ALTERATIONS IN THE RUGBY RULES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1958, 30 May 1889, Page 27

ALTERATIONS IN THE RUGBY RULES.

The other week I gave some particulars of proposed alterations in the Rugby rules by the English Rugby Union, lam now in a position to give the decisions arrived at in connection With these alterations. . From the' Field I learn, that the annual general March meeting of the Rugby Union was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel, Victoria street, S.W., and as the business of the evening included the arrangement of fixtures for next season and the discussion of several' proposed alterations in the laws, the muster of delegates'wa*][exceedingly gotCd arid representative. At the commencement of the proceedings Mr Budd gave a denial to suggestions that had been thrown out to the effect that, the Rugby Union had in any way boycotted the final match of the New Zealanders at .'Ley ton. The following alterations were.made, but they will' not come into force until next season :-p In Bye-law 2, line 11, the Word" "one" be altered to " two," and that the following words be' added, to the law : "No pastf president shall be entitled to vote on the' 'selection of teams unless he'has been chosen to act on the subcommittee elected for that purpose." That in Law 7, after the words " three points," thefollowing be added : , " With the exception of a goal kicked from a iiok awarded by way. of penalty, which shall equal two points." . . That in Law 18, line 7. the word "and ", n to read "or." , . ' ' ' IriL Law 41, after the words "or the ball has touched the ground," to add : " But if any of the opposite side do charge before the player having the ball commences to run, or offers to kick, or the, ball has touched the ground, the referee may, provided the kioker has not taken his (kiok, ahd then only on a claim by the opposite Bide, disallow the charge. ' ,' Law 38 shall read as follows :— ?♦ Kick out must be a drop kick, and from not v more. than. 25yds outßide the kicker's goal line ; if the ball when kicked out pitch in touch, the opposite side may claim to have it kicked out again. If the, kick be not a drop kick, or if the kick be more than 25yds outside the kicker's goal line,*or It the kicker's aide be not behind the ball when kicked out, the referee shall, on a claim by the opposite side, either order another kick out or order the ball to be sorummaged at a spot 25yds from ,the kicker's goal line and equidistant from both touch lines ; and the opposite side may not obstruct such kioker with 25yds, of his own 1 , goal line." In Regulation 5, Clause d, for the guidanoe of umpires and referees, after the words "in. the case of a try at goal " insert f and of all free kicks." Also in Clause h, line 5, after the words " ball, down," add •• or if he, being on the ground, has not immediately got up again." The following addition be made to Regulation 5 : "If in the opinion of the referee the ball when dead has been unfairly brought into play, he shall order a scrummage to be re-formed."