player making a fair catch.

. From Hastings' Referees' Association. ■ Question: (1) After.a charge has been disallowed by tho referee, tho player places tho ball on'the ground simultaneously with, the blowing of tho whistle. Tho playor then lifts tho ball from the ground. Can the-kicker handle the ball again? (2). A charge, has been disallowed just as' tlio kicker takes bis kick.. The ball is being placed for him again. Can the kicker handle the ball again before it is placed on tho ground?. ' Decision: "Yes" in both cases, as if the ball bo placed on.the ground just as the whistlo is blown'. to,. disallow a. charge it may be picked up and again bo handled by, and placed for, the kicker at a new .spot if necessary, but in no instanco may the kicker touch' it when , it. is 1 on the ground.-., ; . , ." . From Paoroa Referees' Association. Question: (1) If pushing.a man who is in. possession of the ball is a fair tackle? (2) If a player can push another player who is in possession of the'ball, and if he can push him from behind?' Decision: That pushing a player in possession of tho ball cannot be considered as a tackle within v tho meaning of tho ■defthitiqn, and'.tliat,]s.uch.'pushing"when, a-iplayer' is carrying the ball is allowable provided it is not done in such'n,manner as to constitute rough.playt in which caso it ;should,be dealt With under Section B, Law 1). ..... . ... .. '

From Wellington Referees' j Question: in the event of a free-kick 'tlio ball does not ■ so" in the direction of tho opponents', goal-lino. Is the . penalty a'scrummage at .the mark, or must the referee order a free-kick to'tako place? Decisi m: ,That in the caso of any infringement of this law tho referee should order a scrummage 'at tho mark. See second part of Law 10. Question.—ln a kick a£ goal from a mark, the ball went under fho bar, struck a touch-judge and rebounded into tho field of play. An attacking player in following tho kick, secured tlio ball and scored a try: should it bo allowed? Decision: Referred to:the second, noto on pago IG of the Hand-book (last note under definition of a try). From Puketoi R.S.U.. - Question': A player is funning with the ball, and one off his own side is supporting him, and asks for a pass, and gets ahead of the man with tho ball when the latter passes forward to his comrade, who is off-sido at tho time of pass. Which is the correct penalty—a scrummage for pass forward against tlio man who passes, or a free-kick against the man who takes tho pass off-side? 'Decision: That the penalty for off-side should be given as being the greater breach.

From Auckland R.R.A. Question: A - player 'drops out after a foroe down,;a three-quarter - back of the. opposing side,, while catching the tall, has one foot oh the touch-line, If he had not been there the , ball would have pitched in the field of play. Has the attacking side tho option of taking the ball back and scrummaging it in the centre of the 25 yards line? Decision: The ball.must be considered as having pitched in touch, and thereforeHhe non-kicking sido would hare the option as laid down in the definition of "dropkick" in Law 2. From Te Puke R.U. Question: What is the ruling if a referee, stops the game before time, owing to bad light? Decision: That the "Laws of the Game" ■ provide that each sido shall play an equal timo from cash .in-goal, and if this .is not! done the match cannot be considered as completed, and tho usual practice is to replay. 1 the game N if necessary v In this decisiott\the words "if necessary" were struck out. , '

A Wrong Decision. ': Mr. Northerner submitted an extra case for decision.'' In a match in which he was acting" as referee, a player taking a penalty kick at goal merely kicked the ball a few feet, picked up, and 6cored a try. He disallowed tho try on the ground' that tho, ball had not been kicked ton yards, and ordered the player to tako another kick at goal. He asked whether his decision was right. The decision of the delegates was that tho player talcing tho lock was within tho rules in kicking as short a distancn as he pleased, so long as he kicked in' th'a direction of his opponents' goal-line.

V Putting Ball in Scrum. After some discussion it was decided tn adhoro to the interpretation of tho rulea ns printed with regard to tho putting of tho ball in tho scrum. The rules say that players must j>ut the ball in except under exceptional circumstances, as, for instance, when, tho play is on one of the goal-lines. Some delegates inolincd to tho opinion that under no circumstances should the referee exerciso his right to .put tho ball in. One delegatxi' only, Mr. Frost, of Auckland, thought that' tho referees ought to put tho ball in tho scrum on all occasions.

Amendments to Rules. Notification was received through tho Now Zealand Rugby Union of the following alterations in the laws of tlio game, made by tho 'English Rugby Union. Law 2, definition of a tackle, now reads: "A tacldo is v.-lien tho holder of tho ball is held by ono or more players of tho opposite sido so that ho cannot at any moment while? ho is so held, pais or play it." f/aw tG now reads: "111 Hie case of a throw-forward or knock-on, tho ball shall be brought back to the place where such infringement occurred, and there bo scrummaged, unless a fair catch has boon allowed, or'the opposite sido gain nn advantage, or unless, in the opinion of the referee, such throw-forward or knock-on

is wilful, when ho may aware? a freo-kick to- be taken at the spot wliero such .infringement occurred. This shall not app'j' to a wilful throw-forward or kncck-oii into touch (which is otherwise provisVid for)." Tho following new law is inserted:—' r "IGa: If a player shall wilfully pass, kuock, or throw tlio ball into touch, tho opposite side may claim cither a free-kick or scrummage. Such frce-kick or scrummage is to be taken at their . option, cither: (a) At any spot at right angles to tho touch-line, teu yards from tho placo where the ball went into touch, or (b) at tho spot wliero such pass, knock, or throw occurred." t In tho case of a free-kick, tho "spot whether under (a) or (b) shall be taken 'as tho mark. This law sliall not override the power of tho referee to allow or disallow a'try under Law 13. It was decided to add to the new rule by way of interpretation the following noto: —"In the event of tlio non-offending side claiming neither a scrummage or a free-kick, the ball shall bo. brought back into play as provided for in Rule 12." (This means in effect that if there is no appeal the ball is to be thrown in from touch in the ordinary way.)

Regarding Boots. The following is added to Law 18 : "If studs are worn, they shall be circular, not moro than J-incli long measured from, tho sole of the boot, and not-less J-inch diameter at base, and J-inch at top, and shall b9 fastened with not less thau three nails." Putting Ball in Scrum. The following resolution hjis been jpassed by the board:—"Tho ball is not fairly in the scrumnrago until it has passed a player on each side." ' Borrowings from League Code. The secretary of tho New Zealand Union, wrote also as follows;— The English Union has forwarded replies concerning some of the suggestions uiado by this union,: As to tho suggestion to reduce the value of a penalty, goal to two points, the committee of the English Union "is unanimous against this." As to the suggestion, that after any score by either side, play bo recommenced by a kick-off (place-kick) from half-way, the committee of the English Union finds "that there is not sufficient demand for this alteration to warrant them taking any initiative \ in the matter. The communication that such-re-commendations can' bo brought forward by on" affiliated body at .the anuuil general meeting of the' English Union. Our representative, Mr. C. Wray has since lieen instructed to : give for such meeting notice of motion of all tho suggestions decided upon by this union last year.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. After tho business of tho conference was concluded in the early. afternoon the meeting resolved itself into tho annual general meeting of tfie New Zealand Referees' Association. Annual Report. ■ ■ Following' was the annual report presented (slightly abridged):— . "Tho past season has be«n one of continued success in the affairs of the association. At present there are twenty active associations affiliated and it is likoly that several new associations will ; apply• for .affiliation shortly. 'Thus practically the whole of tho active Rugby referees in New Zealand aro now banded together for mutual support' arnd' advancement. Tho handbook was published as usual last year and although the support accorded ivas not equal to previous seasops a lair measure of success was attained. Over 100U copies were sold and 300 copies were distributed amongst tho primary schools of; the centres. As the amendments and alterations to tho laws of tho gamo have been only of a recent character consideration should 1m given : .at tho annual meeting as to whether it ,is neccSsary to publish tho handbook annually.; Twontylone certificates woro-.'award'cd during tho year to referees wlioliad officiated in representative matches; 1 . The "finances of the are stiU'..in a. : soundVposition. Tho association ■ lias",now-tipen a ■self-supporting '-institution.-'^for;'- several years past and tho balancs of assets over liabilities of ~£3l Is. lOd. must be considered as'satisfactory.

Tho chairman moving the adoption of the repor|; congratulated tho association on. its sound financial position, but ho said that it' would be necessary to expenditure carefully if tho association ivas to remain self-supporting. He drew attention also to the' amounts of dues under various heads from affiliated associations outstanding and he hoped delegates would use their influence with their associations to have all unpaid subscriptions remitted without delay. Tho report was adopted without discussion. New; By-laws. Amended by-laws were considered, and eventually adopted.' Most impoitant among the now by-laws was one provide ing that conferences be held once in three years, instead of onco a year. Thero • will bo an annual meeting each year. in Wellington, at which distant associations may be represented by deputies resident in 'Wellington. If necessary tho executive may convene a special conference at any time upon obtaining the assent of "a majority of affiliated associations by mail vote.

Election of Officers. ! Tlie election of offioera resulted' aa follows:—President. Mr. R; M. Isaacs; vicepresidents (each affiliated . association, is entitled to .-nominate' one vice-president, but as very few of.the annual meetings had been held, only one nomination was submitted, .that of Mr. L. Griffiths, of Marlborough); secretary' and treasurer, Mr. L. Sievers; committee, .Messrs, D. M'Kensie, W. J. Meredith, J. F. 0 'Sullivan, F. H. Card, T. H. Jones, nnd G. Howe; auditor, Mr. C. H. Mansoni A vote of thanks wag accorded to Mr. J. M. Kobb'(the retiring secretary and treasurer), and Messrs. J. H. A. Lnwtcm, A. Neilson, and F. A. Hempelmon (retiring meanters of the committee). It wm decided to print 'tho hand-book as usual. The fixing of the place of tho next meeting.was left in.the hands of the executive. A vote' of thanks was accordcd to the Auckland Association for post services. This association as was explained, is to go out of ijxistence-as a recognised associativa. affiliated with the'central body. Twl year« ago the members of it had a dispute with the Auckland Union, and refused to act as referees. A new asso- . ciation was formed which was recognised by the Auckland Union and by the New Zealand Roferees* Association.