Amendment To Scrum Laws Suggested By F.B. Rugby Union

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23314, 25 July 1950, Page 8

Amendment To Scrum Laws Suggested By F.B. Rugby Union

The opinion that the present practice of scrummaging in Rugby was detrimental to the game has led the P.B. Rugby Union to suggest a means of effecting improvement. A remit drafted at a' meeting of the management committee of the union last night suggesting that the scrum should remain intact until the ball Is clear of the scrum is to be forwarded to the New Zealand union for submission to the International Rugby Board conference in England in March of next year. The decision was the result of a notification from the New Zealand Union advising unions that suggested amendments to the laws of the game would be dealt with as remits to the next board conference.

Members deplored the present set-up in scrummaging, some saying that it constituted a definite threat to Rugby. Back movements were being reduced through the latitude given flankers and the back-row forward, it was said. Reversion to Old Scrum Suggested

A reversion to the ' 2-3-2 scrum seemed necessary, said Mr. E. Felton. Difficulty was being experienced with clubs in the use of the South African formation. Frequent changes in the personnel of forwards in a team made it difficult to operate tire new set-up smoothly, he said. Mr. S. Ritchie said there were too many hold-ups in the game, and efforts should be made to brighten it up. Several other suggestions came before the meeting regarding further amendments to laws governing knockons, handling the ball by a player tor a kicker attempting a goal from a try and the drop-out. but no decisions were made to carry them forward.