RUGBY AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21130, 16 June 1932, Page 9

RUGBY AFFAIRS

HEW ZEALAND UNION THE SCRUM FORMATION [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 16. The matter of scrum formation was again before the New Zealand Rugby Union’s Management Committee last night. The secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Union wrote to inquire what steps were being taken to see that all unions were adopting the new rule of three men in the front row, together with the abolition of the wing forward, and mentioned that one union at least was not adopting it. The chairman (Mr Dean) expressed the view that those unions not adopting this formation were not acting in the spirit of the decision. Mr Glasgow; It is a gentleman’s decision. » Mr Kitto; We cannot force them. Members: No. It was agreed to reply on the lines of the chairman’s remark. The New South Wales Union’s_ Management Committee wrote that it was recommending its council to take action in regard to the proposed Rugby football commission on much the same lines as those taken in New Zealand. The Nelson Union requested a ruling as to whether a team was entitled to take on a player to replace an injured man when the opposing captain would not give his consent. No arrangement had been made in respect to replacements before the match started. It was decided .to reply that under the circumstances a player could not be replaced. The North Otago Union wrote accepting an offer of a grant of £6O towards a tour of the Seddon Shield district. It is expected that the tour will commence on August 3. It was decided to make the sams grants as last year for school football, and that next year a large supply of balls be procured with a view to distributing balls in lieu of cash grants. Decision on points in regard to the rules were confirmed, among them being:— In a 3-4-1 scrummage is the ball out of the scrummage when it is clear of the feet of the second-row forwards ?—• Yes. When the ball is clear of the feet of the second-row forwards nan the back-row man detach himself from the scrum and pick up the ball without retiring behind it?—Yes. Can a half-back play the ball as in the position in question?—Yes.