SCRUMMAGE RULES

Chronicle (Levin), 28 March 1946, Page 7

SCRUMMAGE RULES

ambndments outlined. Ainencli'd si'mmmaguig rules as flxed by the English Rugby Union were out lincd by Mr. A. E. Neilson (secretary) at the annuai meeting- of the Wellington Rugby Union. ' ' The ne'u- law yrovided that:' ''The far foot of the middle hooker of each front row and the feet of the front-row nian farthest away from- the side in whieli the ball is being put in niay be raised as soon as the ball has left the half-back's liands. No other foot may be raised or advanced uiitil the ball has been touehed by one of those feet." klr. Neilson explained another serunimaging rule which ,he said, did away ■\vith the tSjjriugboks ' method of getting the ball from the sernm. Tlio ball in coming from the scrum had to pass tii rough the middle row and out the back. If it was liooked tliroug'h the side, like the Springbok's did, the ball had to be put in again, The interpretation of the first aiuend meiit was that the fc'ct of the frontrow man nearest the half-back could not be raised to a-ssist in hooking tlie' bali until tlie middle hooker liad touclied the ball. ' Oommenting on the new rules, Mr. 'J. R. Lamason (W.CO.B.) haid lie had experienced a season 's Rugby ' Under the new rule in the Middle East. He did not think it was any improvcment. "We had the spectacle' Of eight q? nine scrums going (lown for one',srruru .im an endeavour k\}p- hook ' the • ball cle:uily, " continued Mr. Lamasd'n. "As ! tlie ball goes to the middle hookers it ! oftcn conn s stra'ght ou't again, as tlio side hooker is not allowed to assist.' ! until ihe middle hooker has touclied the ball. 1 hope sometliing can be done I about this, as it is one of the greatost ; j'ailltigs of our Rugby — the ball is so ' oflen kicked out again before it is cori rectly liooked." ' ' | Mr. .J. N. iMillard,' chainudu of the j management commiftee, said t'hat the | New Zealand I'nion sliouhl take strong exception to the Mngiish Union altering ■ a ruling without first consulting kindred uuioms. He would have moved a ; n otion to that ell'ect, but understood that tlie New Zealand council had already decided to protest.