RUGKBY RULES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16350, 23 October 1918, Page 4

RUGKBY RULES.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. CANTERBURY UNION'S ATTITUDE. The executive committee' or the Canterbur Rugby Union met last night, Mr F. T. Evan presiding. The chairman said that the meeting wa a special one to consider Auckland's pre posals for alterations is the constitution an playing rules. No covering letter lirxl be« received, but copied of a commuaicatio embodying the proposals iiad been receivet Auckland's letter asking for a special meet of the New Zealand Rugby Union, whit had been sent to the Wellington Rugb, Union, bad not come to hand. Referring 1 the proposed alterations to the conatitutioi he said that they were in the direction o giving the New Zealand Rugby Union greats power and lessening the power of the Ei»lia] Rugby Union—an idea that the Cnnterbux; Rugby Union had favoured in tho past. The proposed alteration of Rule 2 was ap proved of on the motion of Mr Barrett seconded by Mr Keateven. The propose! alteration gives the New Zeulaud Rugb; Union power "to make eucb modifications a; may b© doomed, desirable in the interests o the game," instead of adopting the rules o the game, and as to professionalism as fixec from time to time by tli© English Rug-bj Union. Mr Fuller proposed, 'and Mr "Wilson ee conded, the approval of the deletion of Rul< 32, providing for appeal to the English Rugb; Union in respect of points of law, and th< substitution of a rulo providing that th« decision of the New Zealand Rugby Union'! Appeal Committee shall be final. Mr Buchanan said lio was of opiuioii thai the appeal to the English Union should- b« retained. Other speakers pointed out thai if tho New Zealand Rugby Union altered the rules cf the game, it would be useless to send appeals to England. Mr Dey: If we alter the rules we will be cutting tho painter. Tho Chairman: Wo aro playing under different rules now from the JZnglish rules, and we haven't yet cut the painter. A suggestion that the delegates should have a free hand was, ou being put to the vote, negatived, and the motion was agreed to. Regarding the proposal to add to Rule 37 (dealing with suspension and expulsion of unions) that pending the decision of an appeal against suspension, such suspension shall be inoperative, it was decided to giv© the Union's delegates a free hand. The proposed new rule 47—proposing that any alteration or modification of the rules agreed to should be forwarded to tho Englih Rugby Union was approved.. The existing rule provides for. the approval of the English Union before tho alteration or modification becomes operative. The proposal In respect of Rul© 4S—substituting iho words "New Zealand Rugby Football Union" for the "Rugby Footbail Union, England"—was approved. Tlie present rule declares all rules in conflict -with. th c English Rugby Union rules' shall be inoperative. The following proposed alterations to tho „ playing rules already in> force in CanZ, terbury) wero approved;—(.l) Abolition of the 2 "wing"' forward. Free kicks by way of penalties shall be awarded (a) if any player not in a scrummage advances througk a line drawn _ through the back of his own scrummage tarulI lei with tho goal lino Before the ball comes out of such scrummnge, and (b) if any player in a scrummage breaks away before the bait comes out of such scrummage, (,'i) Absolute free kicks and kicks at goal from penalties and tries. All such, kicks to be absolutely free from a charge. Any player to b 0 allowed to place or kick the bah. The player and kickc-i* need not necessarily be tho eamo player. The delegates were given a free handi respecting the following proposal :-y<o} Modification of the lav/ governing kicking into touch, otherwise than from a "kick off" or "drop out" already provided for:—lf the ball drops directly into touch from a kick, except in the case of a penalty kick, and exoept A li 0 be within his own. "twenty-five," it shall W be brought back, and a "line-out" formed from, touch at a point oppoeito the place ► where the player wa3 at the time he kicked the ball. The proposal, re advantage rulo to "lineout" play was approved. ' The Auckland Union's letter contained tho ' following clause: —"We do not wish to argue * that bccause our Union has proved the modifications a thorough success, therefore all Unions should adopt them, but we do ask that tho machinery of the rules should be " such as to allow of tb© opportunity of these, or other modifications being given a fair trial, because practical demonstration is the " only test." The delogates ■were given a free hand in respect of tho rules as to professionalism: — ► "That Northern Union players who have been on active service, or who have never received monetary payment for playing football, shall bo eligible for reinstatement, but no player , over iho ago of IS v«ars last birthday; who takes part in the Northern Union game eub- _ sequent to the 31sfc December, 1918, shall be eligibly for reinstatement." It was decided that on receipt of the requisition for a special meeting it be signed. Messrs Evans and Wilson were appointed the Union's delegates with power to appoint substitutes in the event of their being, unable to attend. (PBXSS ASSOCIATION XStXOHAM.) DUNETDIN, October 22. At a meeting of the committee of the Otago Rugby Union, it was decided to siffn the requisition for a epjecial meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union to discuss pro- \ posed amendments to the rules.