jimM 
 
 OF TBB 
 
 Rugby Union 
 
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 a-.A.is^s3 
 
 OF 
 
 FOOTBALL. 
 
 AS ADOPTED BY THE CAIIAD»AN RUGBY FOOTBALL 
 UNIONi SEPTEMBER t#th, 1880. 
 
 GITIZRK PRINTING A PVUiHIVINe CO., MXTCALTB STBBIT. 
 
 1882. 
 
RULES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 RUGBY UNION GAME 
 
 OF 
 
 FOOTBALL 
 
 As Adopted by the Canadian Rugby Football 
 Union, September 14th, 1880. 
 
 1. The Grounds shall be, as near as possible, 100 
 yards long by 50 yards broad. 
 
 2. Each Goal shall be composed of two upright 
 posts placed 18 feet 6 inches apart, with cross-bar 10 
 feet from the ground. 
 
 3. A Drop Kick or Drop is made by letting the ball 
 fall from the hands, and kicking it the very instant 
 it riseso 
 
4. A Place Kick or Place is made by kicking the 
 ball after it has been placed in a nick made in the 
 ground for the purpose of keeping it at rest, 
 
 5. A Punt is made by letting the ball fall from the 
 hands and kicking it before it touches the ground. 
 
 6. A Goal can be obtained by kicking the ball from 
 the field of play direct {i.e.^ without touching the 
 ground, or the dress or person of any player of either 
 side) over the cross-bar of the opponents' goal, whether 
 it touch such cross-bar or posts or not ; but if the ball 
 goes directly over either of the posts it is called a 
 poster, and is not a goal. 
 
 7. A goal may be obtained by any kind of a kick 
 except a punt. 
 
 8. A match shall be decided by a majority of goals ; 
 but if the number of goals be equal, or no goal be 
 kicked, by a majonty of tries ; if no goal be kicked or 
 try obtained, the match shall be drawn against that 
 side which has been compelled to touch the ball 
 down behind his own goal line the greater number of 
 times. 
 
 &. The ball is dead when it rests absolutely motion- 
 less on the ground. 
 
 10. A Touch Down is when a player, putting his 
 hand upon the ball on the ground in goal, stops it 
 so that it remains dead. 
 
 11. A Tackle is when the holder of the ball is held 
 by one or more players of the opposi**; side. 
 
12. A Scrimmage t*kes place when the l^older of 
 the ball, being in the field of play, puts it down, at his 
 own convenience, on the ground in front of him, an i 
 all who have closed round on their respective sides 
 endeavour to push their opponents back, and drive the 
 ball in the direction of the opposite goal line. 
 
 13. A player may take up the ball whenever it is 
 rolling or bounding, except in a scrimmage. 
 
 14. It is not lawful to take up the ball when dead 
 (except ia order to bring it out after it has been touch- 
 ed down in touch or in goal) for any purpose what- 
 ever; whenever the ball shall have been so unlawfally 
 taken up, it shall at once be brought back to where it 
 was so taken up, and there put down. 
 
 16. In a scrimmage it is not lawful for any man to 
 pick out the ball, or to touch it with the band, under 
 any circumstances whatever. 
 
 16. It is lawful for any player who has the ball to 
 run with it. It is not lawful to carry the ball by the 
 string. 
 
 17. It is lawful to run in anywhere across the gral 
 line. 
 
 18. The goal line is in goal, and the touch line in 
 touch. 
 
 19. In the event of any player holding or lunnin^ 
 with the ball being tackled, and the ball lairly held, 
 he must at once cry down^ and there put it down. 
 
 20. A Maul in Goal is when the holder of the ball 
 is tackled inside goal line, or, being tackled immediate- 
 ly outside, is carried or pushed across it, and he, or 
 
the opposite siJe, or both, cndtavour to touch the ball 
 down. In all cases, when so touched down, the ball 
 shall belong to the players of the si Je who first hai 
 possession of it before the maul commenced, unless tLe 
 opposite side have gained complete posses lion of it. 
 
 21. In case of a maul in goaty those players only 
 who are touching the ball with their hands when it 
 crosses the goal line may continue the maul in goal, 
 and when a player has once released his hold of the 
 ball after it is inside the goal line he may not again 
 join in the maul, and if he attempts to do so may be 
 dragged out by the opposite side. 
 
 22. But, if a player when running in is tackled in- 
 side the goal line, then only the player who first 
 tackled him, or if two or more tackle simultaneously, 
 they only may join in the maul. A maul in goal 
 must not last longer than two minutes, the ball be- 
 longing to him who had first possession of it. 
 
 23. Touch in Goal. Immediately the ball, whether 
 in the hands of a player (except for the purpose of a 
 punt out — see Rule 31) or not, goes into touch in goal, 
 it is at once dead and out of the game, and must be 
 brought out as provided by Rules 42 and 43. 
 
 24. Every player is on side, but is put q^ side if he 
 enters a scrimmage from his opponent's side, or, being 
 in a scrimmage, gets in front ot the b ill, or when the 
 ball has been kicked, touched, or is being run with by 
 any of his own side behind him (i. e, between him- 
 self and his goal line). No player can be off side in 
 his own goal. 
 
 25. Every player when q^ side is out of the game, 
 and shall not touch the ball in any case whatever, 
 
either in or out of touch or g >al, or in any way inter- 
 rupt or obstruct any player untill he is again on side. 
 
 26. If a player purposely foul an opponent in order 
 to gain ground for his own side, the opponent's side 
 may either have the ball down where the foul was 
 made, or take a free kick, which free kick cannot pos- 
 sibly score a goal. The purpose of the foul must be 
 decided by the referee. 
 
 27. A player being o^«/cfe is put on sUe when the 
 ball has been kicked, or run with five yards by any 
 player of the opposite side, or when one of bis own 
 side has run in front of him, either with the ball or 
 having kicked it when behind him. When a player 
 has the ball, none of his opponents who at the time 
 are off side may attempt to tackle, or otherwise 
 interrupt such player till he has run five yards. 
 
 28. Throwing Back. It is lawful for any player who 
 has the ball to throw it back towards his own goal, or 
 to pass it back to any player of his own side who is at 
 the time behind him. 
 
 29. Knocking on, i.e., deliberately hit ing the ball 
 with the hand, and Throwing Forward, *. e., throwing 
 the ball in the direction of the opponents' goal line, 
 are not lawful. If the ball be either knocked on or 
 thrown forward^ the Captain of the opposite side may 
 (unless a fair catch has been made, as provided by the 
 next Rule) require to have it brought back to the spot 
 where it was knocked ox thrown on^ and there put down. 
 
 30. A Fair Catch is a catch made direct from a kick, 
 or a throw forward^ or a knock on by one of the oppo- 
 site side, or from a punt out (see Eule SI), provided 
 
the catcher makes a mark with his heel at the spot 
 where he has made the catch, and no other of his own 
 side touch the ball (see Rules 44 and 45). 
 
 31. A Punt out IS a. punt made after a touch down 
 by a player from behind his cpponents' goal line, and 
 from touch in goal if necessary, towards his own side, 
 who must stand outside the goal line and endeavour to 
 make a fair catch, or get the ball and run in or drcp a 
 goal (see Eules 49, 50 and 51). 
 
 32. A Punt on is a punt made in a manner similar 
 to a punt out, and from touch if necessary, by a player 
 who has made a fair catch from a punt out or another 
 
 punt on. 
 
 33. Touch. If a ball goes into touch, the first player 
 on his side who touches it down must bring it to the 
 spot where it crossed the touch line ; or if a player, 
 when running with the ball, cross or put any part of 
 either foot across the touch line, he must return with 
 the ball to the spot where the line was so crossed, and 
 thence return it into the field of play in one of the modes 
 provided by the following Rule : — 
 
 34. He must then himself or by one of his own side, 
 either, (i.) bound the ball in the field of p'ay at right 
 angles to the touch line, and then run with it, kick it, 
 or throw It back to his own side ; or (ii.) throw it out 
 at right angles to the touch line ; or (iii.) walk out with 
 it at right angles to the touch line, any distance not 
 less than five nor more than fifteen yards, and there 
 put it down, first declaring how far he intends to walk 
 out. 
 
 35. If two or more players holding the ball are 
 pushed into touch, the ball shall belong in touch to the 
 
player who first had hold of it in the field of play, and 
 has not released his hold of it. . 
 
 36. If the hall when thrown out of touch be not 
 thrown ont at right ans^Ies to the touch line^ the C»<p- 
 tain of either side ^y at once claim to have it thrown 
 oat again. 
 
 37. A catch made when the ball is thrown oat of 
 touch is not a fair eatch. 
 
 38. A Kick off is a place kick from the centre of the 
 field of play, and cannot count as a goal. The op{ o- 
 site side must stand at least ten yards in front of tbe 
 ball until it has been kicked. 
 
 39. The ball shall be kicked of, (i.) at the commem e- 
 ment of the game ; (ii.) after a goal has been obtained ; 
 and (iii.) after change of goals. 
 
 40. The Captains of the respective sides shall toss up 
 before the commencement of the Match ; the winner of 
 the toss shall have the option of the choice of Goal, or 
 of kick off. They shall also arrange the time of play. 
 
 41. Whenever a Goal shall have been obtained, the 
 side which has lost the Goal shall then kick off. 
 
 42. Kick out is a drop kick by one of the players of 
 the side which has had to touch the Ball down in their 
 own goal, or into whose touch in goal the ball has 
 gone, (Rule 233) and is the mode of bringing the ball 
 again into play, and cannot count as goal. 
 
 43. Kick out must be a drop kick, and from not more 
 than twenty-five yards outside the kicker's goal ; if the 
 ball, when kicked out, pitch in touch, it must be taken 
 
back and kicked out again. The kicker's side must be 
 behind the ball when kicked out. 
 
 44. A player who has made and claimed a/air catch 
 shall thereupon either take a drop kick or punt^ or 
 place the ball for a place kick. 
 
 45. After a Jair catch has been made, the opposite 
 side may come up to the catcher's mark, and (except 
 in cases under Rule 50) the catcher's side retiring, the 
 ball shall be kicked from such mark, or from a spot 
 any distance behind it. 
 
 46. A player may touch the ball down in his own 
 goal at any time. 
 
 47. A side having touched the ball down in their 
 opponents' goal, shall try at goal either by a place kick 
 or a punt out. 
 
 48. If a try at goal be made by b. place kick, a player 
 of the side which has touched the ball down shall 
 bring it up to the goal line in a straight line from and 
 opposite to the spot were the ball wa<3 touched down, 
 and there make a mark on the goal line, and thence 
 walk straight out with it at right angles to the goal 
 line, to such distance as as he thinks proper, and there 
 place it for another of his side to kick. The kicker's 
 side must be behind the ball when it is kicked, and 
 the opposite side must remain behind their goal line 
 until the ball has been placed on the ground. 
 
 49. If the try at goil be by a punt out (see Rule 31) 
 a player of the side which has touched the ball down 
 shall bring it straight up to the goal line opposite to 
 the spot where it was touched down, and there make 
 a mark on the Goal line, and then punt out from 
 
toucli in goal, if necessary, or from any part behind 
 the goal line not nearer to the goal post than such 
 mark, beyond which mark it is not lawful for the 
 opposite side (who must keep behind their goal line) 
 to pass until the ball has been kicked. (See Rules 54 
 and 55) 
 
 50. If a fair catch be made from a punt out or 2k punt 
 on the catcher may either proceed as provided by 
 Kules 45 and 49, or himself take a punt on, in which 
 case the mark made on making the fair catch shall be 
 regarded (for the purpose of determining as well the 
 position of the player who makes i\i%punt on as of the 
 other players of both sides) as the mark made on the 
 Goal line in the case of a punt out. 
 
 51. A catch made in touch from 2ipunt out or a. punt 
 on is not a fair catch ; the ball must then be taken or 
 thrown out of touch as provided by Rule 33 ; but if 
 the catch be made in touch in Goal, the ball is at 
 once dead, and must be kicked out, as provided by 
 Rules 42 a-id 43. 
 
 52. When the ball has been touched down in the 
 opponents' Goal, none of the side in whose Goal it has 
 been so touched down shall touch it, or in any way 
 displace it, or interfere with the player of the other 
 side who may be taking it up or not, 
 
 53. The ball is dead whenever a Goal has been ob- 
 tained ; but if a try at Goal be not successlul, the kick 
 shall be considercrd as only an ordinary kick in the 
 course of the game. 
 
 54. Charging, i.e., rushing forward to kick the ball, 
 or tackle a player, is lawful fot the opposite Hide in all 
 cases of a place kick after a fair catchy or upon a try at 
 
i4» 
 
 Goalj immediately the bail touches, or is placed on the 
 ground ; and in cases of a drop kick or punt after a /air 
 catch, as soon as the player having the ball commences 
 to run or off* rs to kick, or the ball has touched the 
 ground : but he may always draw back, and unless he 
 has dropped the ball, or actually touched it with his 
 foot, they must again retire to Ms mark (see Bule 48). 
 The opposite side in the case of a punt out or a punt 
 on, and the kicker's side in all cases may not charge 
 until the ball has been kicked. 
 
 55. If a player having a ball, when about to punt it 
 out, goes outside the goal line, or when about to punt on^ 
 advances nearer to his own goal line than his mark, 
 made on making the £air catch, or if, after the ball has 
 been touched down in the opponents' goil, or a fair 
 catch has been made, more than one player on the side 
 which has so touched it down or made the fair catch, 
 touch the ball before it is again kicked, the opposite 
 side may charge at once. 
 
 56. In cases of a fair catch the opposite side may 
 come up to and charge fom anywhere on or behind a 
 line drawn through the mark made by the player who 
 has made the catch, and parallel to their own goal 
 line ; but in the case of a fair catch from a purU out or 
 a punt on, they may not advance further in the direc- 
 tion of the touch line nearest ^o such mark than a line 
 drawn through such mark to their goal line, and paral- 
 lel to such touch line. In all cases (except a punt out 
 and a punt on) the kicker's side must be behind the 
 ball when it is kicked, but may not charge until it has 
 been kicked. 
 
 67. No Hacking or Throttling, or t ippiog up 
 shall be allowed under any circumstances. 
 
11 
 
 58. No one wearing projecting nails, iron plates, or 
 gutta percha, on any part of his boots or shoes, shall 
 be allowed to play in a match. 
 
 59. The Captains, unless umpires be appointed, 
 shall be the sole arbiters ot all disputes, and their de- 
 cision shall be final. If the Captain of either side 
 challenge the construction placed upon any rules, he 
 shall have the right of appeal to the Bugby Union 
 Committee. 
 
 60. Neither time nor on-side shall be called until 
 the ball is fairly held, or goes out of play, and in the 
 case of a try or fair catch, the kick at goal shall be 
 allowed.