RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 December 1929, Page 10

RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL

OFF-SIDE RUDE The forthcoming lour of Nexv Zealand by a British Rugby team has prompted the Rugby Football Union, of England, to prepare a circular on rulings which have been agreed upon by the New Zealand Rugby Union. These are set out in a circular issued •by the controlling hody to the various •provincial unions of the Dominions. Referees are reminded that -the sole legislative power is vested in the Rugby Football Union, and that they must control the game in accordance with the laws of that body. Attention is also drawn to the fact that a -player on the field of play is off-side only in four cases: if he enters ,t-he scrummage on his opponent’s side, if he stands in front of the line-put, if, while the ball is in a scrumpifige, he, while not in scrummage, stand' in front of the ball, or if the ball has been kicked or touched, or is being carried by one of his ora side behind him. A player is not off-side because of the fact that lie is merely in front of the ball and the practice of treating such a player as .ofi’-side must cease. The attention of players and refer-ees-is particularly drawn to law 15 (b). This law lays down that-the ball is not fairly in the scrummage iintil it has passed both feet of a player of each team. Any player who prevents the ball being put fairly into the scrummage by any of the following methods is guilty of a breach of the 4a z w: (.1) By topchipg the hall before it has reached the ground between the .oppoffing plp-yevs.; (-2) being the outside man and .toucjiipg the ball before it goes -in; (3) being-the middle man, by intercepting .the ball .before it has passed both feet ,qf .the outsi.de man of each team.

The infringement of this law has become so general, states the -English Rilghy Union, that the position of a .referee who tries to enforce it has become intolerable. Apart from the fact that commission of -this breach has a bad effect on forward .play if is considrered coptr-ary yto t)ie 'sphnt of the me that such'a position should arise. Co-operafipn io,end this evil 4s requested. ' . ■ • ■- - ■

In cases w4i§r-Q dead-ball lines are not marked, it js painted but, referees, .should arrange with captains as to how jnany yards.'.’back the imaginary .iine shall be.' The onus is Placed up.on /the' .captain to see that ibis is• dt>ne, and failing'this the referee’s decision'is final.