RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 4 May 1938, Page 7

RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGES

AMENDMENT TO RULES MADE NEW ZEALAND UNION MEETING [United Press Association) WELLINGTON. This Day. The Rugby Union annual meeting discussed the proposed amendment to the Ranfurly Shield rules to provide for those Unions missing out with their challenges through the trophy changing hands being given the right to have those challenges met by the Union winning Ihe trophy. Mr Dean said that the feeling of the Council was that the Union winning the Shield should automatically accept such challenges as had been made and not decided up to that time. The motion was carried.

The special grants made to Unions out of the Drofits from the Springboks’ tour gave rise to some comment. A list of the grants was read. It was disclosed that North Auckland, which had a match with the Springboks, and the West Coast, which had a match, and further was behind in its interest on a loan from the parent body, received grants, the West Coast because it was faced with certain difficulties and the grant was to assist the meeting of ordinary debts, and North Auckland, which in addition to heavy assemblage expenses, struck a bad day for its match, the last of the tour. These explanations were made by Mr Dean.