Shield rales changed

Press, 16 April 1982, Page 28

Shield rales changed

Earlier the meeting approved changes to the rules of the Ranfurly Shield anc effectively extended the official end of the rugby season by several days. As from the 1983 season the last day for playing Ranfurly Shield challenges and national championship games will be the first Sunday in October. At present the date is the last day of September. The motion, brought by the union council, was part of a trend to play games later in the season, said a councillor, Mr-J. P. Wild.

3- "October is already being is used for promotion-relega-d tion games, and the union ie has granted some dispensay tions for national champion- ' ship games to be played in n October,” he said. | Unions wanted to play _ more games later in the ; season to avoid clashes with j club games, and to avoid f having to play games the day after test matches., e Rugby was now finishing a at a time when teams and n conditions were at their best, ’,. Mr Wild said. An attempt, led by Auck-

land delegates, to have the law change brought in this year was overturned narrowly in a vote. The rule regarding the lodging of challenges for the Ranfurly Shield was also altered. Challenges must now be submitted to the holder by October 15, instead of November 30 as previously. The shield holder must now inform the national union and the challengers of the successful challenges by October 31 instead of December 15.