RUGBY PROBLEMS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19467, 17 April 1933, Page 9

RUGBY PROBLEMS

REFEREES CONFER. ny Teieeraph—Press Association BLENHEIM, April 15. An important event in the Rugby year, the conference of the New Zealand Referees’ Association, is sitting at Blenheim. The chief functions are the revision of the laws of the game, and decisions will go forward to the New Zealand Rugby Union in the form of recommendations. A vote of condolence was passed with the relatives of the late Mr Louis Grevers, a former secretary of the Association, and a member of the executive. It was agreed that the ball is not dead unless it touches the ground over the touchline, or a player touches the line or ground beyond. A mark should not be awarded unless the player is stationary at the moment of marking, and makes a mark. A recommendation is that timekeepers with bells should be dispensed with as outside the laws, the referee being the sole judge as to time. It was decided that the ball is out of the scrum when it clears the middle row, and if the back row man kicks the ball back into the scrum he is guilty of an offence. Officers were elected as follows: President. Mr F. E. Sutherland. Auckland: senior vice-president, Mr E. S. Hylton. Wellington: vice-presidents, representatives of affiliated associations: executive. Messrs D. Mackenzie, A. Wilson. G. E. Bradley. J. Moflitt. J. Francis. D. Calcinai and R. J. Paton, all of Wellington: secretary and treasurer. Mr F. H. Mullins; auditor, Mr H. Bolton. It was decided that the next conference should be held at Auckland.