RUGBY PROFESSIONALS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 6, 2 October 1907, Page 5

RUGBY PROFESSIONALS.

ARRIYAI, OF Tfifi TEASL OPENING MATCHES. By Telegraph.—Association.—Copyright. - London, September 30. . The New Zealand professional football team has arrived. A COMPARISON OP BULBS. The New Zealanders, according to their original programme, will open proceedings on October 9, with a match against Bramley. The programme, as drawn up in tho first instance, gives the following as the eucceeding half-dozen games on the list.— Sat'day, Oct. 12, v. Huddersfield Wednesday, Oct. IG, v. Widucs, Sat., Oct. 19, v. Broughtcn R'g'rs Wed., Oct. 23, v. Wakefield Tr'ty Saturday, October 26, v. Leeds Wed., Oct. 30, v. St. Helen's A 'SPECTATORS' 'GAMfc. , A good deal of uncertaiu-cy appear* ' to exist as to the difference 'jotweentha rules of tbe Northern Union clubs and the New Zealand Rugby Code. Tho aim of the Northern , tynion officials all along lias been •to improve tbe gaino I'iqm tho specta'toiß' point of view by doinj; away with tight wori and-mak-ing tHo game fast and open. Mr. J. H. Smith, one-of the Northern.officials and a ■ studentof both styles of play, analyses the differences as follows Despite the several changes made, the dissimilarity in the style of play produced by tbe amateur and professional code, respectively, is not nearly so great as. to present any serious diln-culty-in respect to assimilation, and one can only assume that.many statements on this subject are made, without duo. consideration. Let us bricfiy examino the question in detail. The qjyef points of difference may be put down qs.under:— (a) The "half-back" rule. (b) The method of bringing the ball into play from "touch." (cj Tho reduction in the number of players. .. s I have purposely omitted from this list tho clause which' permits play to proceed in certain circumstances after nn accidental knockon or throw forward, because the ingenuity of players in abusing this concession towards continuity of movement has been so marked that it is almost certain. that tho rule will be repealed, and for the purposes of this discussion it may, therefore, be left cut of our calculations. Passing on to the three outstanding features enumerated above, tbe ."halfback" rule doej not affect method to an extent which requires, aiy great effort on tho part of the player uew to the Northern Union gaino to become accustomed to its observance. What is the difference? that an English or New Zealand Union player may advance round the pack so long as ho does not obstruct by standing on his opponents' side of the ball, but a Northern Union player is compelled; to remain behind tho last row of forwards, that' is, behind tbe scrummage altogether. All that is called for on the part of a new player, therefore, is restriction of too impetuous action until the ball conies out of . the pack, and that this is forthcoming after very .little experience has been amply demonstrated in tho case of Welsh and other players who liavo turned professionals. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES. With regard to the method of bringing the ball. into play from "touch," I freplv admit that this affects fundamental principles; more, however, because of the altered conditions caused thereby than because of the method itself, for, in this respect, there is nothing new to learn. In the English and New .Zealand Union system there is a choice of two courses: (a) to throw tho ball' out so as to alight at right angles to the "touch-line," or (b} to scrummage at any point between 'firs and fifteen yards from the place where the ball entered "touch." In . tho Northern Union game no option is given, but the scrummage is proceeded with forthwith. The clause which provides for tho ball being taken back when kicked directly out of. play is, however, the feature-of the professional code which will probably bother an exRugby Union exponent more than any other point he has to learn, but even in this case the consequent. alteration in tactics is capable of speedy incorporation. Referring to" the reduced side, here again a fundamental principle is admittedly affected, but beyond making tho game faster and affording greater opportunity for . individualism, .reducing tho number of players Creoles ne situation to which the Rugby Union player is unaccustomed. It is 'not an uncommon occurrence for a side of fifteen to have a couple of players off the field through injury; indeed, it is remarkable how often players leave the field without being missed by spectators, and T believe that if - a Rugby Union enthusiast, who was unaware of tho legislation which has taken place, were to visit a Northern Union ground when a match was ill progress he would as likely as not fail to observe that there wa>s a diminution in"the number of players engaged. However, bo that as it may, the reduced side would certainly not prevent a Colonial team from displaying its capacity. : OTHER POINTS. There arc, of course, one or two other trifling details in the .-respective codes of rules where perfoct unanimity does not exist, but none of these can fairly bo said to affect'tho style qf. play in any degree whatever. The Northern Union version of the "play the ball" rule, for example, only varies from tho original in so far as a player is not expected or permitted to put the ball down until he lias regained, his feet. The Northern Union, allow a goal to count even though the ball may have been touched in transit, while such an incident in the other game would negative the score. The amateurs itlso permit charging in the caso of free-kicks, I but the professionals do not. Then, again amateur rules allow ten yards protection (from players who aro "oifside") to tho man waiting for tho ball, whi|e tho professional code only allows five yards grace; but this and the other trivial points of difference just enumerated would not nndnly tax tho in- s telligeoce of anybody desirous of grasping their moaning, nor are they calculated to cause confusion in actual practice, and I haye only referred to them at.all so as to be quite fair.

After considering the question in all its bearings I contend that the want of uniformity in the two codes is insufficient to place any serious obstacle in the way of capable Rugby Union exponents Riving. of their best, and Northern Union officials have no misgivings on that account.