RUGBY RULES

Evening Post, Issue 99, 24 October 1934, Page 12

RUGBY RULES

IMPORTANT CHANGES

SCRUMMAGE AND KICK-OFF

(By "Drop-Kick.")

Further important changes have been made in tho laws of the game of Rugby football, and, although the New Zealand Rugby Football Union is still awaiting official advice of tho alterations, they aro already oporatiug in the Home countries, whero tho 1934-35 Rugby season is now under way. In so far as the scrummage is concerned there is a change which brings tho hooking methods still nearer to those which New Zealand with its 2-3-2 formation employed very effectively until the traditional formation was discarded. With the adoption of an eight-man pack for scrummaging, with three men in tho front row, New Zealand experienced troubles similar to those which made the operation of tho scrummage rules, as altered a few years ago, most unsatisfactory and which removed from Now Zealand's specialised game one of its main features. Those changes not only spoiled scrummaging but also affected the general standard of play. Now, howevor, the latest amendments open the way to better hooking; in fact, they would bo just the thing for New Zealand's famous diamond-shaped scrummage. But, as the Home countries stick to the eight-a-side scrummage it is possibly too much to expect that New Zealand will revert to its best and most efficient form of scrummaging. Still, there is tho prospect of seeing something infinitely hotter in the way of scrummaging than that which has marred the game .in recent years. SWINGING FIRST FOOT. The important clauses in tho Rugby laws relating to the scrummage now provide that the ball is not fairly in the ' scrummage (1) until it has been put in straight; (2) until it has touched tho ground between the opposing players; (3) until it has passed one foot of a front-row player of each team; (4) if it pass straight through the scrummage; or (5) if it enter the scrummage and is kicked out at either side between the lines of feet of the opposing frontrow forwards. It is also provided that no foot of tho first threo feet of tho front row forwards of each team, on tho side on which the ball is being put in, shall bo raised or advanced boyond the lino of feet of tho front-row forwards until the ball has passed that foot. This change means that a foot can now follow the ball into the scrummage for tho purpose of hooking the ball, so long as the ball has passed that foot and tho first foot in the opposing front row. The outside feet (those on tho side on which the ball is being put in) can now be used as "swingers," as was a practice of the past. This is greatly to bo preferred to the recent order under which tho' hooking was practically restricted—or supposed to l, c _to the middle man of tho front row of three. It also makes tho third man in tho front row more useless than was tho case under the recent form of scrummaging. The Home countries will havo a full son soil's oxperionco of tho new order in regard to scrummaging, but New Zealand's players who aro to visit tho Homo countries next year will havo but little timo to become acquainted with tho cli all go, which, of course, will operate in New Zealand next season. The new plan will give added'interest to the trials to be held early next season with a view to selecting tho team for tho big tour. Thero will bo little more than half the season for tho players to bring the hooking 'up to date. . DROP-KICK AFTER TRY. Another important change relates to the kick-off at half-way after a try. It has been the rulo to place-kick from the half-way mark whether or not a try has been converted, and' it has happened at times, both here and in other countrios (even in an international match in the Homo countries) that scores have been given incorrectly through a doubt as to whether a try had been converted or not. The now rules provide for a place-kick from half-way after a try which has been converted and for a drop-kick from half-way after a try which has not been converted. According to reports from England, the latest changes have been received with much satisfaction and are operating to good purpose. Of the scrummage change one report states: "It was noticeable that when tho ball was put into the scrum it.usually stayed in. It seems that tho complicated formula evolved by the International Board has solved the scrummage problem."