AMENDED RUGBY LAWS

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 12

AMENDED RUGBY LAWS

SFVFRAI ALTERATIONS MADE DECISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD NEW RULE BOOK IS BEING PREPARED IN N.Z Consequent upon several amendments having been made by the International Board to the laws of Rugby football, a new rule book is being printed in New Zealand and will be available for the coming season. The amended scrummage laws have already been detailed on this page. Amendments to other laws are as follow:

Several alterations have been made for Law 2 (Definition and Glossary of Terms), one of the most important of which relates to the tackle, this now being defined as occurring when the holder of the ball in the field of play is held by one or more players of the opposing team so that while he is so held tne ball comes in contact with the ground, or there is a moment when he cannot pass or play the ball. The words regarding the ball coming in contact with the ground were not included in the old rule, and although some referees ruled that a tackle had been made when the ball so touched the ground, there were others who did not do so. The alterations has the effect of clearing up a debated point. This matter is dealt with further in Law 16 (Tackle), where it is still stated that, if a player carrying the ball is thrown or knocked over, but not tackled (i.e., held), he may nevertheless pass the ball or get up and continue his run, even though the ball has touched the ground. Another point about the tackle has been clarified in Law 16. It is now stated definitely that a player who is lying on the ground after a tackle may not interfere with the ball even with his foot. Previously it was rulea that he might not interfere with the ball “until it has been played with a foot." The rule now reads: “Until it has been played with the foot of a player who is not lying on the ground." Another alteration has been made to Law 16 in the deletion of the four notes which appeared at the end of the rule. These dealt with the various conditions under which a tackled player might score a try, and then deletion, which has been brought about by the alteration to the definition of*a tackle, claves the position clear, i.e., tackled players in all circumstances must immediately release the ball so that it falls to the ground between himself and his opponent’s goal-line. Lying on the Ground Law' 30 (lying on the ball) has been altered in two ways. First, it has received promotion to the position of law 17. The wording has been changed to the following:—"A player lying on the ground with the ball in his possession must immediately play the ball, or get up, or roll away from the ball." Previously the words, “play the ball" were not included in this rule although it was intended that they should be read there. The new working makes the position clear. A player on the ground may pass the ball provided he does so immediately. It must be emphasised, however, that if the player comes to the ground as the result of a tackle, he has no such right, and must be dealt with under law 16. Another point to be noted is that a player on both knees, in possession of the ball, may go forward whilst in that position provided he has not been tackled. In other wards, “rabbiting” is legal unless it arises from a tackle. Because of the alteration in the number of the law just dealt with, law 17 (off-side) and law 18 (onside) now become laws 18 and 13 respectively. Otherwise they are unaltered. The Fair-catch The definition of a fair-catch (or “mark” as it is frequently called) has also been altered in its wording, law 2 now stating that a fair-catch, is obtained when a player catches the ball direct from a kick, knock-on, . or throw-forward by one of the opposing team if at the same time the catcher makes a mark on the ground with his heel. It is to be noted that it is not necessary for a player to be standing, or facing his opponent’s dead-ball line when making a fair-catch, or to remain stationary after making his mark, but a mark must definitely be made simultaneously with the catch. A fair-catch can still be made in the catcher’s own in-goal. Kicking of Goals Two new paragraphs have been added to the definition of a goal, these being as follow's:— (1) A goal is scored if the ball has crossed the oar after it has been illegally touched oy a player of the opposing team. (2) A goal may be awarded if the ball is illegally touched by any player of the opposing team if the referee is of the opinion that a goal would

otherwise undoubtedly have been ob lained.

The principles of these two paragraphs are not new, however. Previously, they were included as a note tc law 25 (kick at goal after a try). Penalty Kicks and Tries Law 24 (penalty kick) has also rereived attention and, once again this h s been in the direction ot making the punishment more severe. In the past, the opposing players had the right to stand on the mark (i.e., the place of infringement); but now they must retire 10 yards from the place. If, however, their goal line is less than 10 yards from the mark, they are not required to retire further than the goal line. The team penalised has one slight consolation in that, although they must still remain motionless with their hands at their sides, they maj now come to life as soon as the bail has been kicked. Previously, players who were at or near the marK were not allowed to try to stop the ball in its flight. The remainder of this law does not include an important alteration. Regarding the “obstruction try ’ (provided in law 26;, the punishment has again been made more severe, for, in this case, the try must now be awarded between the goal posts and not opposite the place of infringement as in the past. - Charging and Obstruction In the new rules, law 19 (charging and obstruction) becomes law 20, ana in addition has been altered in some material points. Through one alteration in clause (b) it is definitely illegal for a player overtaking an opponent also tunning for the ball to push him from behind. Previously he was entitled to do so, provided the opponent was stooping to pick up the ball. Changes have also taken place in the clause w r hich deais with a player obstructing an opponent who has just kicked the ball. This breach, which is usually known as “late tacking an opponent," still punishable by a penalty kick awarded to the opposing team at its option, either at the place of infringement or at the place where the ball alights; but some alterations have been made in the cases when the ball alights either in touch-in-goal, in the in-goal or over the dead ball line. The new sections are as follows: (1) If the ball alights in touch-in-goal, the mark shall be at a place 10 yards from the touch line and five yards from the goal line. (2) If the ball alights in in-goal or over the dead-ball line, the marK shall be a place five yards from the goal line on a line parallel to the touch lines through the place where it crossed the goal line. The two new sections each give the kicker an advantage of five yards on the previous rule. Omission of Amended Touch Rule A noteworthy omission from the 1937-38 laws of the game as published by the New Zealand Rugby Union is that the amended kicking-into-loucii rule does not appear to occur at any place in the handbook. Whether this is ail error or one of the straws which show the way in which the wind is likely to be blowing at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union in April is hard to decide. Prominent officials of the New Zealand Union and of the Canterbury Rugby Union, when consulted said that, to their knowledge, no instructions regarding the deletion of this concession had been received from any source either in the Dominion or outside of it. Apparently, unless the delegates to the New Zealand Union decided in April to abandon the concession, there appears no likelihood of any action being taken outside of New Zealand until the International Conference which is to be held in South Africa next August. Another opinion which has been expressed is that the actions of the International Board in carrying out such a thorough revision of the existing rules would, in itself, constitute an automatic rescission of particular concession. Other Alterations Slight alterations, mainly in the direction of clarifying existing rules, and, in some cases, of making penalties a trifle more severe, have also been made in laws 27, 2S, 32, 34, and 35.