RUGBY UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21411, 12 August 1931, Page 9

RUGBY UNION

ANNUAL MEETING THE NEW ZEALAND TOUR, > (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 2. ; Mr Waiter T. Pearce, of Bristol, who was elected president of the Rugby., Union, at the annual meeting, for the third year successive year, referred in’; his presidential speech to the tour of the British team in New Zealand. “I think,” he said, “we are ail very pleased with what the team did in New Zealand. The result in Rugby games is; not everything, but we have heard from many sources what a fine impression; the team made by their play, and particularly their back play. “ One of the most difficult jobs was the work the manager, Mr James Baxter/ did as ambassador of the four Home' unions. Courteously, but firmly, he ex- 1 plained precisely where the Home unions stood with regard to the laws of the. game, and I am sure that, as the result; of this tour, a much better understanding' has been arrived at between the Do-; minions and ourselves. . “Referring to the Selection Commit* tee, Mr Pearce went on to say that after many years* work on that body, Mr. Baxter had thought it was time he retired,, but he placed himself entirely in the! hands of the committee of the Rugby Union, as did Admiral Royds and Mr.t A. D, Stoop, two other members of the Selection Committee. - “ Next season, said Mr Pearce, “there will no doubt be three new members of the Selection Commit-, tee, Mr. Baxter has told ua that wa should have new and younger blood, and I think he is quite right, for in all' the committees which have to do with the future policy of the Rugby Union there should be a steady stream of new blood.” • RELATIONS WITH FRANCE. '. Mr Pearce then went on to talk about the relations of the four Home unions with France. First of all, he wished to contradict the story which had appeared in certain French newspapers, that the Rugby Union had given permission for some of their clubs to play French clubs. “ England, 1 ” he stated, “ will never act separately from the other three Homo unions. The affiairs in France, owing to the propaganda which has gone on in connection with the two rival bodies there, make it impossible for us to send’ teams over. As England did many years ago, when the northern clubs broke away and almost threatened the existence of the Rugby Union game, Franca must, in like circumstances, face the issue boldly, and put their house in order. They must recover direction and they must recover discipline. Mr A. D. Stoop and Mr R. F. Oakes were re-elected vice-presidents, and Mr E. Prescott honorary treasurer. LAWS OF THE GAME. The considerable alterations in the laws of the game, proposed by the International Board, \vill take place at a special general meeting to be held on July 24, but the following alteration, proposed by the committee, in accordance with resolution of the International Board in Law 32, was agreed to:— “If a defending player kick, pass, knock or carry the ball back into his own in-goal, and be there made dead, except in the case where a try is obtained, the ball shall be brought back and scrummaged at the spot from which .it was kicked, passed, knocked, or carried back.”

This law covers heeling-back, or a fumble, whereby the ball goes into a player’s own in-goal. Provided it i be made dead—in each case. The rules as to professionalism remain substantially the same, but slight alterations in the wording of them have taken place to make them identical with those of the Welsh Rugby Union. These alterations were agreed to. Previous to the annual meeting a meeting of the committee was held, Mr W. T. Pearce, the president, presiding. The following official information wa* given outs—- “ The Rugby Union desire to state that, neither they, nor any of the other home unions, have given permission to British clubs to play against French clubs during the coming season. South Africa, Kenya and Ceylon have agreed to the uniformity of laws as issued by the Rugby Union, but replies are still awaited from the other dominios unions.”