The following are the Laws of the game of Football, as played by the Rugby Football Union: -

I. Introduction

1. The Rugby game of football should be played by 15 players on each side. (Anyone coming under the laws of professionalism shall not be allowed to take part in any game under this Union's jurisdiction.) The field-of-play shall not exceed no yards in length, nor 75 in breadth, and shall be as near these dimensions as practicable. The lines defining the boundary of the field-of-play shall be suitably marked, and shall be called the goal-lines at the ends and the touch-lines at the sides. On each goal-line and equidistant from the touch-lines shall be two upright posts, called goal-posts, exceeding 11 feet in height, and placed 18 feet 6 inches apart, and joined by a cross-bar 10 feet from the ground; and the object of the game shall be to kick the ball over this cross-bar and between the posts. The game shall be played with an oval ball of as nearly as possible the following size and weight, namely: -

Hand-sewn, and not less than eight stitches to the inch.

II. Glossary - Duties Of Officials - Scoring

2. The following terms occur in the laws, and have the respective meanings attached to each: - -

Dead-ball Line. - Not more than 25 yards behind and equidistant from each goal-line, and parallel thereto, shall be lines, which shall be called the Dead-ball Lines, and if the ball or player holding the ball touch or cross these lines the ball shall be dead and out of play.

In-GOAL. - Those portions of the ground immediately at the ends of the field-of-play and between the touch-lines, produced, to the dead-ball lines, are called In-goal. The goal-lines are in-goal.

TOUCH. - Those portions of the ground immediately at the sides of the field-of-play and between the goal-lines, if produced,, are called Touch. The touch-lines are in touch.

TOUCH-IN-GOAL. - Those portions of the ground immediately at the four corners of the field-of-play and between the goal and touch lines, if respectively produced, are called Touch-in-goal.

A Drop-kick is made by letting the ball fall from the hands and kicking it the very instant it rises.

A Place-kick is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed on the ground.

A Punt is made by letting the ball fall from the hands and kicking it before it touches the ground.

A Tackle is when the holder of the ball is held by one or more players of the opposite side.

A Scrummage, which can only take place in the field-of-play, is when the ball is put down between players who have closed round on their respective sides, and who must have both feet on the ground.

A Try is gained by the player who first puts his hand on the ball on the ground in his opponents' in-goal.

A Touch-down is when a player touches down as above in his own in-goal.

A Goal is obtained by kicking the ball from the field-of-play, except from a punt, from a kick-off, or from a drop-out, direct (i.e., without touching the ground or any player of either side) over the opponents' cross-bar, whether it touch such cross-bar or the goalposts or not.

Knocking-on and Throwing-FORWARD are propelling the ball by the hand or arm in the direction of the opponents' in-goal; a throw out of touch cannot be claimed as a throw-forward.

A Fair-catch is a catch made direct from a kick, or a knock-on, or throw-forward, by one of the opposite side to the catcher, who must immediately claim the same by making a mark with his heel at the spot where he made the catch.

Kick-off is a place-kick from the centre of the field-of play; the opposite side may not stand within 10 yards of the ball nor charge until the ball be kicked, otherwise another kick-off shall be allowed. If the ball pitch in touch the opposite side may have it kicked-off again.

DROP-OUT is a drop-kick from within 25 yards of the kicker's goal line, within which distance the opposite side may not charge, otherwise another drop out shall be allowed. If the ball pitch in touch the opposite side may have it dropped-out again.

At kick-off the ball must reach the limit of 10 yards, and at drop-out must reach the 25-yards line. If otherwise, the opposite side may have the ball rekicked, or scrummaged, at the centre or in the middle of the 25-yards line, as the case may be.

Off-side. - See Laws 7 and 8.

3. In all matches a Referee and two Touch-Judges must be appointed, the former being mutually agreed upon. The referee must carry a whistle, which he must blow in the following cases: -

(a) When he allows an appeal.

(b) When a player makes and claims a fair-catch.

(c) When he notices rough or foul play or misconduct, when for the first offence he shall either caution the player or order him off the ground, but for the second offence he must order him off and afterwards report him to this Union.

(d) When a player is down in a scrummage and he considers it dangerous.

(e) When the ball has been improperly put into a scrummage.

(f) When he allows a decision given by a touch-judge.

(g) When he wishes to stop the game for any purpose.

(h) If the ball or a player running with the ball touch him.

(i) At half-time and no-side, he being the sole timekeeper, having sole power to allow extra time for delays, but he shall not whistle for half-time or no-side until the ball be held or out of play.

(j) When a player in a scrummage lifts a foot from the ground before the ball has been put fairly into the scrummage.

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. All appeals must be made to him immediately, otherwise they cannot be entertained.

The touch-judges shall carry flags, and shall each take one side of the ground, outside the field-of-play, and their duty shall be to hold up their flag when and where the ball goes into touch.