RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2307, 6 March 1930, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PEACE CUP RULES. CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS. Requested during the 1929 football season the Auckland Rugby Union has agreed to convene a meeting to consider amendments to the Peace Cup rules, and a conference of representatives of all interested sub-unions will be t held at Hamilton to-morrow (Friday) evening, when the chairman of the A.R.U., Mr Frost, will preside/ After the aforementioned fhecting the Waikato Union will hold a preparatory meeting in connection with the coming season. The Cambridge sub-union will be represented at these meetings by the president (Mr T. ,S- Cray), who will be accompanied by the "secretary (Mr V. G. Boulton). It will be remembered that during last season some discussion arose over unions being privileged to enter a challenge for the trophy up to July 31st, and the possibility of an early defeated challangor immediately putting in another challenge and thus having priority for the next *scason. Objection was also taken to t-lie fact that last season some sub-union challengers were called upon to play elimination, games, while others had direct challenges. Existing Rules. In the existing rules for the trophy, the most important, and those that may be amended are as follows: — 3. —All unions have the right to challenge (such challenges to be lodged before the 31st July in each year). 4. —Should more challenges be received than there are available dates to play, the challenging unions contiguous to each other shall play matches amongst themselves to decide which unions shall play the holders. In the case of a dispute the Auckland Rugby Union bo asked to. settle the matter, in dispute. Suggested Amendments. Late last season the Thames Union circularised the several sub-unions submitting suggested amended rules, and the amendments to the above existing , rules are as follows:3. —All unions shall have the right to lodge ONE challenge in each season, and no challenge shall be lodged with the holders prior to March 1 or after April 30 in each year, and not less than five challenges shall be played in one season unless the number of challenges falls below this number. 4. —-Should more challenges be received than there are available days for play, challenging unions contiguous to each other shall play matches amongst themselves to decide .which unions shall play the holders. The holder at the commencement of the season shall decide which unions shall play off, taking the last challenges in and working in pairs backwards; but any successful challenger may decide to play out all challenges. 6.—ln a play off between two unions the visiting union shall be entitled to travelling expenses out of the gate, and after the expenses of the game have been paid the balance should be divided on a 50-50 basis between the uniona. The ground for any play off to be mutually agreed upon.

All the other rules are as existing.

When the Thames Union’s suggestions came before the Cambridge Union last season they met with general ajpjjroval with the exception of the clause in suggested Rule 4. —That the holder at the commencement of the season shall decide which unions shall play off, taking the last challenges in and working in pairs backwards, etc. The local union unanimously carried the following suggested amendment to the rules: “That the rules governing the Peace Cup be altered so that no challenges be entered until after the annual meetings of sub-unions of the year. That all challenges must be lodged before the end of April of each year, and that in the event of there being more challenges than there arc dates available all challenges be subject to elimination games to be arranged by ballot, if necessary.” A copy of this resolution was forwarded to the Waikato Union and to all sub-unions. Coining Local Season. The time is not far distant when the playing fields will resound to the “barrack” of keen Rugby supporters. District footballers are beginning to display a keener desire to discuss the grand old game, though up to the present no official organising steps have been taken. With the union’s annual meeting dated for Wednesday, March 26th, it is time that the club were thinking of holding their annual meetings. It will be remembered that the Waikato Union urged all sub-unions to make an earlier start this coming season and in turn the local sub-union impressed upon clubs to hold their meetings about a fortnight before the union meeting. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that it is time clubs were getting a move on.