The Purpose of the LACE
 To tighten the boot on the foot so as to provide a solid transmission of
 power from the foot to the studs for grip, and to the surfaces used for
 kicking.  It must maintain this throughout the game. 
 The method of lacing affects the tension required in the lace to achieve
 these aims.

The Up and Under
 One end of the lace is inserted though the lowest hole on the outside
 of the boot (the Left hand side for the Left boot) and fed behind to
 the opposite side hole. The lace ends are then matched for length.
 The one end is then inserted through the opposite lowest available hole
 from behind. The other end is then inserted by the same method.
 This process is repeated until the top holes are reached.

The Chris Cross
 One end of the lace is inserted though the lowest hole on the outside
 of the boot (the Left hand side for the Left boot) and fed behind to
 the opposite side hole. The lace ends are then matched for length.
 The one end is then inserted through the opposite lowest available hole
 from the front. The other end is then inserted by the same method.
 The one end is then inserted through the opposite lowest available hole
 from the behind. The other end is then inserted by the same method.
 This process is repeated until the top holes are reached.

The Ladder and Slide
 One end of the lace is inserted though the lowest hole on the outside
 of the boot (the Left hand side for the Left boot) and fed behind to
 the uppermost opposite side hole. The other end is then inserted through
 the other lowest hole and fed behind to the first free opposite side hole.
 This process is repeated until the top hole is reached.

The Ladder and Step
 One end of the lace is inserted though the lowest hole on the outside
 of the boot (the Left hand side for the Left boot) and fed behind to
 the uppermost opposite side hole. The other end is then inserted through
 the other lowest hole and fed behind to the next same side hole. Then
 it crosses to the other side over the top.  This process is repeated
 until the top hole is reached.

Variations
 Their are three other main variants of these methods:- both boots laced
 identically, as in the right hand boot, as in the left hand boot, and
 the boots threaded as the mirror image of the above methods.
 Other variations are a combination of the above over methods used in
 different regions of the boot.

 I am trying to compile data about boots used to play Rugby.
This data will be published here in the WWW as it becomes available.

• BOOT --..LAWS..... Studs..... Construction..... Manufacturers

V10 Updated May 5 1996