NEW RUGBY RULE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 7 September 1926, Page 2

NEW RUGBY RULE

THE WING FORWARD (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 22. The wing forward in Rugby, the man at the end of the front row of the scrummage, who follows the ball through and tries to stifle the opposing half-hack, lias for some time been a bone of contention. In Wales it lias been insisted that this player has bad a harmful effect on three-quarter play, and. as it is in this phase of the game that tlie Principality in recent seasons has'suffered most, an attempt- has been made to improve the position. Jo do this a new rule lias been introduced, and will be enforced when the game is resumed. Under this no forward must be in advance of the front row of liis own forwards until the ball has left the scrummage. This is getting very near to the principle which the Rugby League adopted for their professionals many years ago. They, too, wanted to give more scope to their backs, and make the play more open than it often is. and so they made it illegal for a half-back to follow the ball through the scrummage. Indeed, in the League a half-back is not allowed to leave his base until tho ball is out at the other side. POSSIBLE CHAOS Tim Welsh experiment is interesting, but at the same time rather unfortunate, as it is bound to lead to confusion. English clubs will not, of course, observe the new condition, except when they are engaged in Wales, and them, if only because of their want of familiarity with it, they will he under a considerable handicap. In these circumstances it is felt that it would have been far better if Wales had delayed tlie introduction of the new rule until tliev had at any rate tried to persuade the International Board to adopt it. In this they would probably have had a good deal of difficulty. Scotland and probably Ireland would have been against it, because there is no doubt that it will limit the activities of the forwards. Still, if the different Unions are going to make changes in fundamental principles of the game to suit their own ideas, the result is hound to he. chaos. As it- is Wales are bound to suffer in next season’s international contests, for their own rule will not be observed in t hose.