UNPOPULAR RULES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 94, 22 April 1933, Page 6

UNPOPULAR RULES

DOMINIONS' GRIEVANCES

It is a pity that the steps which have been taken by the (local, management committee to improve the competitions have found no counterpart among higher authorities in tiie game, and in each of the three major countries -inwhich Eugby is commenced in the Southern Hemisphere the new season will bo commenced witli mingled feelings of disappointment, dissatisfaction, and uncertainty in regard to one or more of tho rules of the game. Apart from tho contentious matters of replacements, leaving the field at the interval, and kicking into touch, last season's experience of the new rule in regard to the heeling of the ball from the scrummage was very unsatisfactory. Whatever its value theoretically—it Tvas commonly regarded as having the abolition of the wing-forward as its primary object—on the field of play it cast on to the shoulders of the referee a responsibility which few officials could even attempt to discharge by interpreting the law literally. Infringements increased while tho standard o± hooking, if anything, deteriorated. < SHARE IN GOVERNING. "Whatever may be said an regard to specialisation among tho forwards, another point on which Britain and tho Dominions are at variance—and there arc many who could point to evidence to show that New Zealand packmen arc more versatile than many of those ancountered overseas—the fact remains that no school, club, or provincial coach in the Dominion is going, to, risk haying his team outplayed because tho units of his scrum have not been coachedto, the requirements of their respective positions. The ideal combination conir ] prises fifteen specialists gelded into a properly co-ordinated team. \AII the points of difference between the controllers of the game in the Old Country and those in tho colonies pomt to the often-asserted fact that th<\ sooner all countries playing Kugby arc given a-share in its government commensurate with their age'and standing in the game the better it wll be for all concerned. Even the Matylebone Cricket Club does not exercise the control over the summer game in the colonies that is retained by the Rugby Union; (England). Members of the latter body apptear to fail to realise that there.may be circumstances - justifying variations in the rulrs to meet local, conditions and control of the< game'; -shoulcV therefore be entrusted;:: to a board with a wider: representation.