FOOTBALL.

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1924, Page 11 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

RULFS OF RUGBY OFFSIDE EXPLAINED. "Referee," New Zealand's foremost authority on "Rugby rules, below explains t'he working of the offside rule. As so many players are in ignorance of the correct interpretation of this particular rule it will be to their benefit to peruse the following. "Motu" writes:A back (red) kicks the ball well over his own forwards and the opposing back (black) fields it. The referee immediately gives free kick against red, ruling all red forwards offside, being in front of t'he kickor, who is running up to put his side on-side. What is the usual ruling of the offside rule in this case? ''Referee" replies: If the facts are as stated by "Motu" the referee is wrong, unless the players ruled offside «iro within ten yards of the black back. The free kick is not given because a

' player is in an offside position, but because he does some particular act while in such a. position. These are: (1) Playing the ball.

(2) Actively or passively obstructing an opponent. ,^^^

(4) Not being in the scrummage, but r":r.:iining in front of the ball when it is in the scrum. (;">) Entering a scrummage from Tiis opponent's side of the ball. »So long as the offside red players do none of these five things they cannot be penalised. As soon as a player has kicked the ball, all his forwards are offside who are standing within ten yards of the opponent waiting to take it or wlio come up before ho has caught and mulled or caught and run five yards. Those standing withi:-; ten yards must retire outside that distance or they should be penalised. They cannot be put onside either by B mulling the ball, or running five yards with it, or by K running up in front of them. Their duty is to get outside the circle at once, so that presence shall not render B 7 s chance of taking the ball more difficult. If they do retire outside the circle they can then be put onside in the usual wav.