RUGBY Matches For Experiment With New Techniques

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 24

RUGBY Matches For Experiment With New Techniques

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 2. The New Zealand Rugby Union will invite the Auckland, Wellington. Waikato, Taranaki. Manawatu, Canterbury. Otago and Southland Rugby Unions to nominate matches in which new hooking and line-out experiments may be tried. The New Zealand union’s executive agreed today that at least two matches would be played by each union to which approval was given. It preferred that no fewer than three of the 20 experimental matches allowed be in Wellington, to enable the executive to study the position. Front rows in these matches will be briefed, and have some practice under the amendment, before each match. The matches to be controlled by one of the Wellington union's ‘‘big five" referees must be of at least senior status, but preferably of representative status. Statistics will be kept by an official. The intention is to find the effectiveness of hooking when there is no advancing of the feet until the bail is fairly in

the scrum. The experiment provides for first and fourthfoot heeling. The line-out experiment will involve applying the advantage law to this phase of play. Unions other than those named may apply for experimental matches.