RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6, 13 October 1917, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

AT the conference of Rugby Union delegates, held in Wellington, on Friday last, the most important business of the- meeting as affecting llugby Union football was undoubtedly the remit brought forward by the Canterbury Union, with regard to the rules of professionalism. This remit aimed at power for the N.Z.R.F.U. to formulate rules re professionalism, more in

keeping with present day requirements "than those formed twenty years ago. Mr Evans, representing Canterbury, put forward very powerful arguments in support ot the remit, and, although strong oPP°ftion was shown by some of the delegates present, the remit was camecl by 16 to 9. Several minor amendments to the laws of the game were also carried, including the strict application of the advantage rule to the line out, and the knock on. lhis latter now allows a player who mistakes a ball to recover it, providing he does so before it reaches the ground. The abolition "of the wing Forward was defeated on the casting vote of the chairman. J.he chairman ruled the Auckland Rugby Union's remits out of order, such not having been in the -hancbof the secretary in accordance with the rules, this ruling brought a motion ftrom Otago, seconded by Canterbury and carried unanimously, that the" A.R.U. remits should be submitted to all affiliated unions for their opinions. In the event of a majority'of unions supporting any or all of these remits,-such -woiild be considered as having been canned at the meeting and forwarded to the English R.U,

The j'xperiinent of the strict application' of the advantage rule to the line-out, was again tried on Saturday last in the Auckland! v. Wellington match, and again proved conclusively that the A.R.U. are on the right track to improve the game. The general opinion of those who witnessed the game, that it was a splendid exhibition of football, fast and interesting from start to finish, without the endless whistle and scrum work so much in evidence in the past.

With one or two more amendments which the A.R.U. are fighting hard to introduce, and a few more referees like Mr Wetherhilt, who excels in the application of the advantage rule, the Rugby game cannot fail to again captivate the public.

Mr ]? McElwain, lion. sec. A.R.U., who went to Wellington to represent Auckland at the meeting of delegates, returned on Sunday morning, and reports that things in the Rugby Union world, throughout the Dominion are in a very satisfactory position. Two Rugby Union championships have been won this season by teams

making their first appearance in grade competition. ..Railway won the senior and Normal Old Boys the third grade. Prior to the meeting of the Rugby Union delegates in Wellington last Friday, Messrs Dixon and McEvedy, Auckland delegates to the N.Z.R.U. forwarded their resignations to the A.R.U. owing to their inability to see eye to eye with the A.R.U. on some of the matters to be discussed. This, of course, was to be much regretted, but under the circumstances was the only coiurse they could' pursue.