RUGBY REFEREES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 48, 25 August 1925, Page 14

RUGBY REFEREES

NEW ZEALAND EXECUTIVE

A meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Referees' Association was held last Friday evening. Those present were: Messrs. D. M'Keime (in the chair), J. Moffitt, E. S. Hylton, \V. J. Carson, T. A. Fletcher, and L. Sievers. The following questions relating to the rules of the game and rulings thereon were dealt with :— Question: A player takes.a mark outside his own -twenty-five, and kicks into touch on the lull, is a line-out opposite the mark or, optionally, a scrum the correct decision?— Decision: No option. Question: A player with both feet in touch prevents the ball from going into touch by knocking it back, does that, make the ball in touch or is there any other justification for the referee stopping the game?— Decision : A player with both feet in touch can play the ball, provided* the ball is in the field of play. Under the circumstances there is no justification for the referee to stop the game. Question: A player is ■in his oppoents' in-goal, on the ground, when the ball is knocked back within his reach; he reaches forward while still on the ground and places his hand on the ball; should a try be given, or should the man be penalised for playing . the ball on the ground?— Decision : No try. The player is penalised for playing the ball whilst lyirig on the ground. A "dropout" follows. Question: A and Al are defending. The ball bounces in front of Al (in goal), who jumps up and stops it, but in doing so slips and falls away from it. A (five yards in field of play) and B (attacking) run for the ball, and A touches down. Is it a force, or should a five yards scrum or a penalty try be given ?—Decision : The foTce down is «>rrect. A cannot .be off-side in his own in-goal. Question: The ball in the field of jilay strikes (a) spectator or (b) line umpire. The referee, using his own discretion, allows play to go on?— Decision: The referee's decision is correct. Question: If interference affects game in the above cases the referee orders scrummage under Rule 21.—Decision : The referee has no power to order a scrummage. Question: A player with one foot in touch takes the ball on the full while it is still in the field of play area, from a kick between the twenty-five yards lines. Where does the throw in from touch take place ?—Decision: Throw in from touch opposite the spot where the kick was taken. Question: If a player in taking a shot at goal from a penalty kick after having placed, the' ball on the ground goes to take his kick, misses the ball altogether, and falls to the ground, can the opposing players charge and kick the ball off the spot where it was placed, or must the ball first have been kicked by the kicker before it becomes playable?— Decision : No; the ball must be' kicked by the player taking the penalty kick. Question: A player taking a penalty kick, on dropping the ball to either punt or drop-kick, misses th"c ball altogether. Can the opponents then charge and the game be allowed to proceed, even though the kicker did not kick the ball?— Decision: Yes.