RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1932, Page 9

RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND

COMMISSION NOT FAVOURED

ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES CHANGE IN SCRUM FORMATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, April 14. “The alterations to the laws of the rrame, particularly to rule 15, which deals with the scrummage, have given the management committee considerable thought during the past year, and the committee submits for consideration of the delegates whether the time is not opportune to forsake the traditional 2 g 2 scrummage formation with a wing-forward and adopt the three-man front row scrum and abolish the wingforward from our game. New Zealand is the only Rugby-playing country in the world which plays a recognised wing-forward, and it is felt for the sake of uniformity that we should take the step.” In the above words the president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. S. 9. Dean, referred to what has become one of the most controversial matters in the <*ame this season, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of delegates to-day. “By doing so our mana will be greatly increased overseas,” continued Mr. Dean. ‘‘There is no doubt that our wing-forward is a spoiler of back play and°the deterioration in our back play is in no small measure due to the attention paid to opposing inside backs by the person occupying this position on the field of play. I am sure that in bringing the recommendation forward for consideration the management committee is actuated only by thoughts for the welfare of the game.” VOICE IN CONTROL OF GAME.

Mr. Dean said it was felt by them all that the time had surely arrived when New Zealand, South Africa and Australia should have a vote on the body that would be supreme in the control and destinies of the game. Although the claims of the overseas unions had been pressed for a number of years, the best offer from the International Board was a proposed Rugby commission. He was of opinion that New Zealand' should, with the other overseas Dominions, press its claims for a seat on the regular and properly constituted body which would be paramount in the control of Rugby football. It was for the meeting to decide whether or not New Zealand should refuse or accept the commission. Should it be accepted they must withdraw their affiliation to the Rugby Football Union, and it might be that they were graspitfo- the shadow and losing the substance. ' The Rugby Football Union, Mr. Dean was sure, had done and was doing its utmost to see fair treatment meted out to the Dominions’ unions, and until such time as a body was set up that would satisfy the Dominions it might be better to retain the affiliation with England. . A reference to overseas tours which had been suggested in the near future was made by Mr. Dean. As the result of a talk the committee had with .Mr. Tandy, manager of the South African cricketers, who is a member of the South African Board, it was hoped that South Africa would reconsider the invitation to tour New Zealand and Australia in 1934 or 1935. An invitation had been received from the International Board for a New Zealand team io visit Great Britain in the 1936 season, and this had been accepted, and during that tour matches would be played against England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. With regard to the wish recently expressed by Japan through the Canadian Union for a New Zealand team to tour Japan, it was for delegates to say whether they should instruct the incoming committee to enter ' into negotiations for such a tour. AFFILIATION WITH ENGLAND. The acceptance of affiliation with the commission was not favoured by the delegates. While reaffirming willingness ’of the union to conform to the rules of the game as laid down, by the International Board the meeting decided that, until such time as the overseas Dominions were given a seat on the supreme controlling body the union should continue its affiliation with the Rugby Football Union. It was decided that steps should be taken with a view to the New Zealand Union being consulted before alterations in laws of the game were put in force. When Mr. Dean moved to alter the rulqs to provide for the union becoming a member of the commission, Mr. Wilson (Canterbury) asked if the commission was in existence. Mr. Dean: “No.” Mr. Wilsou: “Can you tell me whether it is legal, logical or sensible to affiliate with a body that does not exist?” Mr. Dean .replied that if the New Zealand Union decided to become a member the commission would come into existence at once. After the consideration of a large amount of correspondence in committee Mr. Dean withdrew the motion of the management committee in favour of an amendment by Mr. Harris (Otago) to two Canterbury resolutions, the amendment being the decision stated above. Canterbury withdrew its resolutions. HARD GAMES TO OPEN TOURS. Criticism of the practice of arranging the itinerary of tours,by New Zealand teams in Australia so as to make a match against New South Wales at Sydney the opening engagement was made by Mr. N. McKenzie (Hawke’s Bay). An easier game should be arranged for the commencement of a tour. “The great difficulty with Australian tours in the past,” said Mr. Dean, “has been the question of finance. Now that their financial position is better I think they should review the position.” It was decided to leave the matter to the incoming management committee, which would endeavour to secure a more satisfactory arrangement. The limitation of the broadcasting of matches to international and inter-pro-vincial games was decided upon after a brief discussion.

It was decided that injured players could be replaced if both captains agreed and that teams must not leave the field at without the permission of the referee.

The Ne\v Zealand Referees’ Association was instructed that Rule 34 relating to foul play should be strictly enforced this season.

Unions were recommended that the appointment of referees for inter-pro-vincial matches should be made by the home unions. It was decided to grant £750 for the supply of footballs to primary schools. A recommendation was made to the management committee that this year’s North and South Island match should be played on a date other than June 3.

The election of officers resulted: Patron, the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe; president, Mr. G. H. Pownall; vice-presidents, Messrs. T. J. V. Dunlop

(North Auckland), J. O’Neill (Auck-. land), C. S. Foster (Thames Valley), W. Fraser (Waikato), F. H. Wilkie (Bay of Plenty), J. Patterson (Taranaki), J. Moye (Wanganui), A. H. Richards (Manawhenua), K. S. Williams (East Coast), W. T. Foster (Hawke’s Bay), R. S. Smith (Bush districts) and F. Dennes (Wairarapa), Dr. P. F. McEvedy (Wellington), Messrs. A. A. McNab (Marlborough), E. R. Bluett (Nelson), E. F. Smith (Golden BayMotueka), A. G. Calvin (Buller), F. Eggleston (West Coast), A. E. McPhail "(Canterbury), J. O’Leary (South Canterbury), . S. G. Styche (Otago), W. Baird (Southland), W. Copsey (King Country), W. H. Sarney (Ashburton), and W. Atkinson (North Otago); treasurer, Mr. H. S. Leith; management committee, Messrs. S. S. Dean, A, C. Kitto, T. A. Fletcher, F. Glasgow, J. G. Roache, E. S- Wylton and W. G. Wallace; appeal council, Messrs. F. H. Campbell, J. S- Hutchison and H. F. Simcock (all of Dunedin),