RUGBY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11493, 21 November 1931, Page 10

RUGBY

THE KNOCK-ON IN RUGB Y

Even under the laws of Rugby winch have been in force, up to tho present time it lias been no uncommon thing for a referee to fail to distinguish between' a. knock-on and a rebound. Altered by the International Rugby Board, the rulo now provides that “a knock-on occurs when tho ball, after striking the hand or arm of a player, travels in the direction o'f his opponents’ deadball line.” That will avoid confusion between tho old knock-on and a rebound from the hand or arm, but it will probably bo found that a rebound from a players’ chest will continue to be treated; wrongly, by many referees, as a knock-on, and that eventually the practical results will bo that all rebounds will bo regarded as knock-ons. NOTES AND NEWS. At Bromp ton Oratory, on September 15, the marriage took place of the well-known Irish .international Rugby player, Mr. Jas. L. Farrell, who was a member of last year’s British team to Australia and New Zealand. Tho attractive bride, Miss Nora Eolwell, was followed b-y nine bridesmaids. The ceremony was performed by Father Arscott. The best man was Mr. George Beamish, also an Irish international Rugby player. Mrs. (Folwell held a reception at the Hyde Park Hotel.;

Some Rugby Union referees in England have begun to ‘boggle, oyer tho new scrummago. rules beforo. they had .the chance, to blow a whistle, says a London uniter. They seem to think thq emhajgo on raising the first ..three feet' 1 ip'a', scrummage is inconsistent with, the other rule that tho ball is not fairly in. a scrummage untilit has “passed both feet of a player of each team.” There is really no. such inconsistency. The first proviso defines when the ball is “fairly in a scrummage,” the next states what; must be. dono when it gets there. . This is that tfc; centre, front-row man is, tlio only one whq. can lift a foot to play the ball and ho; must. only do it with the foot farthest from the entry to the scrum, that is, with-the fourth Toot in tho front row of- either; side. It is . Bimplo enough, and referees have special instructions strictly to enforce the rule.