SCRUM FORMATION

Evening Star, Issue 21005, 20 January 1932, Page 4

SCRUM FORMATION

THE WING FORWARD ABOLITION RECOMMENDED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 19. “It is tho considered opinion of the committee that to put ourselves on side so far as the outside world is concerned we should agree not to play the wing forward and to adopt tho 3-2-3 scrum formation,” remarked Mr S. S. Dean, president and chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, in making an important statement regarding the proposal that New Zealand should fall into lino with ail other Rugby-playing countries in adopting the eight-scrum and seven-back formation. The change would mean the jettisoning of the wing forward. Mr Dean said: “The Management Committee of the New Zealand Union, during the past few months, lias given careful consideration to various phases of the game. It must be conceded that the wing forward is a destructive force so far as attacking play is concerned, and it is felt that if the position is abolished our inside back play would greatly improve, and it would add to the attractiveness and pleasure of the game to both the players and the public. The position has been, and always will be, the cause of friction and criticism, not only respecting the person playing in the position, but concerning our teams whenever they journey overseas. We have given our assurance to the Rugby Football Union (England) that we will adopt the laws of the game as laid down by them. Let us go further and willingly adopt the formation which all other countries play. New Zealand will lose no prestige from the playing standpoint, and from tho sporting point of view our action would meet with approval and satisfaction by other Rugby-playing countries.” All the affiliated unions of tho New Zealand Rugby Union have been circularised to that effect, added Mr Dean, and the matter would be the subject of discussion at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union.