SIMPLER LAW FOR RUGBY SCRUMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 13

SIMPLER LAW FOR RUGBY SCRUMS.

Camera Jests in England Show Rule i Impossible. \" Rugby Union forwards may get down to a simpler and ■more effective scrummage law when the 1939 premiership season : opens.-;'• ■ . New South Wales has supported the Rugby Football Union /(England) in its conclusion that the scrummage law in operation uHast-year ; is. impracticable. , '

'■ Special camera tests, conducted in England; proved'conclusively that under the existing lule it : was physically impossibißi for .the hooker to conform to the 'jjt'wj.':'and"; impossible for any player legally, to hook tho ball, states the. .Sydney'!'.'Siih ".':■'■■.■'■ ■'■■'. "'■"'.'"■" '■ .-■ '■Eriglan<f'!asked; for, an expression of : cph)ion ; .on tho law from the New South :Wales,.;Rugby : : : .Union, and a special comcomprising, club . coaches, selection; committees,' referees and past and ! present J centre-forwards and half-backs will . that. . the English union's: proposed changes be supported. ',£'/'. Proposed Changes. ; These;proposals, which will be conI sidered. at' the! meetin,'; of the New South I Wales!, Rugby.■'.Union Council, are:.— ■v.Tiiat.the.law be! altered so that the ...' centre-forward's, foot oau be ad- ■ ■'!■.-f'yancqjKas'.'sooii as the ball leaves ..'i.fthe.'half-back's hands (the' halfback .standing about three feet ■■'~:■■ ..away)..;■:;';; '.".■' /■' . .' :.Tli.'nt : .the. first foot to be used to play : ' ~th'e."bail shall be the far foot' of the' .._. second.!man in the front row. '•The;., ■special" committee has presumed that tlio intention of the Rugby Foot-'liill-.lJiiibh is that all feet can be used ...to"assist the hooking once this proposed frulej'has been complied with, j.-'.-ilt; will be recommended to the Rugby i Football Union that consideration should , be given to omitting the words in yie. ; existing rule, which ( 6tate that the ball shall be. "put in at moderate speed.*! . The local committee unanimously agreed. that clean hooking was assisted if the ball was put in fairly fast. Ordinarily the law would not bo revised tarti! the-annual-meeting of the

Rugby Football Union in June, but Australia will ask that an alteration lis authorised for" observance in Australia from the opening of the season. This request may be granted following themeeting of the International Board iu March. ' Under the existing scruinmago law it is illegal for any player in the front row to raise or advance his foot until the ball has touched the ground beyond Ift of the nearest player in each front row..