Notes on Our National Game.

Franklin Times, Volume XXV, Issue 63, 4 June 1935, Page 6

Notes on Our National Game.

NOTES AND COMMENT. (By 11. H. Jeffreys). Rugby union football, like any other game, is governed by rules, and an understanding of these rules is an asset to a player, and essential to becoming a successful participant in this national game.

Much time is lost, as well as friction created, by nothing other than ignorance of the rules, and by players who have had every opportunity oi learning the liner points, as well as the elementary principles of this great game. These notes are published with the hope that they will be of value to players and supporters of ltugby in this district. Questions will be welcomed, and answers given in conformity with the rulings of the N.Z.R.U. Wasted Time. Wasted time has been mentioned, and undoubtedly disregard for many rules that are the A.B.C. of Rugby causes the unnecessary loss of many valuable minutes. Time and again the whistle has to be blown because players persist in getting in front of their man taking a penalty kick, a free-kick, or at a drop-out, or a kickoff. The kicker takes his kick haphazardly and ignores the rule that states the kick must be on a line through the mark parallel with the touch line. The way the kick is taken sometimes, even in senior football, would indicate that the playei has some queer ideas of being in line with the mark and the cross-bar. The referee has no option but to whistle, and an impatient public blames him for slowing up the game. There is little or no excuse for breaches of this character; it indicates lack of concentration, as well as ignorance of fifst principles. Before dealing with rules in particular one or two general remarks may not>be out of place. It is admitted that some rules are difficult to understand and possibly still more difficult to apply. It is here that players must be prepared to accept the decision of the official controlling the game. As an active referee it is peihaps difficult to write without some bias, but remember, some one has to decide, and the only decision \vith which players are concerned is that of the man with the whistle. The off-side rule is possibly the one with most difficulties, while the advantage rule is probably most misunderstood. Both of these rules will be dealt with later. Most Noticeable Faults. In local club games the most apparent faults are concerned with lineout play, to which may be added the infringements already mentioned. There is a great deal of aimless knock-ing-baclc, and worse still much illegal knocking-on, while the positional play is even worse. A player in Auckland was drastically penalised for being in an off-side position at a line out, and whatever may be the sentimental viewpoint, the referee was correct according to law. The rule definitely states that a player is off-side if he stand on his opponents’ side of a line at right angles to the point at ♦which the ball is to be thrown in, and even though he be half-way across the field of play, the fact- remains he is off-side, and if, in the opinion of the referee he is prejudicing the play of his opponents, he must be penalised. Local players will help to make the game the pleasure it is meant to be for participants and spectators, when they avail themselves of opportunities of studying, and observing, these rules that are vital to the game.