RUGBY RULES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 30 April 1927, Page 13

RUGBY RULES.

— «»■ IMPORTANT ALTERATIONS. A number of changes in the rules of Rugby football will bo enforced during, the present season. Last year the English Rugby Union set up a sub-connnittee to revise the rules of the game and bring thorn out in simpler form. These have been received by the New Zealand Rugby Union, and will bo circulated to tlie various unions at an early date. The alterations are as follows: — Knock-on. —Any knock-on, however slight, must be ruled a knock-on, even if the player catches it again betoro ittouches the ground. Tackle. —So long as there is a moment when the player in possession of the ball is he'd in such away that he' cannot pass or play it, that player is tackled. Then the ball must be put down at once, and any player wishing to play it must play it with the loot first before 'it can be handled."" The penalty for not so doing in both cases is a free kick. Scrummage. —Tho ball must now be hooked. If it is tapped out at tho side where it was put in or kicked straight out the other side, the player doing so must be penalised. The ball is not in the.scrummage if it goes right through. Before it can bo hooked it must'bo past both ioet of a front-ranker of both teams, bo on the ground, and be midway between both sets ot bookers. The referee has the power to order the ball to be put in from whatever side he chooses. No player must, after the scrummage has been formed, wilfully add himself to the front rank so as to form more than throe in that row until the ball has been put in. No player must, by speech or otherwise, indicate as to how or when the ball is being put in. Time.— In international matches' spells are to bo of forty minutes’ duration. Unions are not empowered to appoint time-keepers. Time or halitime may now bo called: —(a) When tho ball goes into touch or toueh-in-goal; (b) after a tackle; (c) after a touch-down or after a kick at goal alter a try; (d) after the whistle has been blown for an infringement of tho rules. Tho referee lias power to stop the game before time lias expired if, in bis opinion full time cannot bo played. Referee. —A referee lias power to allow extra the for delays. Ho has power to appoint a substitute, if lie cannot, officiate for the whole period ot the game, provided the captains of the two teams cannot agree, lie is not entitled to contract out of tho rules ot the game. He must not allow anyone but the players on the ground, except at his request. Players desiring to leave the field at ball-time must get the permission of the referee. Touch-judges. —Touch-judges must signal with their flags when a goal is kicked. The referee, however, has the power to over-rule any of their decisions. Players on the Ground. —A player who is lying on ihe ground with the ball in bis possession must be penalised unless lie gets up at once or rolls away from the ball. Otherwise, ho may, while lying on the ground, pass or ‘kick tho ball. A player who has been tackled and is lying on the ground may play the ball with his foot. Advantago Rule. —Tho advantage rule does not apply:—(a) At a kickofr or drop-out; (b) when the ball is not thrown in straight at a linc-out; (c) When free kicks or penalty kicks are being taken, and the rules are broken. Kicking at Goal.—When a player is kicking at goal from a mark or try, he must not handle the ball when it is on the ground, nor mmt ho touch it again after it has been placed on the ground. If he does so, tho kick is forfeited. In the case of penalty kicks, “passive” is now defined as standing with Ids hands by his side and not . attempting to put the sicker oft 1 his kick.' ' Touch-line Flags.—The touch-line flags are no longer considered part of the post, and player is not put into touch by touching the flag only.