RUGBY RULES

Evening Star, Issue 20180, 21 May 1929, Page 5

RUGBY RULES

OTAGO DELEGATES REPORT

HEW ZEALAND AMENDMENTS FAVOURED OTAGO REFEREES TO PUT BALL IN SCRUM Matters of importance -to Rugby football were discussed last night at the weekly meeting of the management committee of the Otago Rugby Union. Mr Harris, who, with Mr G. Nelson, attended the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union at Wellington, submitted a lengthy report on the business transacted. He said the gathering of delegates was one of the largest ever held, all of the twenty-six .unions affiliated being represented- A motion by the West Coast union that five per cent, he set apart from the profits of Ranf'nrly Shield matches to form the nucleus of a fund for such unions as required it was carried. While most of the larger unions wanted the number of representative matches curtailed, there were a number of North Island unions that wanted more representative fixtures. In connection with the Canterbury union’s remit regarding the sending of a team to Australia this season, Mr Harris said that, as he had told members on previous occasions, there was an understanding that the committee of management of the N.Z.R.U. would not commit itself to any tours without consulting the various unions. The Chairman of the management committee had stated that ho had no reolloction of such ar understanding, and of course the delegates had to accept his assurance that if there were such an understanding he had forgotten it. After a long discussion, it was felt that it was impossible to cancel the tour or even to alter the date. Canterbury had suggested that the tour should he put back one month. It was explained that the tour had been arranged at the express wish of the Now South Wales union, which thought it would assist the revival of the game in Queensland. After hearing the arguments he came to the conclusion that perhaps it was just as well the team was going to Australia this year. A New South Wales team would visit the dominion the year after next. The Canterbury union had agreed to withdraw its remit. The remit of the Otago union asking that the voting power of the unions be altered had been carried, though he was surprised to notice that two minor unions of the South Island had voted against it, KICKING INTO TOUCH. The management committee of the New Zealand union, said Air Harris, brought up the much-debated question of the kick-into-touch rule. It came up in connection with the visit of the British team next year. The matter was very fully discussed, and as a result he took it that the general opinion was that for the present they should not depart from the rule as at present played. There was nothing, however, lo prevent any union, if it so 'wished, playing the English laws in its Hag matches, 'there was a very .strong feeling that the new rule had improved our football. Air Wilson, of Canterbury, and others who were against the original introduction of the amended rule, were now in favour of it. It no doubt made the game faster, and made it harder for the solid forward to play than it used to be. Air Strong “ What rule will be played next year?” Air Harris said that a motion that all unions should play under the Engling’rules next year was defeated. An amendment that in the trial matches to pick the New Zealand team to play the British team and in the North Island-South Island, match the English rule should be played was carried. It seemed to him to ho absurd that there should be any attempt to go hack to the old rule just because an English team came here once every twelve or fifteen years. They should consider their own looibail. THE WING-FORWARD. The- question of the wing-forward was also discussed, continued Mr Harris. It was generally admitted that the wing-forward should bo abolished. How to abolish him was another matter. It was surely a matter lor the clubs themselves. Personally, he thought if the referees enforced the off-side rule more strictly then they would kill the ’wing-forward lo a very large extent. A .motion was carried that the referees be a«kecl to more strictly enforce the off-side rule against the wing-forward. The itinerary of the British team next year had not yet been arranged. The present intention was to play four test games, one in each of the four main centres. There would also he games against the major unions in those centres. There would probably be twenty-one matches altogether, but if the team had to leave earlier lo catch a boat the number would be reduced (u nineteen, one teH game being deleted. The proposal to arrange interprovincini mat dies fur four years had been abandoned, and it was decided that the games be arranged year by year. Air G. Nelson said that the question of the kick-into-touch rule had caused much debate during the last year or two. He for one believed in sticking to the international code of rules. Only four delegates had voted for the amendment to play the game in New Zealand entirely under English rules, and it seemed a waste of time for any union to fight against the amended rule regarding kicking into touch. He paid a tribute to Air Harris’s representation of Hie. Otago Union. Air Harris said it was gratifying to know that the new president of the N.Z.R.U., Air Alan Adams, was an j old Otago ’Varsity player. BALL IN SCRUM. Air Gavanagh asked why one union (he referred to Auckland) was allowed to break the existing laws by allowing ■ the referees to put the hall into the serums and having the imaginary line across the back of the scrum? They were evidently allowed to do that without permission. There seemed to ho something wrong with our football when that was allowed. Let iiicm got down to the foundation of the game and they would find out what was wrong. Mr Harris said he thought it was generally admitted that it Vas easier for the referee to put the ball m the scrums. It was suggested that they should get the English Union to revert to the old “ foot up ” scrum rule. Ho thought if they got that a lot of trouble would be saved. Air A. J. Hanb (representative of the Otago Referees’ Association) ; “ It certainly would make an improved scrum.” Mr Gavanagh said it seemed to him farcical that the games with the English team should be played under the old kick-into-touch rule when our players know nothing about it. Mr Nelson said they might be able to show the visitors that our rule was the better one.

Air Gavanagh: “ You won’t enlighten them. They have 100 much sense.” Air Harris said it was proposed to play matches between some of the colleges to show the visitors how well the New Zealand rule worked. INSTRUCTIONS TO REFEREES. Mr Mitchell asked if it were to be an instruction to the referees to more strictly enforce the off-side rule. Mr Harris; “ Yes.” Mr Alitchell said he thought it should he clone right away. The wing forward was off-side nine times out of ton. i Mr Haul) said it would go hard with the wing forwards if the referees hod to do it. The wing forward was practically off-side in nearly every scrum. Air A. Al'Dnnald said the referees should watch the five-eighths. Keen observers of lire game would find that the five-eighths were more often offside than the wing forward. In a 3-2-3 scrum there were two break-away forwards who were ■ worse than the wing forward. Air Alitchell: “ It comes hark to the referee jud the same.” Mr Harris: ”The referee can make or mar our game.” The Chairman (Air \V. Brown! tendered the thanks of Hie committee lo Aiessrs Harris and Nelson for their representation. LOCAL REFEREES ADVISED. Air Haul) asked if there was any objection to the referees here putting the ball in the scrums. Air I). Al. Stuart; “We should do it if it benefits ns.” Air Harris said the opinion expressed at the annual meeting was that under the laws of the game the players should put the ball in. Air D. AI. Speckling moved that the Referees’ Association be informed that it was the wish of the committee that the referees should put Hie ball hi Hie scrums in local flag matches. Air Harris said they should get the permission of the clubs. Air Stuart said they had Hie permission of practically all the clubs. Air Gavanagh said lie hoped there would lie a uniform way of putting the hall in, Air Harris thought Hie referees should be asked to roll the hall in. It was decided to add Afr Harris’s suggestion to the motion. Air Nelson was against the motion. Because other unions had broken laws they should not do so. One of the reasons of Hie English Union for being against the referee putting the ball in scrums tfas that by putting the hall in he would be taking part in the game. Mr said the referees wanted to do it. If they could make things easier for the referee they should do so. The motion was carried. It was decided that referees should commence the new practice immediately. It will be done in the curtain raiser on Saturday next, but not in the ’Varsity match, which is not a flag match.' 1