Below is the text of the playing rules of the Canadian Rugby Union (CRU) for the 1906 season, as adopted by the Quebec Rugby Football Union (QRFU) and printed in Spalding's Athletic Library's Official Canadian Foot Ball Guide for 1906. Compare with the 1905 QRFU rules. Note that at the time, the Canadian/Quebec, Ontario (ORFU), and Intercollegiate (CIRFU) unions each had their own playing rules. In 1905, the CRU did not have playing rules, and CRU championship matches were played using the rules of the competing teams for one half each. I extracted this text from a PDF scan using OCR software, and while I carefully edited the result it is possible there are errors that I missed or inadvertently introduced. Errors I have noted in the original are marked with [sic].
A diagram of the field is included elsewhere in the Guide without being specifically associated with any of the three sets of rules. Aside from details of internal markings, the diagram is generally applicable to all three unions.
Playing Rules of the Canadian Rugby Union, Adopted by the Quebec Rugby Football Union, July 21, 1906
1.—(1) The game is played by teams of fourteen on each side, with a ball 11 inches in length, 23 inches in circumference of width, and 13¾ ounces in weight (Spalding or Wilson make), and on grounds 110 yards long by 65 yards wide, or as near these dimensions as practicable, with the boundaries distinctly marked. A goal is placed in the middle of each goal line, composed of two upright posts exceeding 20 feet in height, placed 18 feet 6 inches apart, and with a cross-bar 10 feet from the ground. Twenty-five yards behind each goal-line and parallel thereto is drawn a line called the dead-ball line. If the natural boundary of the field be less than 25 yards behind the goal-line at either end, then such boundary constitutes the dead-ball line at that end.
(2) A DROP KICK is made by dropping the ball from the hands and kicking it with the foot the instant it rises from the ground.
(3) A PLACE KICK is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed on the ground.
(4) A PUNT is made by letting the ball fall from the hands and kicking it with the foot before it touches the ground.
(5) A FLYING KICK is made by kicking the ball without touching it with the hands.
(6) KICK-OFF is a place kick from the centre of the grounds.
- The ball shall be kicked off (1) at the commencement of the game, by the side making that choice; (2) after a change of goals by the opposite side; (3) after a goal or try has been scored, by the side losing the goal, or having the try scored against them.
- The ball shall be kicked more than five yards and shall not pitch in touch; the opponents shall stand at least ten yards in front of the ball until it is kicked.
- In case of infringement the ball shall be kicked off again if the Captain of the opposite side requires it, but if the ball pitch twice in touch on the kick-off it shall be scrimmaged by the side not offending, on the spot where it was kicked.
(7) KICK-OUT is a drop kick from not more than 25 yards from the kicker's goal-line and may move any distance towards opponent's goal.
- The ball shall be kicked out by the side in whose goal it has gone after a rouge or safety touch.
- The ball shall not pitch in touch, and the opponents shall not interfere with the kicker within 25 yards of his own goal-line.
- In cases of infringement the ball shall be kicked out again, if the captain of the opposite side requires it, but if the ball pitch twice in touch from the kick-out it shall be scrimmaged by the side not offending on the spot where it was last kicked.
(8) When players of opposite sides have hold of the ball, the player who had first hold of and has not lost the ball is the POSSESSOR.
(9) The ball is in TOUCH if it or a player with it in his possession is on or across the touch-line; it is in GOAL if it is on or across the goal-line.
(10) A PASS is when the ball is thrown or handed by a player in any direction except towards the opponent's goal.
(11) A FOUL is when the ball is knocked forward with the hand or arm, or thrown or handed forward.
(12) The ball is DEAD:
- Whenever the referee or umpire blows his whistle.
- When the referee has declared that a down, try, goal, safety touch, rouge or touch-in-goal has been made.
- When a fair catch has been marked.
- When it goes out of bounds.
- When it is absolutely motionless on the ground.
NOTE.—Should the ball strike an official it is not regarded as dead, but play continues.
(13) A TOUCH-DOWN is when a player, having possession of the ball, stops it so that it is dead.
(14) A TRY is when a player makes a touch-down or is fairly held in his opponent's goal.
(15) A ROUGE is (a) when a player getting possession of the ball in his own goal makes a touch-down, fair catch, or is fairly held there; (b) when the ball, or a player of either side having possession of it, is in touch-in-goal; (c) When the ball, or a player with it in his possession, touches, or is on or across the dead-ball line; (d) When a foul is committed in goal.
(1б) A SAFETY TOUCH is when a player kicks, carries or passes the ball from the grounds, and he or one of his side rouges it.
(17) When a player having possession of the ball is tackled, the ball is FAIRLY HELD (a) When the player possessing it calls "held"; (b) When it is not moving.
(18) A FAIR CATCH is a catch made within the grounds, direct from a kick or a foul by an opponent.
MATCH.
2.—(1) Each side shall have a Captain, who, before the match, shall toss for choice of goals or kick-off. Matches shall last for one hour actual play, with an intermission of ten minutes at half time, and, in case of a draw, extra time shall be played if in the opinion of the Referee it is practicable. No delay shall exceed five minutes.
TIME.
(2) Each side shall play an equal time from each goal. Time shall be deducted while the ball is being brought out for a try, kick-out, or kick-off, for bringing the ball into play after going into touch, and for all delays.
(3) The game shall not be stopped for time or on account of injury to a player, until the ball is dead or out of play, but in case of a try, or free kick, the kick shall be allowed.
REFEREE.
3.—(1) There shall be only one Referee for a match, who shall interpret the rules literally. He shall enforce the rules and penalties; adjudicate upon disputes or cases unprovided for by the rules; appoint two Linesmen, Touch and Goal Judges, and two Timekeepers; keep the score and at the conclusion of the match, declare the result.
NOTE.—The timekeepers must notify the referee of the time remaining to play not more than five nor less than two minutes before the end of each half, and must remember that time cannot be up until the ball is dead or out of play.
(2) The Umpire shall have power to stop the game by sounding a whistle, for any infringement of the rules regarding off-side, charging, hacking or obstructing, when the ball shall be considered dead, and his decision shall be final in such cases. The Umpire, after he has sounded his whistle, must inform the referee what rule was infringed and the Referee shall inflict the penalty.
(3) Touch Judges shall inform the Referee how and where the ball goes into touch, and when it is not brought out at right angles to where it went in. Goal judges shall inform the Referee when the ball goes over the cross-bar and between the posts (or the posts produced) of the goal.
(4) The ball shall be considered in play until the Referee or the Umpire (in those cases where authority has been delegated to him under the above rules) stops the games, [sic] which he may do at any time, and which he must do at once when any irregularity of play occurs, by sounding a whistle. His decision shall be final, and not subject to any appeal.
GOAL.
4.—When the ball is kicked (except by a punt, flying kick, kick-out, or kick-off) from the grounds without touching the ground, over the cross-bar and between the posts (or the posts produced) of the opponent's goal, it shall be a goal.
SCORE.
5.—A match shall be decided by a majority of points. A Goal kicked from a try shall score 6 points (in which case the try shall not be scored) from a drop kick, 5; from a free kick, 4; from a free kick by way of penalty, 2; a try shall score 5, a safety touch 2, and a rouge 1. In the case of a penalty kick the player who kicks the ball cannot score a goal counting 5 points.
SCRIMMAGE.
6.—(1) A scrimmage shall consist of three players, who must form one compact body; when the ball is fairly held within the grounds, one of the scrimmagers of the side to which it belongs shall immediately bring it into play where it was held by placing it dead in front of him; and one of the scrimmagers may then put it in motion in any direction with his foot.
(2) During a scrimmage opposing players must not come in contact with each other until the ball is placed on the ground and no player shall touch the ball with his hand until it has been put in motion by a foot.
(3) If any player being on the ground does not immediately get up, or if the ball is not immediately put into play, or if an opponent interferes with the ball being put into play, or if during a scrimmage any player gets upon his knees, lies upon the ball, or touches it with his hand, the side offending shall be penalized.
(4) If in three successive scrimmages a team has not made a gain of 10 yards or a loss of 20 yards, it shall lose the ball on the spot where it was last held, the scrimmages to begin again if the required distance be made or lost in less than three scrimmages. The ball going into touch shall not interfere with the succession of scrimmages.
(5) For any infringement of the scrimmage rules the penalty shall be loss of the ball against the team in possession, and the loss of ten yards or a free kick against the side not in possession of the ball.
TOUCH.
7.—(1) When the ball goes into touch off a player it shall belong to the opposite side; when it is carried into touch it shall belong to the side possessing it.
OFF-SIDE.
8.— (1) A player is off-side if during scrimmage he is not altogether behind the ball while it is being placed on the ground; or if the ball has been last touched by one of his own side behind him. A player cannot be off-side in his own goal (forward pass a foul).
For an infringement of this rule the penalty for the side in possession of the ball is the loss of the ball; for the side not in possession, a loss of ten yards or a free kick.
(2) A player being off-side is put on-side when the ball touches an opponent or when one of his own side has run in front of him, either with the ball or having touched it when behind him.
(3) If a player being off-side, in the grounds, or in touch, touches the ball or comes within five yards of the place where an opponent touches the ball, or obstructs or annoys an opponent, the opposite side shall have, at their option a free kick where the off-side play occurred or a scrimmage on the spot where the ball was last played by the offending side before such off-side play occurred, unless such spot was behind the goal line, in which case the free kick only shall be allowed. If the off-side play occur within goal the free kick shall be taken five yards in front of the goal-line.
3.—(2) [sic] If the ball goes out of bounds, whether it bounds or is blown back, a player of the side to which it belongs must bring it to the spot where the line was crossed, and then walk out with it at right angles to the side line, any distance not less than five yards nor more than fifteen, and then put it down for a scrimmage, first declaring to the referee how far he intends walking. In case of infringement the opposite side shall immediately bring it into play.
TRY.
9.—(1) When a side has obtained a try, one of its players shall bring the ball straight up to the goal-line, and thence out into the grounds, not more in front of the goal than where it was touched down or fairly held, and there place it for one of his side to kick.
(2) The kicker's side shall not be in front of the ball when it is kicked, and no player of his side except the placer shall touch the ball until it is kicked, and in case of infringement a goal cannot be scored from such a try. The goal shall not be disallowed because of the placer being off-side or in touch.
FAIR CATCH FREE KICK.
10.—(1) When a player makes a fair catch he shall be awarded a free kick if he marks the spot with his foot, does not attempt to run after making such mark, and none of his own side touches the ball. If a player holds his mark after catching the ball the referee shall immediately blow his whistle and award a free kick. When a side is awarded a free kick by way of penalty, the referee shall mark the spot, and any one of its players may take the kick.
(2) A player who has been awarded a free kick shall kick or place the ball from any point directly behind the mark, and in case of infringement the opposite side shall scrimmage the ball where the mark was made.
11.—(1) In case of a try at goal the opponents may charge from the goal-line, and in case of a free kick, from in line with the mark, as soon as the ball is kicked, or touches the ground, or another player of the kicker's side.
(2) If an opponent charges or interferes when he has no right to do so the kicker shall have his kick over again if he claims it.
12.—In case of a kick-off, kick-out, or free kick, the kicker's side shall not be in front of the ball when it is kicked, and in case of infringement the opposite side shall scrimmage the ball where the kick was made or allowed by the referee.
13.—A player may pass the ball at any time. If a player makes a foul within the grounds, unless a fair catch has been made, the opposite side shall scrimmage the ball at the place where the foul was made.
14.—(1) No player shall hold with his hands or arms an opponent who has not the ball. No player shall obstruct or charge against an opponent except such opponent has the ball, or such player is running with the ball, or trip, scrag or tackle an opponent below the knee, under penalty of a free kick; and no one shall play in a match wearing projecting metal or gutta percha on any part of his clothing.
(2) No player of the side in possession of the ball being ahead of the ball shall hinder or obstruct in any way an opponent running at the player carrying the ball. For an infringement of this rule, the offended side shall be given the ball.
15.—If a player makes any unfair or rough play, or disputes any decision of the officials, the referee may rule him off for the remainder of the game or for such time as he may deem expedient, and no substitute shall be allowed. In any case the referee may report such player to the Union and the Union may suspend such player.
16. Whenever the rules provide for a distance penalty, if the distance prescribed would carry the ball nearer the goal-line than the ten-yard line, then the ball shall be down on the ten-yard line. If, however, the foul is committed inside the ten-yard line, half the distance to the goal shall be given.
17.—The side not offending may at any time decline the penalty awarded.
18.—There shall be no unnecessary delay of the game by either team. The penalty for an infringement of this rule shall be the loss of the ball.