PLAYERS TO PUT BALL IN SCRUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 20

PLAYERS TO PUT BALL IN SCRUM.

The Auckland Rugby Football Union decided last night, at the request of the Xew Zealand Union, that the practice of referees putting the ball into the scrum should cease. As referees itannot be officially notified of the change until their meeting next Monday, the decision is not to take effect until Saturday week. When the New Zealand Union's letter came before the management committee last evening the discussion was brief, members agreeing that, in view of the explicit direction, the union had no option but to conform with it. It. was decided that referees should be thanked for their cooperation in giving the amended rule a trial. The letter from Wellington, which was dated Jum- 14, read :— "We have been asked, by two unions for a dispensation to permit referees to put the ball in the scrum, and we understand that one or two other unions have adopted the practice. "As pointed out In our circular letter of May 21, this Is contrary to the laws of the Game, and unless and until an alteration in the laws is made the practice must cease. "By-law two of the constitution makes it quite clear that we hnve adopted the Laws of the Game as laid down by The ltugoy Football Union, and the New Zealand Union has no power to grant a dispensation to depart from those rules. Furthermore, when the state of affairs in England is considered we do not think that The Rugby Football Union would regard the present as an opportune time to approach them for a dispensation for what .is, after all, a relatively unimportant matter. "You are reminded, also, that at the annual meeting of delegates in Wellington on May 2, they were unanimous in their desire for uniformity of referees' ruling's, and, in view of this, it is difficult to understand the action of those unions departing from the rules, without authority, thus making attainment of uniformity more difficult. "It is hoped that those unions who have given permission for the referee to put the ball in the scrum, will at once give instructions to the referees that the practice must bo stopped, and all games must be played under the rules as laid down by The Rugby Football Union." The circular was signed by Mr. A. E. Neilson, who was referee •in the second Test with the Springboks at Eden Park in 1921. He is now secretary, of both the New Zealand and Wellington Rugby Football Unions. Ground officials appointed for Saturday: —Eden Park, Messrs. J. Lethbridge. L. J. Meek; Sturgee Park. Mr. H. T. Revell; Onehunga. Mr. A. J. Wilson ; Showgrounds, Messrs. E. H. Taylor. J. Loft. A. Hines; Takapuna. Mr. A. Jensen; Gribble-Hirst Park, Mr. N. Wallace; Domain, Mr. I. McChesney: Ayondale. Mr. P. Devlin; Three Kings. Mr. W. Apps; Walker Park, Mr. B. Palmer; Victoria Park, Mr. G. Edmonds; Stadium, Mr. P. Lockie; Western Springs, Mr. J. Hollier; Henderson Domain. Mr. E. Cairns; St. Helier'g, Mr. J Crewther.