CONTROL OF RUGBY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1932, Page 7

CONTROL OF RUGBY

NEW ZEALAND REFEREES MEET. ATTITUDE TO THE NEW RULES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Tjmaru, Last Night. The annual conference of the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association opened at Timaru to-day. Twenty associations were represented. Mr. D. McKenzie (■Wellington) presided. A long discussion took place regarding the scrummage rule, and it was decided “That it be a recommendation to' the New Zealand Rugby Union that if the ball is fairly in the scrum it may be hooked by the fourth foot and is then in play.” Regarding the sounding of no-side it was decided to carry on as previously, excepting the provisions of sub-clause E, Law 10. It was also decided to ask the New Zealand Rugby Union for a definite ruling as to whether.the referee must not allow any player to leave the playing enclosure at half time. The definite ruling of the New. Zealand Union is also to be asked on the replacement of injured players. In the course of his address the chairman, referring to the scrummage rule, said it was his opinion that tiie alteration of the rule was not meant to compel New Zealand to fall , into line with tho rest of the Rugby playing countries. He held the view that the practice iu New Zealand did not present itself tj those advocating the change; all they were concerned about was the curing of a definite evil that had crept into the game in the British Isles.