Rugby Line-Out Experiment

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29735, 31 January 1962, Page 11

Rugby Line-Out Experiment

(London Correspondent of "The Press")

'THAT depressingly untidy JL aspect of present-day Rugby, the line-out, will be examined again when the International board meets again next March.

In the meantime experiments are being made in Britain—as they have been made in New Zealand and South Africa —with a view to determining what can best be done to tidy up this facet of play. Each constituent bodyeach club, i" fact —has been asked by the Rugby Union here to play one match under the experimental line-out law (that is, a distance of one yard between the opposing players) and then to submit a report to the controlling body. Originally, the experimental law made it binding as well for each forward to remain two yards behind the nearest member of his own side, but this was subsequently modified to allow for any variety of formation from the compact, touch-line-crowding assembly to the loose stri- : spreading right across the field, if need be.

It might be mentioned In this connexion that auring the annual Oxford and Cambridge match at Twickenham recently, the Oxford rightwinger, P. M. Dawkins, an American with a gridiron background, opened up entirely new lines of thought and tactics with his torpedo throw-in, with some of the Oxford forwards leaving the impression that they were actually lining up on the wrong side of the field Dawkins propelled the ball with fantastic power and accuracy, and I do not doubt that had he been blessed with a rather more whimsical approach, he could have spun the ball virtually out of play on the opposite side of the field. It is pretty clear even now that whatever changes are made In the line-out law at the International Board’s meeting, no modifications will be introduced that might restrict the “Dawkins” throw which, quite apart from its exciting attacking possibilities, is in marked

contrast to the slovenly lob of so many wingers. The critics do not agree about the merits, or demerits, of the experimental laws, though the implementation of these certainly contributed to the success of the drawn match (6-all) between Richmond and London Irish, at the London Athletic Ground, a month ago. The well-known British Lions' scrum-half, A. A. Mulligan, who visited New Zealand two seasons ago, relished the new formation—that is. if

the long and accurate passes that he fired out to B. W. Mooney offer any guide.

“The new line-out undoubtedly contributed to a fast, open game,’’ wrote one leading critic. Another former England player of distinction took a contrary view. He said that in his view the experimental law had no virtues whatever. His principal objection was the “utter impracticability” of maintaining the “yard gap,” which he regarded as a sort of launching board.