NEW RUGBY RULES

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 May 1948, Page 10

NEW RUGBY RULES

N.Z. REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION EXPLAINS THEM

APPLICATION NEXT SATURDAY. On Saturday Rugby teams throughout New Zealand will play under the amended laws agreed upon by the International Board at its latest meeting in Edinburgh. To facilitate the change the New Zealand Referees’ Association has issued notes for the guidance of referees, most of whom have already debated the amendments and had the implications explained to them. Players should also take care to make themselves conversant with what is involved. Players will not be affected by the change in the definition of the word ‘■dead’’ in law 2, which simply means that the ball is no longer to be regarded as dead after a tackle and consequently half-time or no-side cannot be called after a tackle. In respect to the "fair catch ’ it now becomes obligatory for a player to do what has previously been done as a matter of practical politics, namely, call "mark” simultaneously with taking the catch and making a mark with his heel. NO “PUSH” TRIES. To ground the ball, either as a force-down or to score a try, a player must now have his hand or hands ON the ball so that he can exert a downward pressure. This is mainly intended to cover the case of a player who makes a dive at the ball when it is on the ground and pushes it away. That will no longer constitute grounding the ball. The referee is now required to sound his whistle whenever the bail has been touched down, has gone into touch or touch-in-goal, or has crossed the dead ball line. The most important change (apart, possibly, from the reduction of the field goal from four points to three points) is that, which allows the outside foot to follow the ball into the scrummage. That foot, however, cannot touch the ball until it has been played by the fourth foot, of a foot beyond. LINE-OUT PLAY. When neither the touch judge nor the referee can decide which team has the right to throw the ball in from touch the defending team will in future throw the ball in. The other amendments regarding line-out play involve no change in interpretation. The law for the kick-off gives the opposing team the same options when the ball pitches in touch-in-goal clover the dead-ball line as were allowed previously when the ball pitched in touch. In the case of a penalty for illegal charging or obstruction when the ball lands in in-goal or over the deadball line after crossing the goal line within 10 yards of the touch line the mark is to be 10 yards from touch and five yards from the goal line. If the ball lands within 10 yards of touch in the field of play the mark is to be 10 yards in from touch. It is no longer necessary for the kick at goal to be taken after a try. When the referee cannot decide which team grounded the ball first in goal he will now order a "five-yards” scrum instead of a force down.