RUGBY CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22100, 4 May 1935, Page 15

RUGBY CONTROL

REMITS TO CONFERENCE EMPIRE COUNCIL SUGGESTED FORMATION OF SCRUMMAGES [by telegraph—press .association] WELLINGTON, Friday Remits to be sent to the Imperial Rugby Football Conference in London this year were considered at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. It was decide! that the following shorild be submitted on behalf of New Zealand:— That an Empire Rugby Football .Council should be constituted with equal representation for each of the contributing Rugby football unions of the Empire, such representatives to be residents of the respective^unions; that meetings of the said council be held at intervals of not less than four years: that such meetings be hold alternatively in London and at the headquarters of each of the constituent unions; and that such coined shall have the power to amend or add to laws of the game, and to arrange programmes of international tours. That the New Zealand Union be given full power to enable it to allow any of its constituent local unions to modify any laws of the game for local competitions, provided that the laws regarding professionalism are strictly observed and the suggested modifications are approved by the New Zealand Union, That it shall be permissible for the referee to put tfls ball into vhe scrummage. That the method of scoring be revised to provide that three points shall be scored for a try, ive points for a goal from a try, two points for a goal from free kick or penalty kick, and three points for a dropped uoal otherwise obtained. That the amended rule regarding kicking into touch tie brought into operation again. That the advantage rule in line-out and from the kick oft should be introduced.

It is also suggested that law 17 be deleted (playing Iball with foot after tackle) and consequential amendments to the same law,, and ths.t when a scrummage is formed if any player advances beyond a line drawn through the centre of the scrummage, and patallel with the goal line, before the ball comes out of such scrimmage, a penalty kick be awarded. The New Zealand Union has given its approval to three front; row men in the scrummage, as aslsed by the Rugby Football Union, and having gi\'en it fair trial in all matches played under its jurisdiction during the past three years, is of opinion that three men in the front row makes interpretation of the law more difficult for players to give effect to and more difficult for referees to deal with. The iSew Zealand Union suggests a trial of at two front row scrummage for the same period as New Zealand played the three front row scrummage, this to consist of seven players and the extra man now played in the scrum to be played as an extra back.