I then trawled down through Laws 4-6, which relate to what clothing players can and cannot wear as well as some interesting points about rulings a referee can make in unusual circumstances.
Ever wondered why players form a huddle around a player replacing torn shorts instead of the player trotting off and having the shorts replaced in the changing shed?
Well, a player is not permitted to leave the playing area to replace torn or worn clothing, except to have a garment with blood on it replaced.
Otherwise, they are deemed to have left the field to be replaced by another player.
Actually, these days players tend to wear more substantial underwear than the "athletic supports" that were common many years ago when a huddle was necessary to keep a player's dignity intact.
A referee is appointed by the match organiser – usually the local rugby union – but if one is not appointed, or perish the thought, fails to turn up, then the teams need to agree on a referee, and if they can't agree then the home team chooses the referee.
If a referee is unable to complete a match then he appoints a replacement, but if he can't, the home team appoints a replacement.
It doesn't happen very often, but occasionally the referee can be injured or become ill and a replacement is needed.
A few seasons ago, when Tech were still in the competition, I was to referee their match against Counties out at McNab Domain at Kawhaiki.
I was half-way through my warm-up when a hamstring decided to go into spasm, so I hastily looked round for a suitable candidate to referee the match.
Fortunately, I was able to press-gang one of the Matthews boys, who had refereed junior rugby many seasons prior, to do the job, and after I had replaced his gumboots with my rugby boots he did a very good job.
The most distressing outcome for me was observing how all the players competed fairly and obeyed the rules almost to a tee, making Mr Matthews' job relatively easy.
I relate this story because it is almost certain that there will be competition games this season where there will not be a referee appointed simply because there won't be enough available.
Last Saturday's late cancellation of all Premier games was a God-send as many local referees are currently unavailable for games so early in the season.
Next week is likely to be crunch time as there are more games than referees currently available to cover them.
As an aside, McNab Domain hasn't treated me very kindly, as I tore a hamstring early in my only first-class game which was between Wellington Maori and Whanganui Maori Colts.
On that occasion, local man and novice referee Lee Matson got a rapid promotion from touch-judge to refereeing at a much higher level than he had ever imagined, and he too did a great job.
Another quirky one can occur at the toss.
The winner of the coin toss chooses either to kick off or an end to defend but many captains, unaware of the laws, choose to receive the kick, which is not an option.
When the ball or a player carrying it touches the referee in the game, it throws up several possible rulings.
If it occurs in General Play (not In-Goal) and neither team gains an advantage from the contact, then play continues, unlike many seasons ago when a referee had no option but to award a scrum to the ball-carrying team or the team that last played the ball if it was kicked.
If either team does gain an advantage from the contact then a scrum is awarded, with the team who last played the ball putting it in.
However, if such contact between the ball or ball-carrier occurs In-Goal then there are several possible rulings, depending on the circumstances.
If the ball is being carried by an attacker, a try is awarded where the contact occurs.
If it is being carried by a defender then the decision is a touch-down.
This could result in a drop-out on the 22m line if the attackers put the ball In-Goal, or a scrum on the 5m line if the defenders have taken the ball In-Goal.
If the ball touches the referee or a non-player – such as a spectator who shouldn't be there anyway – while In-Goal and is not being carried by a player then the referee has to decide what would have most likely happened next.
This could be either a try awarded to the attackers, or a touch-down awarded to the defenders if that was likely to happen.
Either way, someone is likely to get grumpy.