RUGBY SCRUMMAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1935, Page 11

RUGBY SCRUMMAGE

AMENDED RULES ENGLISH UNION EXPLAINS (By "Drop-Kick.") One of the first steps to be taken in preparing players for the coming Rugby football season is to acquaint them with the new rules which have been brought into operation since last season, and which have been in fprce in the Home countries this year. It was found necessary in England to fully explain the altered scrummage laws part way through the season, as many different interpretations were being applied.. The New Zealand Rugby Union's management committee is moving to have the alterations made as fully and as widely known as possible before the season proper is under way, and it will, of course, accept the English Rugby Union's interpretations. The Rugby Football Union (England) recently issued a circular, in which the scrummage law (15) was explained in some detail. It is pointed out in it that referees must insist that: — (a) The half-back stands at least three feet from the scrum; . (b) The ball is propelled by both hands from below the knee; and (c) The ball is not put in at excessive speed, but should be fast enough to reach the far feet of the centre players of the front row. It is stated specifically that the ball shall not be considered as having been fairly in the scrummage if it comes out between the feet of one of the outside players of the front row. Further'rulings are— : 1.-The centre player must not raise or advance his farther foot to obtain possession of the ball until the ball is fairly in the scrummage, i.e., until the I ball has passed one foot of a front-row I player of each team and has touched the ground between the opposing players. .- ! 2. The first or outside foot of the out- | side players must not be raised from the ground, or advanced, until the ball i has passed that foot. The' second or [ inside foot of the outside players must not be raised from the ground, or advanced, until the ball has passed that foot/ The third or nearer foot of the centre player must not bei raised from1 the ground, or advanced, until the ball has passed that foot. 3. Other feet may be raised or advanced as soon as the ball is fairly in the scrummage. It was explained in "The Post" when the amendments -to the laws were made known that New Zealand would be brought nearer to a former method of hooking freely and effectively used, i.e., by swinging the first and fourth feet. The latest rulings give confirmation of this.'