FOOTBALL.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12492, 19 March 1909, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

1 « RUGBY FOOTBALL. ALTERATION OF THE RULES. MEETING OF tJSneW ZEALAND TJNIQIf, ; XUwted PitEse Association.] • .™ , . Wfeffio.gten, March 18. ; The delegates 6-o the council of tlie [ 3 Ne^e»land^ttfvby Union met to-day [for .the pnirpose. o f considering the | proposed alteration to the rules with the object <ot making the game more attractvw). The Chairman, Mr G. F. C Oaitijfljell, said the proposals, if carried, would have a great effect on tttfrtwwhict of Rugby in New. Zeaiai«a,J*nd would mean that it would be possible to break away from the interliatrthnal.bond. Alterations were carried to the folißjnng rules:— . ' ' / : "Law I— "That the game be played an four spells of 20 minutes each with -mv mterva l after the second spell." r e£ c n ° tes referring to the tackle are altered to provide that if a player carrying the ball be brought to the ground, and the ball . -touches the ground, he may nevertheless get up witn it and continue his run., or pass ie, provided it be done immediately. 'In every case when the referee alters a scrummage, he shall put the ball into the said scrummage.'^ The off-side rule relating to scrummages is amended. to read that "a player is ■ placed off-side if he crosses an imagi mary line drawn down through the back of the scrummage on his own side while the ball is' in the scrumnvi'ge:" . . . 'Law 10, -relating to free kicks, is altered to read that "in all cases '-of frde kicks or a kick at goal, the 1 mposjite side shall- not charge such • kick." ' A long discussion took place on the 'Otago Union's motion, "that the constitution of this Union be amended las follows:— "It shall affiliate with the English Rugby Football Union and ! shall adopt laws of football and rules as to professionalism as from time to time fixed by that body, subject aiI ways to such modification as "this j Union may introduce." The motion Was lost 35 to 17. ! Although the weather continues | warm, and summer pastimes are being f rely indulged in, footballers are loking upidieir jerseys, getting their I boots fixed up, and generally preparing for the coming season. - The various clubs have held their "annual meetings, and judging by the number of new members that have been elected, there is every prospect of a succesful season. As is usual at the beginning of every season, a -number of players have signified their intention of giving up the game, but no doubt a number of these when they get the "football feeling" in their veins will again don the jersey and do battle for their respective clubs. One prominent player has definitely decided to become a "banker," and that is W. Smith, the captain of the Nelson Club, who has been Nel--son's leading player for a number of years past. It is to be regretted that Smith has decided to take this step, as he was a fine player and a striking example to the rising generation of Rugby players. Smith has been playing football since 1894, and since he was seventeen years of age has taken part in senior matches. During his carer he has played in 27 representative mat-^ ches. and has captained all the rep teams he has played- with since 1901, which is a record to be proud of. The details of the representative matches he has taken part in are as follows :— Marlbbrough, 1900—1—2—3—4—5— 6—7— B; Golden Bay, 1900—2—3—4 —5—6 ; Wellington, 1900—1^-8 ; ■South Canterbury, 1904 ; Combined Team v. Australia, 1905; Combined Team v. British, 1908 ; Bush Districts 1908. In 1902 he played for the South Island v. North Island, and in 1905 played five-eighths for New Zealand against Australia. The Nelson College Old Boys' Club, which was formed last year, promises to put a strong senior fiften in the field this season. In addition to all the prominent players who took part in the various matches last year are several new men, who should strengthen them very considerably, including McKay, a brother of J. G. Mo^ Kay, of College teaching staff, who is a forward who has played for the Southland Jre£>s, ja.n<l -v-.-Llo la-s-fc sea-son played for the "Wellington Club ; Grigg, a forward who played for the Star Club, Greymouth, winners of the Senior. Cup .last year; K. Allen, a member of last year's College first fifteen; and R. B. Macmahon, who played for the Tui Club last season. The Nelson Club will have the services of several new players this season. Irvine, who represented Buller last season, and was chosen in the "probable" team against the English team, and Miller, and old Wellington College player, have, it is understood, decided to play for this Club. The Rival Football Club is in a very healthy condition, both numerically and financially, the balance sheet presented at the annual meeting showing a credit balance of £12 odd. while twenty-five new members were elected. Senior football should prove interesting this season. In addition to teams from the Nelson, Albion, Rival, Old Boys' and Waimea Club, it is understood that the College^and Riwaka Clubs intend taking part in senior competitions. The annual meeting of the Nelson Rugby Union will probably he held next week, and 'the game will be in ful swing early next month. At the Wales v. England match at Cardiff dGJ.3SO was taken. The record is £2800 for Wales, which was taken in' the New Zealand match at Swansea, whilst the smallest is £750. - D. R. Bedell-Sivright, on the subject of allowances to British Rugby tourists: "In the South African and in the Australian tours which I had the honour of taking part in, the 3s per day which we were allowed was quite an 'invisible' one.- It simply came to the point that we were credited with 3s per day, against which we were charged our drinks for lunch and dinner,- plus our weekly washing. Any excess over, this each member had to pay out of his pooket, whereas, if we did' not spend the amount, we heard no more about it, and 'did not receive the balance.' Now, the New Zealand team had "this allowance, but, in addition, it would appear that they had £1 Is put into their hands per week as recompense, I take it, for the time they lost while touring. It is this last fact, then, that the Scottish Union have objected • to, and very rightly." -■ - Referring to the question of professionalism, as voiced by the Scottish Rugby Union, Dr Moran,- captain of the Wallabies, said that 3s a day as pin-money allowance had been, made not only to the New Zealanders when they toured Great Britain, but to the members of Mr Bedell-Siv-right's combination -that visited Australia as well. From this amount of 3s a day players had to pay their own washing, and, besides, they were'expected to properly entertain any football friends whom they might meet. '■ Ib was absurd, in his opinion, for the Scottish Union to raise the issue or professionalism on such a text. i Blair- Swannell, who first came to Australia with the- Rev. M. Mullineaux's British team in 1899, and to New Zealand with Bedell-Sivright' s team, has been appointed secretary of the Metropolitan Rugby Union, Sydney. ' .