ACTION URGED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20650, 26 June 1935, Page 11

ACTION URGED.

Rugby Football Game “ Deteriorating.” COMMITTEE DISCUSSES POSITION The old question of the effect of the international rules on Rugby football, as pla>'ed in New Zealand, was the subject of a discussion at a meeting of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Union last evening. One member urged that the union should consider stepping out on its own account to brighten up the game, and the general opinion seemed to be in favour of some action being taken. No motion was put to the meeting. The subject was raised b}' Mr W. Britten, following whom Mr J. K. Moloney urged that all unions in New Zealand should be circularised regarding the spoiling of the game through the continuance of the international rules. It had to be realised that the game would not progress unless there were a reversion to the two-fronted scrum and the amended kick-into-touch rule. “The New Zealand Union should be strong enough to control the game in its own country,” stated Mr R. W. Britton. “New South Wales is playing the amended rules, and nothing has been said about it.” “Time Inopportune.” Mr A. E, McPhail declared that the time was inopportune for raising the question, as the New Zealand delegates to the Imperial Rugby Conference, the expenses of which were met by the English Union, were already on the water. The game had deteriorated since the old rules had been in force, said Mr W. Britten. The general opinion among the public was that the football was not worth watching this season. Unless the play were improved within the next few weeks he foresaw a substantial decrease in the attendance at Lancaster Park.

That the amended kick-into-touch rule had spoilt forward play from 1924 till 1929, was the opinion of Mr J. T. Burrows. The scrum with two men in

the front row would never come back. In twenty years time followers of the game would be talking about football as it was played in 1935. “I am sure they will,” declared Mr Moloney, amid laughter. Any change in rules was a good thing if it caused the players, coaches and referees to think the thing out more, said Mr A. I. Cottrell. Otherwise the play became too stereotyped, and at present there was very little originality and initiative being shown on the field. In the sport of surfing the rules were changed now and again to increase the interest. Poor Five-Eighths Play. Mr Moloney stated that the men on the side of the present scrum were winging forwards, against the breaking* away of whom five-eighths play could not develop. The game was now much worse, and had a tendency to greater roughness. The president (Dr W. S. Seed) : Every country except New Zealand plays the old scrum, and teams visiting this country turn on sparkling football. Half of the teams in Christchurch are afraid to open up the game. Other comments were that the evenness of teams had much to do with the providing of good competition games, that the public had been somewhat spoilt through the Ranfurly Shield games and the reaction was setting in, and that the Otago argument against reverting to the amended rules was that the latter would allow the University team, who generally played the best football, to have a still greater advantage and so cause more unevenness in the competition.