Rugby KICK-INTO-TOUCH RULE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28397, 2 October 1957, Page 7

Rugby KICK-INTO-TOUCH RULE

Amendment By Board , Doubtful

(New Zealand Press Association.) AUCKLAND. October 1.

The chairman of the land Rugby Union (Mr C. S. Hogg), back today from a six-1 months’ “half-business, halfpleasure” trip to Britain and the Continent, doubts whether the amended kick-into-touch rule will be adopted by the International Rugby Board. Mr Hogg discussed the amended rule while in Britain with top English, Welsh, Irish, and Scottish Rugby officials. On his arrival in Auckland in the Rangitoto today, he said: “The British unions have never played under the amended rule and then attitude is that they cannot see anything wrong with the presenl kick-into-touch rule, which they say they find a success. I am afraid we will have a hard row to hoe when the International Board discusses it in January. Mr Hogg expects another New Zealand oroposal—exemption from the knock-on law where the player recovers possession before the ball strikes the ground or another player—to be adopted. “All the Home unions were generally in favour of it.” he said.

French Tour of N.Z. Mr Hogg foresees a French tour of New Zealand—the first—in 1981 He met French Rugby Union officials, who were keen to send a team to New Zealand as soon as, possible for a 12-match tour. France will tour South Africa next year. A major change in the set-up of the International Board—increased voting power for New Zealand and South Africa—is coming soon, said Mr Hogg. “Most officials I spoke to said they would give favourable consideration to supporting a move for two votes each on the board for New Zealand and South Africa,” he said. The January meeting will make a decision on voting. Mr Hogg also discussed the possibility of holding the 1959 meeting of the board in New Zealand and again the reaction was favourable. It would be the first time a board meeting had been held outside Britain.

INTERPRETATION OF RULES

South African View On Rucking

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. October 1

Although the All Blacks who would tour South Africa in 1960 had been assured of a very cordial welcome, 'it was likely that they would have to be prepared for different interpretations of rucking by South African referees, said Mr C. S. Hogg, chairman of the council of the New Zealand Rugby Union, when he arrived in Auckland today after an overseas tour. It was unlikely that rucks would be allowed to continue as long as in New Zealand. During his six-month tour, Mr Hogg visited South Africa, the British Isles, Europe, and Australia.

While in South Africa Mr Hogg met members of the Rugby Board of Control. During the meeting, he said, he was told of the different rucking interpretation, and that otherwise South African rulings would be very similar to those in New Zealand. The more unfortunate aspects of last year’s Springbok tour had been forgotten, said Mr Hogg. There was, of course, very keen rivalry, but no ill-feeling.