RUGBY REFEREES MEET

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 20 April 1935, Page 3

RUGBY REFEREES MEET

ANNUAL N.Z. CONFERENCE

“TAMPERING WITH THE RULES”

SCRUMMAGE AN EXAMPLE,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, April 19.

The annual conference of the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association opened here this afternoon and will be continued this evening arid to-morrow. The chairman of the executive, Mr D. McKenzie (Wellington), presided over an attendariee of 20 delegates. In Welcoming the delegates to Invercargill, Mr H. Strang, president of the Southland Rugby Union, said there had been too much tampering with the rules of the game during the last .few years. A typical iristatice was the scruinrriage. Half the referees and players did not know when the ball was in the scrum arid when it was not. This last had been made too complicated, and it ought to be simplified. He expressed the opinion that the suggestion that referees should put the bail into the scrum would be very* acceptable to players. In his address the chairman remarked it was agreed that scrummaging of recent years had been a weakness in the play in New Zealand. He was going to suggest to referees that if the ball got fairly into the scrummage, that is, on the ground past the first foot of the player on each side, the Whole intent of the rule had been carried out and when, this happened referees should be prepared to allow play to go on provided the second and third feet did not play the ball before the fourth. A lengthy discussion took place on a question from the King Country association: “The referee failed to see a touch judge hold up his flag owing to the ball going into touch. Play continued, and a fair catch was given, and a free kick awarded. On noticing the touch judge’s flag still up, shoulc the referee alter his decision and order a line out?” The meeting agreea thrit the.referee may alter Ins decision if he thinks it justified. . Southland association queried: An attacking player kicks- the ball and a defender charges down the kick, but fails to gather. Another attacking player on his Way bach to get on side plays the ball. All players are within ten yards of one another. Is there an infringement?” The answer given by the executive last year was: Ihe player is off side, and should be penalised for playing the ball while within 10 yards of his opponent.” The chairman said that this ruling was sent to England and the English union hrid said that there was no infringement, as the player charging down the kick was not waiting for the ball. It was decided -to reverse the executive s decision.