THE SCRUMMAGE LAWS

Evening Star, Issue 23353, 24 August 1939, Page 18

THE SCRUMMAGE LAWS

ENGLISH UNION'S SUGGESTIONS [Per United Tress Association.] WELLINGTON, August 23. The executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night received from the English Rugby Union a number of suggestions for alterations to the laws governing the scrummage. The alterations, which had been suggested by a sub-committee of the International Board, and will he considered at the March meeting of the board in 1940, were as follows: — Law 15: When a scrummage is ordered or taken—(a) The referee shall award to the team not responsible for tbe stoppage of plav the right of putting in tbe ball. If in doubt he shall award tho right to the team in whose half of the ground the scrummage is to he formed. (h) For an infringement between the 25yds lines and within 10yds of the touch line a scrummage shall take

place 10yds from the touch line on a lino parallel to the goal lines through the place where the infringement occurred.

(c) It is illegal for more than throe players to form tho front row of a scrummage before tho ball has been put in. (Note: Referees shall not inflict a penalty for a breach of this law unless such breach is wilful or persistent, in which case it must be dealt with under Law 34c.) (d) It is illegal after a scrummage has been formed for any player to add himself to the front row before the ball has been put in. (Note: Referees should stop the dangerous practice of players forming down some distance apart and pushing together and deal with it under Law 34a 3.) (e) The ball shall be put in without delay. (Note: Any delay caused bv the player with the ball waiting for any of his team to join a scrummage must be treated as a wilful waste of time.) (f) Tho player putting in the ball shall stand not less than Iyd from the scrummage and with both bands below the knee shall put the ball fairly in at moderate speed so that it first touches the ground beyond 3ft of the nearest player of each front row. (g) The ball is fairly in when it has been put in along a line midway between and parallel to the lines of the feet of the players forming each front row of the scrummage and has touched the ground. (h) The ball shall be put into the scrummage again if it enters and comes out at either side between the lines of the feet of the players forming each front row or between the feet of either of the outside players of each front row on the side on which the ball has been put in. (i) It is illegal for the foot of any player in either front row to touch the ball until it is fairly in. The far foot of the second player of each front row on the side on which the ball is being put in and the feet of the player beyond may bo raised and advanced as soon as the ball has left the hands of the player putting it in. No other foot mav be raised or advanced until the hall has been touched by one of these feet.

(j) It is illegal for any player to prevent the ball from getting fairly into the scrummage. In any scrummage—(l) It is illegal for any player to return the ball into the scrummage by hand or foot after it has come in; (2) it is illegal for any player to handle tho ball, pick it up by the hands or legs, or intentionaly fall or kneel while the ball is in the scrummage except as provided for in Law 26 (b); (3) it is illegal for any player lying on the ground to interfere with the ball in any way. In the event of an infringment a penalty kick shall be awarded at that place. Law 27, paragraph 7: The ball must be brought into play at the place where it went into touch by throwing it into the field of play so as to alight at least syds from and at right angles to the touch line. If the ball when thrown in from touch does not alight as above a scrummage shall be formed lOvds from the place where it went into touch on a line parallel to the goal lines. Law 10 (m) as to advantage does not apply. The suggestions were referred to the Rules Sub-committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union for consideration.