FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10263, 4 February 1899, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UMON RULES.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.)

WELLI_>uiOX, _eb:__ry 3. A Committee of football enthusiasts here, who have, like many other people, lung lelt that the present rules of Rugby tuotTiad aru yearly becoming more cumbrous, confuted, and opposed to good play, have taken Hie bull by the horns, and after inviting opiiiiuns lrom authorities on the game in various ports of the colony, luive trained a series of drastic amendments, which will be submitted to the local Unions, and finally to the NewZealand Union. Tne latter will send the orait adopted to the English Lnion, and invite the hitter's earnest consideration of the improvements proposed, and it is pretty well understood that it the English Union show their usual obstinacy in refusing to accept the alterations whicn experience has shown

to be clearly advisable, the New Zealand Union will men consider the propriety of # adopting tliem on its own account.

Ine principal alterations suggested are— Points to be as follows: —Goal trom try, rive points; try, torn - points; penalty goal, two; any other goal, three; lorce-down, half a point. 'Ibis last is an innovation, and will only count if no.major points aro scored. A goal from a punt is to be allowed, but charging in at kicks is abolished. The game will not be stopped if the ball touches the referee. Four spells may be played instead of two, to prevent -undue advantage being obtained from wind, and alter a try the ball will be kicked olf again from halt distance. Wingplay is abolished, and knocking on cannot bo 'penalised unless wihul. In order to avoid incessant scrambling on the touch-lines, when" the ball goes out, it must be thrown in at least five yards. The last two alterations will make an enormous diiference in incessant stoppages that now occur in every ga.ne. There are a number of minor alterations in the direction of simplifying' the rules. •