Law Evolution

The Evolution of the Laws over the Last Century

Introduction

The RFU was founded in 1871 and began to issue laws in 1874, with the first systematic revision in 1892. Royds quotes from earlier laws, in particular those at Rugby School dating from 1846 and Blackheath Club in 1862. To produce an article describing the development of the Laws of the Game would normally have required months of determined research by an experienced historian. Fortunately two great London Society members of bygone years have each left a volume which together record all the important changes made from the earliest days up to 1972, namely,

Vice-Admiral Sir Percy Royds, President London Society 1928-55, President RFU 1927-28, published his History of the Laws of Rugby Football in 1949.

Cyril Gadney, President London Society 1955-69, and President RFU 1962-63, brought the Royds history up to date in 1973, but made no attempt to match Royds' style and detail.

Both Royds and Gadney were the outstanding rugby lawyers of their day, serving as chairman of the RFU Laws Sub-Committee and on the International Board, which today is the sole law making body for the game worldwide. Armed with Royds' and Gadney's books and the RFU handbooks since 1973 it is possible to list the most important law changes. Royds wrote 245 pages and Gadney 83, so it will be impossible in this article to deal with more than a small proportion of the total changes. Therefore, an attempt to state what the most important laws were in 1889 when it was not always clear why changes were made, and in retrospect they were not always made for the better, it is possible to identify four broad categories, namely:

1. To speed up the game and reduce unnecessary stoppages.

2. To encourage open and attacking play, running with the ball and scoring tries.

3. To counter foul and unsporting play.

4. To improve safety and reduce risk of injury.

Inevitably some readers will disagree with this classification and will suggest other headings. The process of change has an element of chicken and egg about it. Some amendments were made to discourage aspects of play and behaviour which were considered to be objectionable. Other amendments forced players to change their style and approach. It is not the purpose of this article to comment on their success or otherwise.

Law scene in September 1889 and later

Following a dispute with Scotland, Wales and Ireland, England played no home internationals in 1888 or 1889, although they beat the touring Maoris (the New Zealand Natives as they were called). The quarrel began in 1884 over the score which enabled England to beat Scotland. Scotland demanded neutral arbitration but England maintained that the Irish referee was the sole authority. There was no Scotland v England match in 1885, but after a meeting in Dublin Scotland conceded England's victory on condition that England joined an International Board (IB) on equal terms. The RFU, as much the largest union, would not agree to equal terms. England had also introduced a "free kick by way of penalty", which the other home unions would not accept. After further arbitration the IB was formed in 1890. It was agreed that international matches would be played under one code of laws, which with two exceptions were those of the RFU, that England should have six votes to two each by Scotland, Wales and Ireland and that the IB should have power, by not less than three-fourths of their number, to amend, alter or cancel any law and add all new laws. Note that this agreement covered international matches only. Each union had its own laws for domestic matches and it was not until 1930 that the IB was accepted as former of the Laws of the Game. Later developments were as follows:

1910 RFU volunteered to reduce its votes from six to four.

1929 RFU offered to surrender two votes in favour of the Dominions, if they were admitted. Offer rejected.

1947 New Zealand, Australia and South Africa admitted with two votes for all member unions.

1978 France admitted with two votes.

1991 Argentina, Canada, Italy and Japan admitted, each with one vote.

The referee scene in September 1889 and later

1866 Rugby School: "Two umpires must be provided."

1874 RFU: "The captains .... shall be the sole arbiters of all disputes."

1885 In all matches two umpires shall be appointed and a referee. Each umpire must carry a stick, with which to indicate infringements. The colour of the stick was not stated. The referee must be provided with a whistle. Who was to provide the whistle was not stated.

1889 Two umpires or two touch judges shall be appointed, and a referee. Again, this reads as though the referee was an afterthought.

1892 In all matches a referee and two touch judges shall be appointed. In the right order at last! The referee shall be sole judge in all matters of fact, but as to matters of law there shall be the right of appeal to the Rugby Union.

1909 RFU: The referee shall have power under law re: misconduct to treat a touch judge as if he were a player in case of any form of mis conduct, such as to include persistent or frequent unfair decisions.

1969 The referee is the sole judge of fact and of law. So after seventy-seven years the right of appeal against the referee's decision on grounds of law was abolished.

1992 During a match the referee is the sole judge of fact and of law.

Law Changes Designed

To speed up the game and reduce stoppages

1. Advantage

In the early days it was up to the non-offending team to appeal for a stoppage. If a stoppage was not in the interests of his team, the captain did not appeal and play continued. The necessity for appealing was abolished in 1896 and the law required that in the case of a throw forward or knock-on "the ball shall be at once brought back to where such infringement took place and there put down, unless a fair catch has been made and claimed, or unless the opposite side gain an advantage." 1927 Advantage extended to in-goal as well as field-of-play. It did not apply to kick-off, drop-out, fair catch and penalty kick. 1958 Advantage extended to all kicks except kick-off. Tactical advantage introduced in addition to territorial advantage.

In the years that followed there were further extensions of the application of advantage, e.g. to scrummage and line-out, so that today it applies to every aspect apart from two minor exceptions referred to in Law 8.

2. Tackle

1889 "A tackle is when the holder of the ball is held by one or more players of the opposite side. In the event of any player holding or running with the ball being fairly tackled and the ball fairly held, he must at once cry "down" and then put it down." "If in the opinion of the referee he has not immediately put the ball down, and if he, lying on the ground, has not immediately got up, he shall, on a claim from the opposite side, award a free kick." By 1897 it was illegal for an opponent to prevent the tackled player putting the ball down between himself and his opponent's goal line or getting up.

In 1905 the law read: "A tackle is when the holder of the ball is held by one or more players of the opposite side. "Held" is when the player carrying the ball cannot pass it".

An IB circular the same year stated: "A player must be considered as tackled if he on being grasped by an opponent, falls, and the ball whilst in his possession touches the ground. If a player carrying the ball be thrown or knocked over (but not tackled) and the ball touches the ground, he may nevertheless get up with it and continue his run or pass it."

This shows that sixteen years after the Society was founded the concept of the tackle as we know it was already firmly established. In addition, it was necessary to play the ball with the foot after a tackle, a requirement which was not abolished until 1958. There was no substantial amendment to the law for many years before 1958. It is interesting to read what Gadney wrote in 1966: "The change in the law permitting a ball to be played with the hand after a tackle, instead of first with the foot, was fully considered in the light of a lowering in the standard of forward play.... Although the advantages in continuity of play had not been full realised as yet it was unanimously decided to leave the law as written."

In attempts to speed up the game, to avoid pile-ups and to keep players on their feet, various amendments were made in the 1960s, such as to allow the tackled player on his feet to try to free himself. In 1977 the "stand-up" tackle was abolished. Already in 1969 the magic words "a maul ends a tackle" had allowed the development of the maul, which was first defined in 1967. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s amendments too numerous to list and often made to the irritation of players and referees, continued to be introduced. The definition of a tackle and the requirements for play after a tackle were altered frequently and the readers need to decide whether or not the present Law 18 has achieved what was intended.

3. Touch

This law has not been changed much. In 1885 the ball was in touch if it crossed the touch line and was then blown back, This was not altered until 1969 when a player with his feet in the field-of-play could catch the ball which had crossed the line. Since 1978 the ball which crosses the line and is blown back is no longer in touch unless it has touched the ground or a person beyond the line.

4. Maul

The maul law was not introduced until 1967 with a definition substantially as it is today. The important ruling in 1969 that "a maul ends a tackle" was designed to keep the game going.

5. Knock-On

1889 ""Knocking-on", i.e. hitting the ball with the hand, and "throwing forward", i.e. throwing the ball in the direction of the opponent's goal line are not lawful." Players and referees today would have understood this law and there were relatively few significant changes until recently.

1912 Wilful knock-on penalised.

1958 Adjustment allowed from kick.

1964 Adjustment extended to all ways of receiving ball, except if one-handed or "second catch".

1973 "Anything goes", any adjustment provided that the knock-on is not intentional,

6. Ball Touching Referee

1889 The ball is dead if it touches an umpire or referee, and scrummaged at the spot.

For the next seventy years the referee was obliged to blow his whistle if the ball, or a player carrying it, touched him. But in 1958 the current law was introduced requiring a stoppage only if the referee considers that either side has gained an advantage.

7. Accidental Offside

The first reference to "unintentional offside" appeared in 1892 when the law required a scrummage instead of the "free kick by way of penalty" for wilful offside. A mandatory scrummage for accidental offside continued to be awarded until 1975 when the current law was introduced allowing play to continue unless the infringing team gains an advantage.

8. Scrummage

1889 A scrummage takes place when the holder of the ball, being in the field-of-play, puts it down on the ground in front of him, and all who have closed round on their respective sides endeavour to push their opponents back and, by kicking the ball, to drive it in the direction of the opposite goal line. A scrummage ceases to be a scrummage when the ball is in touch or goal. It is not lawful in a scrummage to touch the ball with the hand. If in the opinion of the referee, any player shall in a scrummage intentionally either handle the ball or fall down, he shall, on a claim from the opposite side, award a free kick.

This law, covering set and "loose scrums", which were first separated in 1905, is quite intelligible to the modern player or referee. Developments in the law which helped speed up the game and, incidentally provided for the ball to be heeled for the backs instead of being driven forward, are too numerous to list in this article. Throughout this century the IB and member unions have debated the scrummage laws ad nauseam. All concerned have frequently expressed dissatisfaction with the laws, especially when they affect the front rows, putting in the ball and hooking. Amendments, directives and circulars have appeared in profusion. They are far too numerous to be quoted in this article but active players and referees may be assured that in the opinion of this writer they are fortunate that amendments in recent years have at last provided them with a workable set of rules. After a century of trial and error, application of the laws can ensure orderly formation of scrummages and allow the ball to be put in fairly and promptly and to be heeled safely.

9. Reduction of Stoppages

1891 First mention of extra time "The referee shall have power at his absolute and sole discretion to allow extra time for delays."

1897 Penalty prescribed "if any player wilfully or systematically causes unnecessary loss of time."

1901 Maximum time for stoppage for injury three minutes, reduced to two minutes in 1958 and to one minute in 1978.

1921 Penalty against player who "does not immediately place the ball in the scrummage".

1926 Penalty for "waste of time... including wilful infringement of any law for which penalty is only a scrummage".

1958 No need for placer for kick at goal after try. 1964 Kick at goal after try may be by drop kick.

1969 Time added for delay in taking kicks at goal. Kick may be disallowed if there is undue delay.

1992 Drop kick for kick-off after score.

Law Changes Designed

To encourage open and attacking play

1. Advantage see above

2. Line-Out

In the early days there was no definition of a line-out. The main requirement was that the ball should be thrown in along what is now called the line-of-touch. So long as they were on their own side of the line-of-touch at the beginning of the line-out, players could stand anywhere. For example, the open-side wing three-quarter could stand on the far touch line.

1962 Quick throw-in allowable provided same ball used and handled by players only.

1963 Clear space between lines of players. Previously there was no requirement for a gap between the teams. They could also double bank and bunch.

1964 Length of line-out defined from five yards from touch-line to position of furthest player of team throwing in.

1973 Clear space of two feet between lines of players. One yard between players of same side. Furthest player may not be more than fifteen yards from touch line.

1975 On metrication, two feet became 500mm.

1982 End of "furthest player" concept. Line-out still restricted to fifteen metres.

1983 Throwing-in side determine maximum number in line-out.

1992 One metre between opposing teams. No gap required between players of same side.

Quick throw-in anywhere between place where ball went into touch and thrower's goal line. Thrower-in alone to handle ball.

3. Offside 1889

Every player... is put offside if he enters a scrummage from his opponent's side... or where the ball has been kicked, touched, or is being run with by any of his own side behind him. Any player when offside is out of the game and shall not touch the ball in any case wherever.., or in any way interrupt, or obstruct any player, until he is onside again."... "A player being offside is put onside again when the ball is run five yards with, or kicked by, or touched the foot of any player of the opposite side, or when one of his own side has run in front of him either with the ball, or having kicked it when behind him.

The penalty for breach was already a free kick at the place of offence, or scrum back. Thus the principle for offside and onside is as old as, or older than the London Society.

What is now the ten metre rule was also introduced as a five yard rule in 1889, being increased to ten yards in 1896. In 1892 it became illegal for any player not in a scrum to stand on his opponents' side of the ball and wilfully obstruct opponents.

1899 Introduction of the celebrated penalty for shouting "all onside", or words to that effect when players were not onside. This remained in force until 1968. The offside laws were gradually strengthened as off-side play became more prevalent, but the earliest mention of offside at line-out I can trace is in 1926. "A player is offside if, when the ball is thrown in from touch, he stands in front of a line at right angles to the touch line from the place whence the ball is thrown." It was not until the 1950s that significant amendments protecting attackers were introduced.

1964 The all important offside lines, hindmost foot at scrum and ruck (maul included in 1967) and ten yards line for backs at line-out were introduced.

Since that date, many refinements have been made to favour attackers at the expense of defenders, such as definition of participants and non participants at line-out.

For open play, the basics were established a century ago. Changes have been fewer, being mainly for the purpose of emphasis and tidiness. The most significant change in recent times was introduced in 1992 when offside players were prevented from moving towards opponents until put onside.

4. Grounding the Ball

1889 If a player runs with the ball until he gets behind his opponent's goal line and there touches it down, it is called a "run in". A try is scored when a player touches the ball down in his opponent's goal.

1900 A try is gained by the first player who first puts his hand on the ball on the ground in his opponent's ingoal.

1911 A player, providing he is not carrying the ball, may be in touch and yet score a try by touching the ball down with his hands.

1931 "Grounding the ball" appears for the first time.

1948 Grounding the ball is the act of a player placing his hand on hands on the ball, while it is on the ground, so that he is able to exert on it downward pressure.

1964 Modern definition of grounding introduced, to include falling on the ball as in the present Law 12.

5. Penalty Kick and Free Kick

Separate definitions of penalty kick and free kick were not made until 1926.

1889 "A free kick awarded by way of penalty shall be taken by either drop, punt or place kick and by any member of the side to which it has been awarded. In all other respects the kick shall be taken in the manner prescribed for a fair catch."

1892 "In all cases the kicker's side must be behind the ball when it is kicked, except the player who may be placing the ball."

1905 "All free kicks... must be in the direction of the opponents' goal line... The opposite side may come up to and charge from anywhere on or behind a line drawn though the mark and parallel to the goal lines, and may charge as soon as the kicker commences to run, or offers to kick, or the ball be placed on the ground for a place kick." Charge disallowed, if charge early. Those words have a familiar ring about them.

1925 First reference to a "penalty kick". Opponents may not charge.

Provisions for Penalty Kick 1931 Ball to reach line of mark.

1937 Opponents to retire to line ten yards from mark or to own goal line and ball must reach that line unless first played by opponents.

1954 Kick may be in any direction towards opponents' goal line, but must travel five yards.

1956 Kick advanced ten yards if opponents infringe.

1958 Kick may be in any direction but may not be played again by kicker until played by another player.

1961 Kicker may play ball again after it has travelled ten yards.

1964 Kicker may play ball again without restriction.

1988 No place kick, if kicking to touch.

1992 Kicker need not wait until all players are behind him, if penalty kick is kicked into touch, kicking team have throw-in.

Provisions for Free Kick

1931 Ball to reach line of mark unless charged down. For infringements by opponents, charge disallowed; if kick has been taken, kicker allowed option of another kick without charge.

1977 Free kicks awarded for certain offences instead of penalty kicks. Ball may be kicked in any direction and kicker may play ball again without restriction. For infringement by opponents, penalty kick at mark. Goal can no longer be scored from free kick.

1979 Goal shall not be scored by kicker until first played by another player.

1982 For infringement by opponents, penalty kick ten metres in front of mark.

1988 For infringement by opponents, free kick ten metres in front of mark.

1992 Kicker need not wait until all players are behind him. No dropped goal to be scored until after ball next becomes dead, or ball touched, or played by opposing player.

1993 As above, but extended if scrum taken in place of free kick.

6. Limitation of Fair Catch

1977 May be made only in player's own half.

1979 May be made only on player's side of twenty-two metres line.

7. Restrictions on Kicking Directly into Touch

1951 Dispensation to Australia. Kicks other than penalty kick directly into touch outside twenty-two yards line cannot gain ground.

1968 Australian dispensation, extended by IB as an experiment; becomes law in 1970.

1992 Free kick from 22m may not gain ground.

1993 1992 decision rescinded.

8. Scoring

Law changes to increase the number of points gained for scoring a try and to reduce the value of the goal from the mark, the dropped goal and the free kick are well demonstrated by the following table:

9. Award of Scrum

1905 First differentiation between set and loose scrum (now ruck).

1925 Scrum-awarded team not responsible for stoppage. If in doubt, scrum awarded to defending team.

1969 If in doubt, scrum awarded to team moving forward, or to defending team if no movement.

1982 If in doubt and no movement, scrum awarded to attacking team.

1992 EV after ball unplayable in ruck or maul, scrum awarded to team not in possession at beginning of ruck or maul. If in doubt, scrum awarded to attacking team.

1992 EV if in doubt, scrum awarded to team moving forward or, if no movement, to the attacking team. Exception if maul is formed immediately after a player catches the ball direct from opponent's kick.

10. Award of Throw-In at Line-Out

1889 Throw-in by opponent of the player who last played it in the field-of-play.

1892 As above "except when carried in".

1910 As above "except when a player carrying the ball is forced into touch by an opponent".

1948 If referee in doubt, throw-in by defending team.

1964 Throw-in by "an opponent of the player who it last touched, or by whom it was carried, before being in touch". If in doubt, throw-in by defending team.

1982 If in doubt, throw-in by attacking team.

Law Changes Designed

To Curb Foul Play

1889 "If in the opinion of the referee, a player shall have been guilty of rough or foul play, he shall at his discretion, caution him for the first offence, or warn him off without caution, but always on a second offence it shall be his duty to warn off the offender, and in every case to forthwith report the occurrence to the Rugby Union Committee, who shall at their discretion suspend the offender and any Club which plays with or against him during suspension for such period as they think it." A lovely expression "warn off', redolent of Newmarket Heath and far preferable to "send off' or "order off'.

1889 "If in the opinion of the referee, on a claim from the opposite side, a try would undoubtedly have been scored, but for the unfair play or interference of the defending side, he should adjudge such as a try". (In 1937 a penalty try was awarded between the posts). So the principles of the modern Law 26(3) were firmly established more than a hundred years ago.

1889 "Except in a scrummage it is not lawful for a player to charge against, or obstruct any opponent unless such opponent is holding the ball or such player is himself running for the ball." Principles of Law 26(1) also well established.

1896 "No hacking or hacking over or tripping up shall be allowed in any circumstances." 1911 "This also covers the case of wilful obstruction or interference. Referees must deal sharply with all cases of this nature as this has been a growing practice through players deciding to take the risk of a penalty to gain or save a try by unfair play. This practice is so contrary to the spirit of the game, that the Board have decided to deal with it upon the same footing as rough or foul play or misconduct." Admirable morality!

1921 Charging an opponent at the line-out declared illegal. 1926 Persistent infringement of the laws prohibited.

1926 Waste of time including any wilful infringement of any law for which the penalty is only a scrummage, to be penalised by penalty kick.

So now we have Law 26(2) as well. It is strange that in 1992 the penalty for waste of time was reduced to a free kick.

1937 IB Circular of International Referees: "The Board have observed that Referees in International matches do not administer the Laws of the Game as laid down by them, the result being that many International matches produce an inferior type of football with persistent breaking of the laws... The Board point out that it is the duty of the referee to order off a player who is persistently infringing the law."... "There is a disinclination on the part of referees in International matches to enforce the extreme penalty for unfair play. As a result of this, players are left with the impression that no matter how guilty they are of wilful law breaking and misconduct, the extreme penalty will not be inflicted... The failure of referees in International matches to inflict appropriate penalties has had a detrimental affect on less experienced referees, on players in Club matches, and on schoolboys." Note that that was written more than fifty years ago. Will there be a repeat in 2043?

1954 Provisions for penalising unlawful interference while ball is out of play.

1956 Infringement by offending team at penalty kick kick advanced ten yards.

1958 First reference to "early and late tackling" under prohibited illegal tackling.

1960 "Probably" for "undoubtedly" in award for penalty try.

1969 "All players must respect the authority of the referee and must not dispute his decisions".

1969 First reference to "stiff arm tackle".

1979 Touch judges in international and other designated matches to signal foul play.

It will please the Welsh to learn that Wales proposed this measure in 1911! Is it possible that there was more foul play in Wales? The proposal was rejected by the IB and Royds notes: "the idea being, as it has always been, that these officials should be given as little control as possible".

The current RFU law book lists 139 names on RFU Touch Judge Panel !

1988 Tackling and attempting to tackle opponent above shoulders prohibited.

1992 Citing of players for foul play not detected by match officials is introduced.

Law Changes Designed

To reduce injury

1. Players' Dress

1889 "No one wearing projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha on any part of his boots shall be allowed to play in a match."

1899 Law 4(4) substantially as it is today.

1910 "If studs are worn, they shall be cylindrical, not less than 3/4 inch in diameter and of any length not exceeding one half the diameter and shall be fastened by four nails." 1926 "Any studs must be of leather, circular, fastened by at least three nails." 1948 "Any studs must be of leather or rubber, circular..."

1953 "...of leather, rubber or aluminum."

1954 "...or any approved plastic."

1981 Single stud at the toe of a boot prohibited.

1983 BS 6366:1983 introduced.

2. Scrum, Ruck, Maul and Tackle

1862 Blackheath "Though it is lawful to hold a player in a scrummage, this does not include attempts to throttle or strangle, which are totally opposed to the principles of the game."

"No player may be hacked and held at the same time and hacking above, or on the knee, or from behind is unfair."

1885 "When a player is down in a scrummage and the referee considers it dangerous for the game to proceed, it shall be his duty to order the game to stop until he thinks the danger is over."

1906 "The referee may only blow his whistle for one of the following cases: ...when the referee considers that the continuation of play would be dangerous... If the tackled player played the laws in the spirit in which they are written and at once fairly parted with the ball, very few cases of danger would arise." So they were saying that as long ago as 1906 !

1931 "Referees should stop the dangerous practice of players forming down some distance apart and rushing together..." Throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s amendments were passed almost annually to secure the stability of the scrum and to prevent collapse by tighter binding of the front rows and by limiting the manner in which they could strike for the ball. Swinging both feet off the ground, advancing both feet beyond the middle line and twisting or lowering the body or taking any action which was liable to cause the scrummage to collapse were all prohibited.

In 1985 the requirement for the crouched position and heads and shoulders to be not lower than hips was introduced as an experiment and later confirmed as law. The referee was also instructed to whistle at once in the event of a collapse. Further adjustments were made in succeeding years in the engagement procedure for the front rows. In 1992 the referee was instructed to whistle if players were lifted off their feet and forced upwards out of the scrum. Have the IB now got it right? There was no amendment in 1993.

Similar amendments for the sake of safety have recently been made for ruck and maul, eg in 1985 heads and shoulders not lower than hips. Also in that year it became illegal for the first time to collapse a maul.

The RFU were pioneers in introducing safety measures for Under 19 players in 1983, particularly at tackle, scrum, ruck and maul. Additional measures were introduced progressively and in 1993 the IB adopted a standard set of variations to the Laws of the Game at Under 19 level world-wide covering aspects such as duration of the game, scrummage, replacements, off-side and foul play, with prohibition of the flying wedge and cavalry charge, both of which RFU had banned several years previously.

3. Replacement of Injured Players

Although New South Wales and New Zealand had made proposals in the 1920s for injured players to be replaced, IB rejected all such proposals until 1960. This despite the fact that in 1933 New Zealand represented that replacements had been the custom there for forty years. An early example of the Southern Hemisphere going its own way?

1960 IB authorised replacements in recognised trial matches.

1968 Not more than two replacements for injured players "in matches in which a national representative team is playing"

1974 replacements (2) also allowed in "such competition and other domestic matches as a Union gives express permission".

1976 Replacements (2) allowed in "all other matches".

1977 Referee, on advice from a doctor or medically trained person may require injured person to leave field if captain agrees.

1981 as above, but captain's agreement no longer required.  Up to six players may be replaced in U19 matches.  Unions may adopt trial variations to the laws in domestic matches in the interests of greater safety.

1984 Mandatory three weeks absence from playing or training for player who is concussed.

1988 Up to six players may be replaced in U21 matches.

1989 IB increase allowable replacements to three.

1992 IB increase allowable replacements to four.  Player with open or bleeding wound to leave field until bleeding is controlled.

1993 Temporary replacement allowed for bleeding player who returns within five minutes.

What Next ?

It is a matter for debate whether law changes during the past hundred years have all improved the game. What is certain is that the laws today are far more complex and voluminous than they were. As to volume, the RFU handbook of 1946/47, priced at 1/- post free, devotes fifty-nine pages of large print to the Laws and Notes for the Guidance of Referees. The RFU handbook of1993/94, priced 2 pounds plus 1 pound postage and packing, has 103 pages of much smaller print on the Laws and Notes with many more pages for IB and RFU rulings. In recent years many observers in England have felt that amendments to the Laws have been made, which would not have been approved in the days when the RFU carried a weighted vote on the IB. It is no secret that the RFU have been less eager than other unions to seek changes. Recently the IB itself has called for fewer proposals for amendments to be made unless they are for the purpose of improving safety. It is comforting to record that the RFU have set up a new Working Party of which players, active and recently retired, coaches, selectors and referees as well as administrators are members. The Working Party will suggest proposals for law changes to the RFU Laws Sub-Committee who in turn will consider whether they should be submitted to the IB.

Meanwhile in the opinion of the late Lord Butler's expression, the present Laws are the best we have. With the cooperation of players and coaches and firm and fair application by referees they can be made to work very well.