1938-39

RU0BY
PART III.—THE PLAY IN DETAIL
LAW 12.—Number
of Players.
—A match shall be played by
not more than fifteen players in each team. Any objection by either
team in connection with this Law may be made at any time, but
it shall not affect any score previously obtained.
LAW r3.—Mode of Play.—A match is started by a kick-off,
after which any player who is on-side may, at any time, kick, pick
up, or run with the ball, or tackle an opponent holding the ball,
except as provided for in Laws
15
and
16.
The ball may be passed or knocked from one player to another
provided it is not passed, knocked or thrown forward by hand or arm.
LAW
14.—
Knock-on or
throw -forward .—A throw-in from
touch is not a throw-forward ; a rebound is not a knock-on.
If the ball is passed back, but, after alighting on the ground
behind the place from which it was passed, it bounce forward, the
pass is in order.
In the case of a throw-forward or a knock-on, the ball shall be
brought back to the place of infringement and a scrummage formed
there, unless
(a)
A Fair-catch has been allowed.
(b)
the opposing team gain an advantage,
(b)
in the opinion of the Referee such throw-forward or knock-
on is wilful, when he shall award a penalty kick at the place
of infringement.
LAW i5.—
Scrummage.
—When a scrummage is ordered or
taken :
(a)
The Referee shall award to the team not responsible for
the stoppage of play the right of putting in the ball.. If
in doubt he shall award the right to the team in whose
half of the ground the scrummage is to be formed.
(b) The Referee may order the ball to be put in on either side.
(c) For an infringement between the 25 yards lines and within
io yards of the touch line, the scrummage shall take
place 10 yards from the touch line on a line parallel to
the goal lines through the place where the infringement
occurred.
(d)
It is illegal for more than three players to form either
front row of the scrummage before the ball has been put
in: Referees shall not inflict a penalty for a breach of this
Law unless such breach is wilful or persistent, in which
case it must be dealt with under Law 34 (c)
(e)
It is illegal, after the scrummage has been formed, for any
player to add .himself to the front row before the ball
has been put in.
N
OTE.—
Referees should stop the dangerous practice
of
players forming down some distance apart and rushing
together, and deal with it under Law
34
(a)
(3)•
(f) The ball shall be put in without delay.