4. The captains of the respective sides shall toss for the choice of in-goals or the kick-off. Each side shall play an equal tmefrom each in-goal, and a match shall be won by a majority of points; if no points be scored, or the number be equal, the match shall be drawn.

5. At the time of the kick-off all the kickers side shall be behind the ball; if in front, the referee, on an appeal from the opposite side, shall order a scrummage where the kick-off took place. The game shall be re-started by a kick-off -

(a) After a goal, by side losing such goal, and (6) After half-time, by the opposite side to that which started the game.

III. Mode Of Play - Definitions

6. When once the game is started, the ball may be kicked or picked up and run with by any player who is on-side, at any time; except that it may not be picked up -

(a) In a scrummage.

(b) When it has been put down after it has been fairly held.

(c) When it is on the ground after a player has been tackled.

It may be passed or knocked from one player to another provided it be not passed, knocked, or thrown forward. If a player while holding or running with the ball be tackled and the ball fairly held, he must at once put it down in front of him.

7. A player is placed off-side if he enters a scrummage from his opponents' side, or if the ball has been kicked, touched, or is being run with by one of his own side behind him. A player can be off-side in his opponents' in-goal, but not in his own, except where one of his side takes a free kick behind his goal-line, in which case all of his side must be behind the ball when kicked.

8. An off-side player is placed on-side -

(a) When an opponent has run five yards with the ball.

(b) When the ball has been kicked by or has touched an opponent.

(c) When one of his side has run in front of him with the ball.

(d) When one of his side has run in front of him, having kicked the ball when behind him.

An off-side player shall not play the ball, nor during the time an opponent has the ball, run, tackle, or obstruct, nor may he approach within five yards of any player waiting for the ball; for any breach of this law the opposite side, on an appeal by them, shall be awarded, at their option -

(e) A free kick, the place of such breach being taken as the mark.

(/) A scrummage at the spot where the ball was last played by the offending side before such breach occurred.

Except in the case of unintentional off-side, when a scrummage shall be formed where such breach occurred.

Q. If a player makes a fair-catch he shall be awarded a free kick, and he himself must either kick or place the ball.

10. All free kicks maybe place-kicks, drop-kicks, or punts, but must be in the direction of the opponents' goal-line, and across the kicker's goal-line, if kicked from behind the same. They may be taken at any spot behind the mark in a line parallel to the touch-lines. If taken by drop or punt the catcher must take the kick, if taken by a place-kick the catcher must place the ball. 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 for a place-kick. In case of any infringement of this law the referee shall, on a claim by the opposite side, order a scrummage at the mark. The opposite side may come up to and charge from anywhere on or behind a line drawn through the mark and parallel to the goal-lines, and may charge as soon as the catcher commences to run or offers to kick or places the ball on the ground for a place-kick, but in case of a drop-kick or punt the kicker may always draw back, and unless he has dropped the ball or touched it with his foot the opposite side must retire to the line of the mark.

But if any of the opposite side do charge before the player having the ball commences to run or offers to kick, or the ball has touched the ground for a place-kick (and this applies to tries at goal as well as free kicks), provided the kicker has not taken his kick, the charge may be disallowed, on an appeal.

IV. Penalties

11. Free kicks by way of penalties shall be awarded on claims by the opposite side, if any player -

(a) Intentionally either handles the ball or falls down in a scrummage, or picks the ball out of a scrummage;

(b) Having the ball, docs not immediately put it down in front of him on it being held;

(f) Being on the ground, does not immediately get up;

(d) Prevents an opponent getting up;

(f) Illegally tackles, charges, or obstructs as in Law 8;

(/) Wilfully puts the ball unfairly into a scrummage;

(g) Not himself running at the ball, charges or obstructs an opponent not holding the ball;

(h) Not in a scrummage, wilfully obstructs his opponents' halfbacks by standing on his opponents' side of the ball when it is in a scrummage;

(i) Being in a scrummage, lifts a foot from the ground before the ball has been put into such scrummage. In this case the referee must allow a free kick to the opposite side without any appeal.

The place of infringement shall be taken as the mark, and any one of the side granted the free kick may place or kick the ball.

V. General

12. The ball is in touch when it, or a player carrying it, touch or cross the touch-line; it shall then belong to the side opposite to that last touching it in the field-of-play, except when carried in. One of the side to whom the ball belongs shall bring it into play at the spot where it went into touch by one of the following methods: -

(a) Bounding it on the field-of-play at right angles to the touch-line, and then run with it, kick it, or pass it;

(b) Throwing it out so as to alight at right angles to the touch-line; or

(c) Scrummaging it at any spot at right angles to the touch line, between 5 and 15 yards from the place where it went into touch.

If the ball be not thrown out of touch so as to alight at right angles to the touch-line, the opposite side may at once claim to bring it out themselves as in (c)

13. When a side has scored a try, the ball shall be brought from the spot where the try was gained into the field-of-play in a line parallel to the touch-lines, such distance as the placer thinks proper, and there he shall place the ball for one of his side to try to kick a goal; this place-kick is governed by Law 10 as to charging, etc, the mark being taken as on the goal-line. It is the duty of the defending side to see that the ball is taken out straight.

On an appeal, the referee shall award a try if, in his opinion, one would undoubtedly have been obtained but for unfair play or interference of the defending side. Or, he shall disallow a try, and adjudge a touch-down, if, in his opinion, a try would undoubtedly not have been gained but for unfair play or interference of the attacking side. In case of a try so allowed, the kick at goal shall be taken at any point on a line parallel to the touch-lines, and passing through the spot where the ball was when such unfair play or interference took place.

14. If the ball, when over the goal-line and in possession of a player, be fairly held by an opposing player before it is grounded, it shall be scrummaged 5 yards from the goal-line, opposite the spot where the ball was held.

15. After an unsuccessful try, or touch-down, or if the b:dl after crossing the goal-line go into touch-in-goal or touch or cross the dead-ball line, it shall be brought into play by means of a dropout, when all the kicker's side must be behind the ball when kicked; in case any are in front, the referee shall, on an appeal from the opposite side, order a scrummage on the 25-yards line equidistant from the touch-lines.

16. In case of a throw-forward or knock-on, the ball shall, on a claim by the opposite side, be at once brought back to where such infringement took place and there put down, unless a fair-catch has been made and claimed. If the ball or a player running with the ball touches the referee, it shall there be put down.

17. If a player shall kick, pass, knock, or carry the ball back across his goal-line, and it there be made dead, the opposite side may claim that the ball shall be brought back and a scrummage formed at the spot whence it was kicked, passed, knocked or carried back. Under any other circumstances a player may touch the ball down in his own in-goal.

18. No hacking, or hacking over, or tripping up, shall be allowed under any circumstances. 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.

19. In case of any law being infringed in in-goal by the attacking side, a touch-down shall be awarded, but where such breach is committed by the defending side, a scrummage shall be awarded 5 yards from the goal-line, opposite the spot where the breach occurred.

But in the case of any law being broken, or any irregularity of play occurring on the part of either side, not otherwise provided for, the opposite side may claim that the ball be taken back to the place where the breach of the law or irregularity of play occurred, and a scrummage formed there.

20. It is illegal for any member of any club in England in membership with this Union - (a) to take part in any match or contest where gate-money is taken, unless it is agreed that not less than 15 players on each side take part in a match; (b) to play, between May 1 and August 31, both dates inclusive, in any football contest of any character, either for charity or otherwise, where gate-money is taken.

Any player transgressing this law shall be deemed a professional, and may be dealt with under Rule 4 of the Rules relating to Professionalism.

At the annual general meeting held September 20, 1893, the following resolution was adopted: - ' That this meeting strongly approves of the principle that the referee shall have sole control over the game, and may blow his whistle without waiting for any appeal, and recommends that it be acted upon in matches in which both sides consent'