Rulings Received From N.Z. Referees' Executive

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1947, Page 10

Rulings Received From N.Z. Referees' Executive

The following questions have been answered in a circular letter by the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association to affiliated associations:— Law 18: —(From Southland): “A scrummage has been formed and ‘A’ side hooks the ball. A player of f ß’s’ side leaves the scrummage to go round on ‘A’s’ half-back and finds the ball is held by ‘A’s’ locks or back-row forward, so he retires with both feet behind the ball and decides to re-enter the scrummage. To where must he retire before re-entering the scrummage? Does the ball become the line of the scrummage or must he retire to enter the scrummage from behind his original front row.” Answer:—The' player may re-enter the scrummage behind the ball. Law 10:—(From North Auckland): “A player, ‘X’ is injured early in a match and retires for treatment by the ambulance. With the consent of the opposing captain, ‘X’ is replaced by an emergency, ‘Y’ and to all intents and purposes has retired from the game. ' Later in the match a further player of the same side, ‘Z’ is also injured and retires. In the meantime ‘X’ has recovered and has been declared fit to play by the ambulance men. May ‘X’ replace ‘Z’, ‘X’ having already retired from the game and been replaced by ‘Y’. Answer:—Yes.' The answer to the second question is of particular interest to the West Coast because of a similar set of circumstances which ’arose during the progress of a senior match between United and Celtic some weeks ago at Omoto. The referee in this case, Mr G. Strode, gave the correct ruling and allowed the player who was injured in the first place .to return to the game and replace another injured player.