PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE RUGBY RULES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1929, 9 November 1888, Page 26

PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE RUGBY RULES.

A FORECAST. A t the meeting of the Rugby Union, which was to have been held early in October, a number of proposed amendments were to be discussed. "Old Ebor," writing in the Athletic News, has the following :— The " Wing " Player. I have no absolute proof of what the recommendations in the draft report are, but I can hazard a forecast which will be found to be not far short of the mark. I have a notion that the voxed question of wing forward will be specially dealt with in the report iv a manner that some clubs who play that objectionable game will not at all like. I believe it will be reoommended that the referee should have power first to caution wing forwards, and then to order them off the field if his injunctions are disobeyed. How such a proviso will work remains, of course, to be seen, and much will depend upon the courage of referees in dealing with the question. Still, it is satisfactory to all true lovers of the game to know that the " wing player " is being viewed by the authorities in the proper light — a nuisance. Off-side Offences. Another important alteration will, I fancy, be | found in the suggestions made with regard to off-side play and tackling. At present off-side tackling is frequently a conspicuously objectionable feature in some matches in Yorkshire and elsewhere. Captains have been known, especially when playing with the wind, to instruct their men to make straight for the player who has the ball whether off-side or not, for fopays to do so, as a free kick often does the injured side more harm than good. It will most likely be recommended that to prevent this unfair tackling the injured side may have the choice of taking the ball back to where last played, or have a free kick, from which a goal may be obtained. This latter penalty will, it will be seen, be a very important addition to the rules of the game' inasmuch as it may easily be possible for a penalty of this description to result in losing or winning the match. The drastic penalty is certbinly good, and I sincerely hope the recommendations of the sub-committee — which, I think, will be found in the direction I have made —will be sanctioned by the union generally. The Treatment of Referees. In connection with the placing of additional power in the hands of referees, I may mention it is very probable increased means of protection will be given so as to save officials from the ebulitions of short-tempered and low-mannered footballists. The referee will most likely be authorised to report to the Rugby Union any instance of misconduct shown towards him by the players iv any match in which he may be engaged, and of course it will rest with the union to inflict such punishment upon the offending players as they may think fit. The "Kidnapping" of Players. I also understand that the sub-committee will suggest the addition to the Rugby Union rules of the resolution passed at the instigation of tho RiV. F. Marshall at the first meeting of the new Yorkshire Rugby Union some months ago with respect to the prevention of "importing" or " kidnapping " of players. It will be remembered that this resolution provides that the county committee may, if they think fit, require an explanation from any club or player ag to removals or suspicious kidnappings at their own initiative— that is, that if the committee see vrhab they consider a doubtful case, they may, without being called upon by any outside club to do so, require an explanation from the parties concerned.