RUGBY RULES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 105, 4 May 1923, Page 7

RUGBY RULES.

IMPORTANT POLICY DECISION. jfJW TOUCH RULE MAINTAINED UNIFORMITY OF ACTION. ■ ' (By Telegraii'.i- Special to "Stur. , -) WELLINGTON, this day. An outstanding i|iioslioii of Kugby policy which has caused discussion throughout Xc« A-ilaiu! was nettled at the auuuiil meeting 01 the Xc« Zealand Rugby L'nion 10-uuy. when it was decided'by a Urge majority to continue playing the now rule regarding kicking into touch. "The time has come to put our house in order," declared Mr. A. J. Geddes, Southland I president), in moving the adoption ■<( the aniuiul report. "We have been tinkering and experimenting i" connwtioii with the game for tliree years, but we arc no further ahead than in ltf-0. We have been fighting v bogy to a certain extent, and letting tic game drift." Mr. (iedrtes went on to say that»he favoured convening an international conference representative of the Empire. because wo were drifting into a state of affairs in which it was not a battle of supremacy in Rugby, but a battle of styles.' They should come to a definite understanding that the incoming committee -h<uiU endeavour to bring about nn international conference to secure universal interpretation of the «]aws of the game, and also the professional rules, because some of the hitter .■were very antiquated. 'Hear, heat.}

Mr. H. Frost (Auckland) at a later stage moved that the kirk into touch rule be operative during the in2;i season. He remarked that tilt' discussion need not be lengthy, as the matter bad been ■n-ell thrashed nut.

Mr. Doig (Southland I seconded. Mr. Prendeville (Wellington.) moved that the rules of Rugby approved by the English Union lie followed, with a provision that the management committee be empowered to grant any union permission to play the amended rules if ft desired. The mover declared that delegates had made up their mind*, therefore he would not discuss the question. The rule had been played for six months, and everyone knew whether they liked it or not. He suggested that the'management committee should have brought forward a proposal, because it was understood that the matter would have to be reviewed at this annual meeting.

The president agreed that this course would be followed. Xo doubt, he remarked, delegates had come with their minds made up as to what rule to follow in their own frames, but in view of the proposed English trip in 1024 we should at once revert to the old rule, otherwise it would be found necessary to train the team under the old rules after it had been playing the new rule.

ilr. Wilson (Canterbury) asked what would happen if Canterbury, when playing Wellington, wanted to utilise the new rule hut Wellington would not agree Little (Nelson) remarked that jf there, was any argument the unions ■would decide among themselves.

Mr. D. McKenzie (Wairarixpa) said there was room for compromise, though not quite on the lines of the amendment. 2fie great idea in Rugby was to keep the ball in the field of play. Kicking into touch made a fo.rce of the game, and it was noticeable with the All Blacks that they believed in keeping- the ball in play, attack being the best defence. Tlie fullback alone should have a free liand in respect oi kicking into touch, and to this extent the amendment ought to be modified.

Mr. W. Glenn (Rangitikei) urged the delegates to show a united front. He thought if the new rale was played, the 1824 New Zealand team would go to England with a handicap. It would take a year to pick that "team, and he urged that these men be given a chance to play the game they would have to meet at Home.

Sir. ITeredvth (Auckland) considered that we ought to study our game in 2*evr Zealand rather than its effect on England. A more important factor was our near neighbour. New South Wales, which had helped us to build up Rugby at this end of the world. New South Wales played the new rule and liked it. and their public liked it. Surely our players selected for England would have sufficient brains to be able to get bac-k into using the touchliiie within a fortnight.

■Mr. McLeod (Taranaki) declared that the intention ami spirit of the new rale was right, but player? were not playing in the right spirit. If the fullback was given the option of using the old rule »5 he was the defensive player things would be all right. Despite hi* personal . 5 hls lla nd-, "-ere tied to favour reversion to the old rule. Mr. Harris (Otago) said that the opinion in his province was that the new ru.e had improved Rugby play. He did not knew whether following the new .Wto *« s the cause of Otago becoming tae champion province. (Laughter.) -Ur Blyth (King Country) thought ttat Mr McKenrie had hit the nail on the head; the new rule wanted amendmg so far as the fullbatl: was tonvcrnetl and he wished to know if this could be

The chairman: If you Ret permission irom the English K nL -bv Union He urged delegates, whatever the result of straight-out vote v, ;l = desirable for or against the new rule *ould move that even- union be cmpoured to n!ay vvhk-i, rule it prefers' e <Mnot think the provincial results fhowed any advantac - from th new after paying the new ?* for seven year*, did not come ~p to Ota S o, which had not played the m experience of the hew rue in Auc-k-Kir , convinccri h " u,,w ki:i t;,c

slnJ™ 4 line kickor - ' ho nen- rule was f-_, % u - n the came :.r.:! ruining the wizards w ho, i M an international conHst were th ba , kLone nf the team "* least which should be done if the ZL Tnle waß maintained was that any JSeV OnUl Pky the 0M rUIC if i£ tJH Miid ho did nut think tional amendment was constituttieW' 1>!l " ,Wp 'l'ngton) said that *« Engl«h Rueby Union had wanted Ln^ satinntr ' ~l:lr,l,pnp" ™l e- b ut or nt not Po,> how il eoDlfl be Played w not at the will of a ny provinre. ' ne chairman stated that in view of ™f explanation. f,.r the chairman of 3fr Tf!, 2 ' ment com " litt ee !>o must rule ■ uttles amendment out of order, tt. * must be uniform throughout ' ne Dominion.

nl£ H g + \ P ° mted OUt that Auckland played the new rule on its own account long before its official adoption. rhe chairman: We did not know about it. (Laughter.) f liv? ae ques v t ; ion *■• Put to a formal with the result that the motion to play the new rule during the present season was carried by* 61 votes to 36. Wellingtons motion to permit unions to play the old rule in thoir own district by authority of the New Zealand Union was lost on the voices. "Rive it all a good go," remarked the president, "and you will be able to say at the end of 12 months that the rule was some good after all."