RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 May 1931, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

POSITION OF THE WING FORWARD. Should the wing forward remain behind the ball from the time he has placed it in the scrum. The English rules say so, and the principle is among those recently endorsed by the Manawatu Referees’ Association. Pending the receipt of the new handbook, the Horowhenua Rugby Council will countenance the practice in this district. At the meeting of the management committee on Tuesday evening, it was mentioned that the new rule was applied in the matches played at Shannon and Whitanui on 'Saturday last. Mr E. C. Meyer (Waikanae) remarked that the New Zealand Union would not give any ruling on the point; it was waiting for the new rules from Home. Mr W. Hannan (Wanderers): The wing forward is on side as long as he is behind the ball. The new, ruling, I think, well be that if his side hooks the ball he must retire behind it, or he is liable to be penalised for obstruction. The Chairman (Mr A. Richards): We should have some interpretation of that rule. The game in Shannon was a big improvement on what I have seen for a long time. I think it would be a good idea to continue that ruling until we get the new handbook. We cannot give any ruling, but we could ask the referees to interpret the international rule in that way —to make the wing forward fall back. We will receive the new handbook" in a week or a fortnight. I would like to see that rule carried out in the meantime. Mr W. C. Childs (Otaki): It will be all right if all the referees give tne same ruling, Otaki, this season, has played under two referees who have given different rulings as to scrum, hooking and mark. Mr Hannan said it was for the Referee’s Association to interpret the rules. The consensus of opinion was that the referees should continue to apply the new rule.