RUGBY LAWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26749, 19 April 1948, Page 7

RUGBY LAWS

AN APPARENT ANOMALY P.A. WELLINGTON, Apl. 17. An anomalous position is reported to have arisen in connection with the application in New Zealand of the new Rugby laws. The council of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union has decided that the amendments to the laws agreed upon by the International Board following discussions at the Imperial Conference in London, are to be enforced in the Dominion this season. It has been reported that the field goal is in future to be worth three points instead of four, and that the outside hooker on the sidd of which the ball enters the scrum will be allowed to follow the ball into the scrum with his outside foot. The application of the changed scrum law involves a difficulty, as, in spite of repeated cables requesting detailed information, the New Zealand Union so far has been unable to ascertain from England the full extent of the new scrummage law. The chairman of the New Zealand Union, Mr S. S. Dean, who returned from the south, said to-day that he had advised the Otago Union, whose championship matches began in Dunedin to-day, to put the new laws into force. He had suggested that the outside front-row forwards be allowed to follow the ball into the scrummage, as indicated in the information known to date.

The secretary of the Wellington Referees’ Association, Mr A. D. Chant, said to-day that his association had decided it would not change its rulings until it had received written authority to do so, and had been fully advised of the changes. Mr Chant said he'had been told verbally by Mr Dean that 'the amendments were to be applied, but that was not sufficient, he said, for the introduction of a change. Local championship play is due to begin next week.