RUGBY OR LEAGUE?

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1918, Page 4

RUGBY OR LEAGUE?

During the meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union last night the Chairman, Mr. G. H. Dixon, said ho understood that the Wellington-Auckland match played last, Saturday at Axickland was played! under other than Rugby Union rules. He asked for an expression, of opinion as ,to whether the committeß thought* it would be justified in permitting such modification of the rules.

Dr. P. J. M'Evedy said the alterations really meant the- thin end of the wedge. A game should be either Rugby or League, and not a mixture of both. Tho Rugby rules were quite good enough, and the game of Rugby should be played xinder them.

Mr. B. A. Marrds said 1 that the committee knew that Auckland' had) been playing the "amended" rules all the season. Was there any justification in the committee_asking them to play under the old rules in inter-union games when they did not insist on it in club matches. Dr. M'Evedy and Mr. E. Wylie were emphatic in protesting against the innovation, and on the sragestion of the former it was decided that the attention of all unions be drawn to Rule 2 of the constitution, and that the New Zealand Uniou directs that all inter-union games be played under Rugby Football Union rules.