NEW SCRUMMAGE RULE IS MADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19117, 9 July 1930, Page 15

NEW SCRUMMAGE RULE IS MADE.

WHEN FEET MAY BE LIFTED IN SCRUMS. • 1 of feet before the ball is ' fairly in the asnun will be debarred in Canterbury football after next Saturday. This decision was 3nade by the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. The secretary of the Canterbury referees’ Association wrote stating that the association had decided to siibmit for the union’s consideration the fol- i lowing resolution: “That the section ot Law 15 reading. ‘ A player who nvvves < either foot beyond the front line of his forwards before the ball is fairly m a : scrummage shall be treated as wilfully preventing the ball being put in, should in future be interpreted to mean that a player may not lift his foot be- 1 fore the ball is fairly in the scrummage." It was pointed out that the present practice of permitting the lifting of the feet of the hookers was due ■to a decision of the London Society of Referees, and not to any instruction of the English Rugby Union or of the International Board. Mr W. B. Fuller said that the English ruling stated that a player should not lift a foot. A clause had come into the referees’ handbook that a man could lift his foot but not advance it. Mr V. L. Jensen: The present rule makes for a lot of trouble in the scrums. The chairman (Mr A. E. M’Phail): That is so, but when half-way through the year it is not advisable to change the interpretation. “ I am certain that, if we can get this interpretation in Christchurch, the rest of New Zealand will follow,” stated Mr Fuller. Mr S. F. Wilson: In New Zealand we take it for granted that we can do a thing if there is no rule against it. We must take the rule in the spirit in which it was drawn up. Mr Fuller said that when he and others were playing, hooking was far cleaner. Mr Wilson: Lifting of feet is responsible for bad scrums, which are screwed. Mr A. E. Flower: It would be a clever player who could lift his foot and not advance it. The motion adapting the interpretation, which will oome into force after next Saturday, was carried. B®fflS®@E®®®®®®@®®®®®!±