FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 784, 6 April 1910, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

SELTERATIONS IN : EUGBY LAWS,

SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES.

Details lof the proposed, changes in the laws of Rugby > have now come to hand. It appears that they were to.' come up for confirmation at the March meeting of the International Board. Writing on the''subject,"Mr. Chas;; B. Marriott,; secretary of the Rugby Football Union, says :—"I would add that my-committee regard it as of supreme importance to have-one, code of rules for' the Rugby Vgame throughout tho world, and when making alterations the greatest, care ;has to be exercised to prevent subsequent disagreement." Following ■ are the', changes and _ addi:'\\.y■'•■','■ ':-V .'.'.

'. Law' 2. Definition of "tackle," altered to read: A tackle is when the i bolder- of- the ball .is" held by one or more players of' the 'opposite ' side', no .'that.he cannot pass it. v ' ' Definition •of "held" deleted: ... Law 2.-:, Definition.of "kick-off" altered to read: Kick-off is a place-kick from the centre of the field of play; the opposite side may not stand within -ten-yards of the ball, nor charge■ until the ball be kicked, otherwise another kick-off shall be allowed. If the ball pitch'in .touch, "the opposite sidemay' lave it-kicked off again, or scrummaged at the centre, of I.the field of play. .... Law 2. Definition of "drop-out" altered to read: Drop-out is a drop-kick • front with .25 yards f of .the kicker's goal-line;., within which distance the '; opposite side niay hot charge, : otherwise; another-drop-out shall be allowed. If the ball pitch in touch,, the-opposite, 6ide inay. have it' dropped' out- again, or , scrummaged at the centre of the 25- ' yards line. •■;.■■ ;._Law 3j sub-section (1), to read: When he washes to enforce any penalty. Law 6,; sub-sections, (b) and (c) con--1 Bolidatedinto one sub-section (b): When 1 after, a : player, has-, beeii' tackled he either puts the ball.down,' or when the player holding the ball has been thrown and the ball touches' ground:

.',':.' .LaV 8. Amended to'read (latter portion): An off-side player shall not play the ball nor actively'nor passively obstruct ,an. opponent, nor approach nor -..wilfully remain within 10 yards of any •opponent waiting for. the ball. ;.-'._ Law 12:. Amended'to read: The:ball in touch, when it. or a", player carrying it, touch or, cross the touch-line, it, shall then- belong, to. the side opposite .to that, last touching' it in the field of • play;:i except' when, a ..player carrying : the ball is forced into touch by an opponent. One of the side toVwhom the ball belongs shall bring it into play .at the spot where it went' into jtouch "\ by one of the' following methods:— -. .. Law. : l3.';Add new paragraph,' 1 read-. ' ing: In the case'of kick for:goal.from a mark, penalty, or try,' if in l the opinion ,' of. the -referee the ball, :is illegally , 6topped 7 after the kick-had been; taken, and he is of opinion that a goal would undoubtedly,' have •:been obtained,'- he shall have the' power to award the goal. Law' 19. Substitute, for -last para- , graph of Law 19:—"If when a law is broken or-any. irregularity of playVoc/cnrs not otherwise provided for, and any advantage is-gained therefrom bj the opposite side, the referee shall not blow his whistle, but shall allow the game to proceed; but if ho advantage is gained by such side', and if no other procedure is provided; the ball shall be • taken . back to'.the' place: where the : breach•• of the law or irregularity occurred, and.'a scrummage formed ■■■there."- - !;'• \.-. : ~'..: , ■"-.•.',.'. :■ SUSPENDED; TEAMS READMITTED.: At,the first 1 meeting,of thcSouthland' Rugby Union . it ..was decided to re-admit the Pirates -and Athletic Clubs to senior-ranks this ; season. This will make six clubs for the senior com'petition, and'should.the two clubs men■;,:..tioned put strong teams, in. the field' ; without robbing, the other clubs of pro- '■.' minent players;' their presence will add : considerably to football interest in 1910. .'.. The' executive also decided to make in- '.-'■ quiries: with -'a. view .to instituting a '■- fourth: grade, competition '• for the pur-'. - pose of filling up the'j.gap that now exists' between "school: football and. the third^ 'grade 1 matches, v

..; MANAWATU ■RTJGBY UNION. : .The annual meeting of the.Manawatu RugbyV Union was held at Palmerston last night, the president; Mr.. F. Pirani, in the chair,'and -there -being a.'large' attendance !of.' delegates.' The report showed the past-season had beena most successful, one from every point of 'view, and' the 'balance : sheet. : . disclosed that financially the union was most healthy. The.year had started with a balance-of £3, while it'ended with a cash-balance in the bank of" £58 195.; lid., besides ; other assets.., It was!: decided, to take" • steps .to give the Referees' Association representation on the Management Committee. The 'following officers, "were elected:—Patron, Mr.'-A-."N. ; Gibbons; president, Mr. E. D. Hoben; vice-presi-dents, Messrs; H. F. Gibbons,' J.'Pawson, J. Manning; hon. treasurer, Mr H. Muller; secretary, Mr. W. M'Kenzie;. Management Committee, <, Messrs. Foots, Pirani, Armstrong, Freeman, Pickett, Hankins, and MlWilliam; Accident Insurance Committee, Messrs. Pirani, Stubbs, and Muller; auditors : Messrs.- F. T. Fairbrother- and S. J iWatson. " :

i; WRONG REMOVED: They president of: the Canterbury Rugby Union (Mr. ; George H.-'. Mason) states that a wrong impression might be conveyed by the report of his remarks in connection -with' the representation of New. Zealand at the recent conference in Sydney..' What ho de- : sired to convey was that the Auckland and Otago Unions, which- had complained of being ignored in the delega* • tion, had not any prior right to consideration .so far'as the,, personnel of ..the. delegation .'was concerned. As a matter of fact, the recommendations made, by these 'unions in regard to <al-'.'iterations'-of .the laws of. the game were .rejected by the New ' Zealand Union. He did ,'not, however, think that if the 'delegates had, be^eri'chosen from Auckland and Otago that they would'have been so lacking in loyalty to the New Zealand Union as to have submitted the rejected recommendations to the'' conference. ' ■'■''-.■'

COLONIAL VISIT OF N.U. TEAM.'-.' Colonial arrangements still predominate,; says '"Forward"-. iii the latest "Athletic News,'! with reference to the forthcoming visit of a N".U. team to the colonies. He goes on to point out that cablegrams have been - dispatched : to both the Australian and New Zealand Leagues, notifying.the acceptance of the terms, and confirming the tour, and also, informing the New Zealand League that the Northern Union had: decided to present a trophy for competition between the New Zealand provincial sides. The committee desire to provide the players with opportunities for training prior to the opening game on June 4, and the day of sailing-will be a week earlier, .April 15. Those players engaged in tho Cup and League championship matches will not leavq until these garaos are decided, and the team will go out in two sections. Speculation is, rife, he continues, as to the, men to be_ chosen. None have as yet been.eyen informally.asked, but the selection committee are distributing themselves,' and will each Saturday witness, certain: games with the avowed

object of team selection. For obvious reasons publicity is not desired, but the committee commenced their duties .011° Wednesday, and—well, James Sharrock, the Wigau full-back, convinced all interested that he should bo taken-out as tho number one of the team. Each position is to be duplicated, and ono enthusiastic moniber- of the committee has already two score of players anxious and eager to "catch the selector's eye." A,match bot,veen-tho colonials in England and a Northern Union side would bej interesting. Ono official suggestion is' to play the probablo team for the colonial .tour against the English colonials at Headingley on a suitable midweek date. ■'.'.■'■.'.

■ During the coming week each club in the Union will receive a circular asking for nominations of their players who desire to tako part, in the tour. This, of course, does not necessarily mean that the Selection Committee will-make their final choice from such nominations. A more patriotic feeling is abroad even in quarters recently opposed to the tour. This is a step in the right ■ direction, aiid some have gone so far as to suggest that they make the payments to the players' dependents and'send in their claim to the union at, the conclusion of the tour. If all tho wealthy clubs will adopt this procedure the union will be relieved of many duties, and tbo settlement of all claims by means of one payment will be appreciated .by the officials. . .

The colours, of the team will probably be.red and,white,,for the jersey which finds most.favour is that of Lancashire County— white hoops. Each player will have' in addition the special international badge symbolical of the Northern Union. Blue pants will be Worn, and,the "outfit" will be in striking contract to the sombre "all black" and the "miscellaneous mixture", jersey worn by the "Kangaroos." The team and tour will probably be controlled by two gentlemen well known in official circles, for Mr. J. H. Houghton; the Northern Union president;'- and' Mr. John Clifford, of Huddersfiold, have been invited by tho union to undertake the entire'management of tho tour. Mr. Houghton lias decided to accept. Mr. Clifford will make known his decision later. The two gentlemen will, if precedent be followed in this matter, probably co-o->erate with a player, not necessarily the captain of the side, to assist in the all-important duty of team selection. Mr. Houehton will have in. addition, the secretarial "duties. The "Kanfaroos" loyally I accented the, Northern Union referees, and the visitors to' Australia will need to be content with the referees provided by the New South Wales League. The trainer of the side will, probablv also be provided by the Australian League, for an official'thoroughly with tho. local requirements is necessary., -

PROFITS OF THE "KANGAROOS.'? Says the "Athletic News":—lt-is' understood that, in round figures, the gross. takings .from matches played by the Australian team in 'Australia and the United Kingdom last year amounted\to £13,200 gross, and the expenses to. £4800. Of this sum'the board takes.about £1000 net, and the fifteen players and,the manager divide £7400 between them," the dividend to each being about £460. The expenses charged are steamer and railway fares, travelling expenses, hotel bills,, and general tipping. '' One item of expends ture on which- there. is > some difference of opinion 'is that the* board engaged .Dr. Poidevin to arrange the programme of matches at a fee of one hundred guineas.. The board ' claim that ; this should come out of the general ex-penses,-but the team contend that, as organisers, the,board should pay it. ; NEW CLUB "' (By TcleeraDh.-SDecial CorresoondentJ ' : Wanganul, April-;s; '■'■. At a.meeting ..'.attended .•■'by some thirty players a'nd'others it .was decided last night to form a. new "RugbyVclub at Wanganui Eastj to ' .be' called.. the Eastern Club, which:will-enter a team for the senior cup.; Local footballers are strongly opposed to '■ the new by-law passed'with the .object' of checking rough play, and it is : intended; to call a ■general meeting to rescind the same;