RUGBY MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1925, Page 23

RUGBY MATTERS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

NEW ZEALAND KEFEREES 1 ASSOCIATION.

Various questions relating to rules and rulings in Rugby came before the last meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Referees' Association. Those present at the meeting were: Messrs. D. M'Kenzie (in the chair), J. Mofntt, E. S. Hylton', W. Carson, J. Francis, ]?. 0. Atkinson, T. A. Fletcher, and L. Sievers.

The questions and the answers thereto were as follows:—

Question: Can a player beyond, the ten-yards limit,. and deliberately waiting off-side, be penalised for not attempting to get outside. Decision: .No.

Question: In a kick at goal from a free-kick against the 'wind, the .ball goes between tho uprights, and is then | blown back. ' The referee is not' certain, if the ball went over the crossbar, and, blowing his whistle to stop the game, he appeals to the line umpires. One o£ the latter says over, the other says not. What is the ruling iv the event of no' goal, and where does the game'restart? —Decision: (1) The referee could only have blown his whistle to award the goal. (2) The whistle blown inadvertently automatically stops the game. A scrummage is ordered at the spot where the ball was when the whistle blew. If over the goal-line, five-yards scrummage is ordered in the field of play. . Question: Does the " fair catch at first attempt rule " debar a player from taking a mark if the ball bounced in his arms, but is afterwards fairly held ?— Decision: Yes, it must be *a clean attempt in the first instance. Question: Is a player debarred from jumping in the air, stopping the -ball with his : hand, and then claiming a mark?— Decision: Yes. . \ . . •

Question : Is an opponent allowed' to ' deliberately push * a player from behind with both hands whether the player has possession of the ball or not, excepting when he is pushed o,ver the touch-line? Decision:_ He can .push if the player has the ball in his possession: .••■.' Question: Is a referee in order in giving a free-kick'against a,player for appealing? In the event of the referee not being in order in awarding a freekick, is there any other' method ■by which such player, can .be. penalised except by warning or ordering off'—Decision:' See page; 51, new Handbook; penalty kick not in order; the player can be ordered off the field. • .■• Question: A try has been scored and the kick at goal is about to be taken. Should the referee signal to the opposing players when the ball comes into play—i.e., by touching the'ground;.such signal being,made by the referee holding his hand aloft and dropping it the moment the ball touched the ground?— Decision: No; the referee should not indicate when the ball is actually on the ground. . . ,

Question: During' the progress of ■ a game a kick at goal was taken which in the opinion of the referee was successful. The referee blew his whistle and awarded a''goal. he questioned the line-umpires, who advised that the kick was unsuccessful. The refereeadmitted that he had made an error of judgment. . An appeal was lodged with the local sub-union, who disallowed the goal.—Decision :■■• A referee, cannot alter Ins -decision, which is final. The referee s-procedure was wrong. In all kicks at goal it is always advisable that the referee should consult his -touch judges. Question: An attacking player simultaneously -with grounding- the balffor a try touched the corner flag ?—Decision-. No try; touch-in-goal. '.■■.-■ ' Question: An attacking player 1 places the ball at the foot of and against the goal post on the side in the infield. What is the decision?— Decision: A try to be awarded. . . . . \ _ Question: A player receives the ball .in the field of play, .but .runs, behindhis.own'goalTline'to clear. In;doing'so he touches the. referee?— Decision: Scrummage is to be ordered at the spot from which the ball was. carried backQuestion: A spectator brushes on the field and touches the ball when, in | the opinion of the referee, the attacking side is certain of a try ?—Decision: A try to :be awarded. ' Question: In a set scrummage does the man putting the ball in comply with the rule : " BalLmust be fairly 'put in," f he .deliberately brings a. man up on the other side of the scrum and bounces the. ball through the serum into his arms?— Decision: The matter as to whether .the ball has been .fairly put in is left to the discretion of the referee Question: ■• A kicks '.■'-, the 'ball- B (opponent) takes it on the full. Can Al who .is twelve yards off-side": from .'b' immediately rush in.,to 'tackle, B ?^D- ecision: No; Al cannot approach within more than 10 yards of B. until B. has run five yards with the ball.