NEW RUGBY RULES ARE EXPLAINED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17863, 3 June 1926, Page 8

NEW RUGBY RULES ARE EXPLAINED.

PENALTY KICKER MAY PLACE OWN BALL. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, June 2. Owing to a general misunderstanding, the New Zealand Rugby Union is issuing a circular explanatory of the recent amendments to the rules. The circular states that these give the kicker the right to place the ball on the ground himself when taking a penalty kick. This does not apply to kicks at goal from a mark or try. In a penalty kick the side which has been penalised must not jump in the air of stand with arms outstretched or advance beyond the mark. They must assume a natural position. An offside player is not now put on side by a ball accidentally touching an opponent. The latter must make a deliberate attempt to play the ball. In all cases of obstruction the side obstructed may have the option of a kick at either spot mentioned in the amendments. In the event of a ball not being thrown in five yards, the referee is to order it to be thrown in again, but to warn the offenders that a repetition of the failure to throw in five yards will be penalised as for a persistent breach of the rules. The advantage rule does not apply if the ball is not thrown straight from the line-out, nor to a kick-off or drop out. If the ball does not reach ten yards at the kickoff or the twenty-five yards’ line at a drop out, the opposing side has W e option of a scrummage or of having the ball re-kicked.