RUGBY FOOTBALL LAWS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1931, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL LAWS

INTERNATIONAL RULINGS.

NEW SOUTH WALES INTO LINE.

Sydney, May 28.

So divergent were the opinions expressed in regard to the Rugby rules that should be enforced in New South Wales that it came as a distinct surprise to most people when the union decided in favour of the international laws recently reverted to by New Zealand by an overwhelming majority. As a further step toward unifying the game in Australia. it was decided to call a conference of the three States in which the union code is played —New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. In Victoria and Queensland the union is having an uphill fight, but with the assistance of New South Wales may yet be able to win a fair share of public favour. Mr. R. O. Martin, in proposing that the international rules should be brought into operation forthwith, said that the Rugby Union game had world-wide popularity and he asked could, it have spread to such an extent if its rules were not good? The first point they had to consider was that the request to revert to the international laws came from a body with which they had always been proud to be affiliated. Mas New South Wales prepared to forgo the advantages of that affiliation ? International tours had kept the union going during the last ten years. A neat point in favour of the international laws was made by the vicepresident of the union, Mr. J. Darvall Hunt. He said that England and Ireland were not supposed to be able to a"ree on any subject, but it was significant that they were not at variance in regard to Rugby rules. There must, therefore, be something in the rules under which both countries played the good old game. Actually, England had said: “Adopt our rules as a stepping-stone to Imperial federation.” Referring to the first bylaw of the New South Wales Union Mr. Hunt said it was definite enough. 11 read: “The union affiliates with and adopts the laws of the game as adopted by the Rugby Football Union.” Other spakers pointed out that if the motion were defeated it would mean that Union Rugby would not be played in New South Wales, but some brand of New South Wales Rugby. They thought too much of the old game to believe that it would go under because the correct rules were observed.

Then it was stated on behalf of the great public schools who were playing Rugby that the general belief was that the game had suffered because Australia had taken advantage of the “dispensations” allowed by the parent body. It was ridiculous to say the game would be slower if the old rules were reverted to. The union game had never been slow when played by fast teams and when it ceased to be spectacular it was because the teams had not been thoroughly trained,. or . were not' entering into the spirit of the sport. .. It was recalled that in the boom days of Rugby in Australia the old rules were in force. This statement seemed to silence the opposition and the motion was carried. The decision was enforced yesterday ’when the New Zealand University team played the Sydney University.