NEW ZEALAND RUGBY RULES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 246, 10 July 1908, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY RULES.

Sir—l am sure, Mr. Editor, I am speaking on behalf of a largo number who havo a keen appreciation of our game of. football when I say it is high' time our out-of-date rules wero ''altered. I had the pleasure of witnessing the game'played here under Northern Union rules, and it was_ admitted by everybody with whom 1 came in contact that it was a far prettier.'and much less rough game than oursI—thorefore,1 —thorefore, I hopo this letter will but be the forerunner of others in an attempt to rouso our Amateur Rugby TJnion to adopt Northern Union rules in : their game. They aro all well thbught out ; with a view to making tho iiame open and tend to stop rough play, with tho consequent disabling of players. Wo are all of us, I believe, in New Zealand, fond of the passing game, and Nortliorn Union rules aro all in favour of this. »'Linekicking, first of all, should bo abolished; and secondly, any player falling with tho ball in possession should be allowed to rise and kick—these two rules would bo tho most important of all. I hopo other and abler pens than mine will take this discussion up, and I should bo pleased to hear tho other side, if thero is any.. The fact of having to follow rules which professionalism has formulated should not stop us using our comi mon sonso and adopting whatever stylo is tho best game for players and spectators alike. Hoping you will find room for this in your columns, which I beliovo aro at all times open to discussions on sport.—l am, etc., . SPECTATOR. ' July 1.