RUGBY LAWS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 115, 11 April 1930, Page 7

RUGBY LAWS

KICK-INTOfTOUCH RULE ADOPTED. NEW ZEALAND UNION DECISION. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 10. The old kick-into-touch rule will be reverted to in New Zealand this season, but special dispensations will be granted to unions who desire to play club matches under New Zealand rules. Such was the decision come to at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union this afternoon, after a protracted discussion. The subjeot was introduced by Mr S. S. Dean, who moved on behalt of the Management Committee: “That in Now Zealand all games in future be played under the rules of the International Board.” Unless the Dominion unions were granted a seat upon the International Board, ho would not agree to going back to the old rules. He doubted whether New South Wales would agree to go back to the old rules either. He suggested that a conference should be held in the Dominion while the-British team was here, at which delegates from the South African, Canadian and Australian Unions could be invited to attend. Pending this conference, he asked leave to withdraw the remit. Mr J. Prendeville (Wellington) said that this would be a breach of faith to the unions which supported the mo-, tion. Mr J. McLeod (Taranaki) said that his union favoured going back to the old rules, at least for this season. Backs, under the New Zealand rules, now parted too much with tho ball. A return to the old rules would also make for sounder scrummaging. Mr H. Harris (Otago) also favoured a return to the old rules. Unions which desired to play under New Zealand rules could receive a special dispensation to do so. Mr A. McPhail (Canterbury) opposed a return to the old rules. AUCKLAND’S VIEWPOINT. Mr A. Murdock (Auckland) also opposed a return to the old rules. It would be a' mistake, for Auckland had had to face serious rivalry. Speaking

as the headmaster of a school of 800 pupils, he could say that the new rules had had a decided uplift upon the game in the north, by drawing an increased attendance at our matches and an increasing number of players. The speaker moved as an amendment: “That this meeting affirms the resolution passed at the last annual meeting, that only trial matches and the North Island versus South Island mateh be played under International Board rules.” Mr H. Frost (Auckland) seconded the amendment. At the suggestion of Mr G. Pownall (Wanganui) it was decided to withdraw the remit temporarily and substitute the Wellington Union’s motion “that the old kick-into-touch rule be reverted to throughout New Zealand during the coming season.” Mr J. N. Millard (Wellington) confidently asserted that if the old rules were reverted to, unions would be only too glad to return to New Zealand rules next year. Mr H. Frost (Auckland) sajd that he could give tho delegates an assurance that Auckland, when playing other unions, would bo only too ready to play under International Board rules. Mr Dean said that they, should either .play under International Board rules, or leave the rules as they were. If Auckland was going to be given dispensations, these dispensations should be specified. They were all fighting for uniformity,, and if Auckland was granted permission to play different rules, other unions might ask for dispensations. Mr Murdock moved as an amendment: “That such unions as may apply and get permission be allowed to pLav under New Zealand rules in club matches only.” Mr J. McLeod said that it was very pleasing to hear Mr Frost at last admit that Auckland was playing under rules which had not been sanctioned, even by the New Zealand Union. “Why is it,” he asked, “that Auckland has played rules which no other union in the Dominion considered good enough to adopt? All the Rugby brains in New Zealand are not in the Auckland province.” A voice: In Auckland city. Proceeding, Mr McLeod said that .Auckland city only knew one brand Rugby, and if n team were to come along and play the game as laid down

by the Rugby book, Aucklanders would not recognise the game. The president, Mr A. A. Adams, said that ho did not believe in makeshifts, though Auckland was up against a difficult proposition. Why should they alter the rules for one team? The New Zealand Union should como bodily out and and decide either to play tho old or the new rules. Mr A. J. Geddes (Southland) supported the Wellington Union’s remit. Ho declared that 99 per cent of ihe present-day players had no knowledge of the old rules and they should be given a chance to meet the British team on level term 3. Mr Tilyard (Wairarapa) supported, a return to the old rules. It was agreed at this stage to tack the amendment on to the Wellington remit, and in this form, it was carried. . • Mr McLeod then moved that it be a recommendation to the management committee’to grant any unions which might apply permission for one year to play undr the present New Zealand rules. This was carried. The remit standing in the name of the Management Committee was then reverted to. Mr E. Wylie moved that the following words be added to the motion, “if and when we are given satisfactory representation in the framing of such rules.” He said that New Zealand •had a splendid chance .of pressing for a voice in the framing of the rules and it would bo a mistake to let the opportunity pass. This was seconded by Mr McLeod (Taranaki) and carried, and tho .omit as amended was then passed on the voioes.