THE RUGBY TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 300, 7 September 1918, Page 9

THE RUGBY TROUBLE

RULES FOR THE AUCKLAND MATCH

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE UNIONS •

Together with the official statement (published yeeterday) sent by the Wellington ilugby Union to the New Zealand Union in reference to tho playing of modified rulea in the Auckland-Wel-lington match was the following correspondence :— From Auckland Rugby Football Union to Wellington Onion.—Be home and home matches. My committee are in accord with your committee re above, and noto with pleasure the kind offer made to play the first match in Auckland. lam instructed to suggest August 10 as the date for. _ the match in Auckland. My committee has but one request to make relative to the game. As'you are no doubt aware, the game in Auckland is being played under our amended rules, which have fouud universal favour here, and my committee would esteem it an act of courtesy on your committee's part if tho. game were played under these rules. When our team visits Welliugton it will be prepared to play as your committee wish. I think it is admitted in every part of the Dominion that tho A.R.F.tJ. is up against the stift'est proposition in the League- that any body could be .up against. The amended rules are attracting back to Rugby many who hayo for some time attended League matches, for the reason : that Rugby under the amended rules is now in their opinion a far superior game to the other. My oommittee feel that a v game played under these amended .rules between two teams such as Wellington and Auckland would do more to strengthen Rugby in Auckland than any other scheme which we could suggest. The Te Auto College-Grammar School 'match played here recently was played under these rules, and Mr. Wills, manager of the Te Aute team, expressed himself as well pleased 1 with them. And so my committee hope for the sake of tho undoubted assistance which_ it would be to our union that your union will meet us in this matter. To-mor-row Grammar A meets King's College, and with the weather as it lias been for three days now, just perfect, we anticipate a record attendance. Thanks for your kind wishes, which my committeo reciprocate—Faithfully yours, (Sgd.) P. M'ELWAIN, . .., Hon. Sec.

July 5, 1918. From Wellington Rugby Union to Auckland.—With reference to my letter of August 21, I am directed to inform you that at last night's meeting of my oxecutivo tho following motion passed .on August 20 was unanimously rescinded:—"That a letter dated August 20, from tho N.Z.R.F.U., stating that all inter-union matches must be played under the Riigby Football Union rulos, as provided by Riile 2 of the N.Z.R.F.U., be received." In connection with tho return match with Auckland, to be played at Wellington on September 7, my executive has instructed me to make application for permission to play the match under the following amended rules, as an experiment :—(1) Abolition of wing-for-ward; (2) absolute free kicks; (3) referee to put ball into scrummage; (4) advantage rule to apply to line-out; (5) knock-on rule modified. Those rules are Wre fully set out on page 43 of the Auckland Rugby Union's handbook, and i it is. desired to give them a trial, with tho exception of tho ono lelating to "finding the lino." After further considering the matter, it is regretted that permission was not applied,for. prior to passing a motion at our meeting on August 20 to play under these rules (without reference to the N.Z.R.F/U.) It is hoped the necessary permission will now be granted, subject, of course, to tho understanding that no case-oii-appeal can arise out of tho amended rules-. I (Sgd.) ■ T. H. JONES, Secretary. ORIENTAL SUPPORTS NEW ZEALAND UNION: An informal meeting of members of tho Oriental Football Club was held at Mr. Ned Perry's shop in Manners Street on Thursday, to decido what action should be taken in regard to the decision of tho Management Committee,, of the Wellington Ilugby Union to play tho Auckland-Wellington match next Saturday under amended rules. Mr. G. S. Hill presided. '

The meeting was unanimous in supporting the attitude taken up by the New Zealand Union, and severely criticised the Management Committee of tho Wellington Union for attempting to flout the authority of tho controlling body.

On the motion of Mr. V. Jones, seconded by Mr. J. Brown, tho following resolution was carried without dissent: "That this informal meeting of members of the Oriental Football Club supports the decision of the New Zealand Rugby Union, -and asks its member's not to play under the amended rules, a 6 the Management Committee of tho Wellington Rugby Union requests them to do.",

It was also decided that a. general meeting of the club should be held next Wednesday night to consider the posi' tion . further, and to discuss various matters connected with the administration of foolball in ■Wellington, including the question .of representation on the Management Committoe of tho Wellington Rugby Union.

At a committee meeting of the Oriental Club the following resolution was passed: "That this committee nrotest againet thn action- of the Wollington Rugby Union in playing the match against Auckland under the amended rules."

BIG MATCH TO-DAY. AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. Rugby enthusiasts are looking forward to some high-grade football today, when the Wellington and Auckland representatives aro to meet on Athletic Park. The match. has beon given a special interest as a result of the conflict between the New Zealand and Wellington control concerning the rules under which tho match should be played. Things have beon smoothed out satisfactorily, and a game of true Itugby is being looked for. A further attraction will be the cur-tain-raisers, which consist of the final games in tho ladies' inter-provincial hockey tournament. Tho big Itugby game will commence at 3.15 p.m. AUCKLAND GRAMMAR BEAT HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL. ' By Teleeraph.—Press Association, Hamilton, September 6. At Rugby football the Auckland Grammar School touring representatives beab Hamilton High School by 11 points to nil.