RULES OF RUGBY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 84, 18 March 1931, Page 4

RULES OF RUGBY

SERIOUS FAULTS FOIfND IN MODERN SYSTEM CRITICS PERTURBED For some time past Rugby administrators throughout the world have been alive to the fact that it is urgently necessary for the good of the game to return to legitimate rules. Modern scrummages more resemble a bear light than a game, and the trouble has been caused by an instruction from the International Board that the ball must be placed in the scrum, a ruling which is not to be found ill the rule book. An article by Percy Rudd in a recent issue of the London “NewsChronicle” entitled “What’s Wrong with Rugby Football?” has aroused lively interest in England, and has drawn opinions from famous figures in the Rugby game. Wakefield’s Views "Rugby football is not under a cloud and there is really nothing wrong with the game,” was the view expressed by W. W. Wakefield, who has played 31 times for England and . was captain of the English team In the famous match against the All Blacks at Twickenham on January 3, 1925. “If we have had some dull internationals recently, our club matches are all right. I’ve refereed many this season, and generally things have gone as smoothly as a marriage bell. “A lot of nonsense is being talked and written just now about the wingforward being a menace to the game. He’s nothing of the sort. “The whole trouble in those dull and dreary internationals has been, in my opinion, due to the instruction of the International Board that the ball should be ‘placed’ in the scrum and not thrown in, (This is au instruction only and is not in the rule book.) Redrafting Needed “Putting the ball into the scrum slowly inevitably leads to slow heeling, with the result that, when the ball does come out, the scrum half is smothered before he can get it away. “That is what happened in the last two international matches at Twickenham, and people have been blaming the wing-forwards in consequence. “1 agree with Mr. Rudd that the rule which governs hooking needs redrafting. It is a mathematical impossibility to say when the ball has passed both feet of the outside men. The ball is really fairly iigjffie scran* as soon as it is in the tunnel. “As a referee, the chief thing I concern myself about is to see that the middle man of the front row on either side does not cross his feet with those of his opposite player be-, fore the ball is in, “If the ball is thrown in hard and the outside man follows it in with his foot, the result is a quick heel and then no wing-forward or scrumhalf on earth can prevent the ball being got away to the backs. Task of Few Minutes “If I were refereeing an interna l tioual match 1 should stand by the rule book and advise the scrum-half to throw the ball into the scrum as hard as he could. “This question of how to get the ball into the scrum is best determined by forwards and scrum halvep. When three-quarters start fiddling with it they only make things worse., I could draft a rule in a few minutes which 1 would guarantee to work satisfactorily. _ “1 am definitely against any alteration of the law which would restrict the opportunities of the wing forwards. If you made them keep on their own side of the scrum until the ball is out you would be encouraging .slow and slovenly heeling, i and surely we don’t want to do that.’ Eternal Scrum Trouble “I heartily agree with Mr. Rudd that the laws are at fault, and a considerable improvement could be made by forbidding the middle men of the front row in the scrum from using his near foot,” was the opinion expressed by R. Cove-Smith, who has made 29 appearances for England. “As I first played the game ,we always used the far foot, and were consequently better able to ‘hook,’ in* stead of merely jabbing at the ball with the near toot, as is done so frequently nowadays. “It seems to me that the day of the wing-forward is over, and that the obstructionist now reigns supreme. “There is too much dependence on the idea that a wing-forward is there to ‘look after’ his own scrum half. The only way he can do this is by obstruction. “Our aim shdhld be concentrated on constructive tactics and enterprising play; not upon illegal and dismal methods of defence.” . „