RUGBY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12543, 3 May 1935, Page 6

RUGBY

OVERSEAS TOURS. s AIR. DEAN OPTIMISTIC. i SPRINGBOKS TO VISIT N.Z. IN 1936. 'Press Association" WELLINGTON,'May 2. In his opening address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand .Rugby Union, Air S. S. Dean first made.fitting reference to the de&th of the president, Dr. P. F. McEvedy, and, also the deaths of Air W. Empson and Air G. 11. Mason, past presidents. In reference to the All Black tour of Britain, he said that although there appeared to be a feeling amongst a section of the people that the standard of Rugby has deteriorated in the Dominion, and that the team, selected would not be up to the standard of its predecessors, ho did not subscribe to that belief. Most of the same arguments as thoso used today were evinced prior to the selection of the 1905 and 1924 teams, but all were aware of the achievements of both thoso teams. Players in the coming tour would develop, and lie was sure that they would return with greatly enhanced reputations “Sport in general seems to be in such a chaotic state throughout the world now that an excellent opportunity presents itself in this tour to show the rest' of the world that we piny the game solely for the game’s sake and for the frienships that Rugby football brings us,” he said. Mr Deau expressed an absence of personal misgivings similarly in ref gard to the .Maori team’s tour of New South AVales, Queensland, and Victoria. He spoke also of sending two delegates to the conference with England, to ho followel by a. confer-ence-with the four home unions comprising the international board, viz., England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The South Afrioan board had accepted an invitation to tour Australia and New Zealand in the 1936 season, and negotiations between Now Zealand and Australia in regard to the tour were proceeding. New Zealand was now awaiting the Australians’ acceptance of the definite proposals submitted. In regard to finances, he said that although there was a loss of £577 15s 4-d on the year’s working, the general finances were in a healthy condition, the balance-sheet showing ,nn excess of assets over' liabilities of £37,319 10s Id. Since the publication of tho bal-ance-sheet, interest shown as outstanding by the West Coast.. Poverty Bay and Alanawnm unions had been paid in full, and an amount on account from the Auckland and Thames unions. He paid a tribute to the services of Mr Cecil J. Wray on the Rugby Football Union. ALT, BLACK TRIALS IT INTER. A R V CRITICISED (Press Association), WELLINGTON, Alay 2. Criticism was made at the Rugby Union animal meeting of the itinerary of trial games for the selec- j tion of the All Blacks, and there j was a proposal to hold the matter j over for discussion later. | 'Air S. S. Dean, however, .said that j it was part and parcel of the annual i report, and asked could not the mat- j ter be disposed of. The criticism mostly related to the last three games, June 11, at Palmerston. North, June 13, at Wellington, and June 15, at Wellington. The itinerary as set out in the report was adopted. A suggestion was made that an attempt should he made to secure a match for the All Blacks with France. Mr Dean said that representations already had been made with a view to securing two matches, but the Home union would not agree. The question of broadcasting of Rugby was mentioned. Air Dean interposed, saying that a statement was to ho made in committee at a, later stage. P.. 8, REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION DISCUSSION ON ALTERATION TO LAWS NEW R ULINGS TO BE ENFORCED At a meeting of the Poverty Bay Referees’ Association, the following alterations to the laws of the game were discussed:— (1) A drop kick from the contre of the half-way line must bo taken after an unconverted try. (2) Any player, after leaving the field of play, ' through- injury, must not again take part in the game until he. has* obtained tho permission of the referee. (3) Under the scrummage law attention is drawn, to the following:—' (a) The dangerous practice of players forming down some distance apart and rushing together is to be dealt with under law 84, which means “ordering off.” (b) The player putting the ball into a scrummage shall stand ■about three feet from the scrummage and, with both hands from below the knee, shall gently propel tho ball along a lino midway between and parallel to the lines of feet of the opposing front row forwards. (e) The ball is not fairly in the scrummage (1) until it has been put in straight; (2) until it has touche:! the ground bei tw(?en the opposing players ; e (3) until it has passed one foot of a player of each team; (4) if it pass straight, through the scrummage; (6) if it enter

tbe scrummage and is kicked out between ibe lines of feet of the front row forwards. (d) No player in a, scrummage shall raise a foot off the ground or advance either foot beyond the line of feet, of his front row of forwards until the ball i#» fairly in the scrummage. (e) No foot of the first three feet of the front row forwards of each iJenra on the side on which the ball is being put in. shall be so raised or advanced until the ball has passed that foot. Persistent infringement must be dealt with under law 34. It was decided to enforce the new rulings as from Saturday next. BAD MATCH FOR JONES. IT'n m pared by had passes from his scrum-half, and worried by “gingery*” opposing forwards who had ■overpowered lieavier opposition, C. \V. Jones, celebrated fly-half ifor Cambridge University and Wales in Rugby football, had a bad match against Ireland. He recovered- from the injuries which had caused'much doubt about whether o” mt> ho would ho able to play in this match, but probably, he had not forgotten them. At any rate, an English critic nlotes that, for the first time, ho ""is comparatively impotent to alter the course of a. game, and an Irish critic remarks that, while occasional flashes showed the talented player, his positional play suggested that he was aiming to escape bustiling. Jones was easily pushed across the field, and repeatedly it was left to W. Wooller, one of the Welsh centre ■ afters, 't.'ci straighten out the line. Not once in the game was there a full round of passing by the Welsh backs.