RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 106, 29 January 1919, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PROPOSED ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES ABOLITION OF THE WING FORWARD A special meeting of the council of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union ie to he held to-morrow evening to consider alterations to the rules and to (lie laws of the game. The proposed alterations to r .he rules nre as follow:— , Rule 2.—That the words "as from time to time fixed 'by that body" be deleted nnd the following substituted in lieu thereof: "but may make such modifications as may be deemed desirable in the interests of the game." Kulu 32.—That this rule be deleted and the following substituted: "The decisiou of the Appeal Committee tball Vie final." Rule 37.—Add the following clause: "Pending decision of any appeal, all suspensions shall be inoperntirt." Rule 47.—Delete present rule und substitute the following: "Should any proposed alteration or modificarion be agreed to, it shall be fonvarued to the English Rugby football Union." Rule 48—Delete the words 'Rugby Football Union, England," and insert tne words "New Zealand Kugby Football Union." Alterations to the law.; of the fame ate proposed as follow: — A 1. Abolition of the Wing Forward.-r Free kicks by way of penalties shall be awarded-(a) if any player not in a scrummage advances ueyjnd a line drawn through the back of his own s-crummage parallel with the goa! >ine before tbo ball comes out of sucfl scrummage; and (b) if any player in a scrummage breaks away before the ball comes out of such scrummage. , , 2 Absolute Free Kicks and Kicks at Goal from Penalties and Tries-All such kicks to be absolutely fiee f'roin a charge. \nv plaver to be allowed to place or kick the'ball. The place.- and kicker need not necessarily be the same player. 3 Referee to pat the Ball into. Scrum. -The referee is to put the ball into the scrum on all occasions. 4. Modification of tha Law Governing Kickiiiß into Touch, otherwise than from a "Kick-oft" or "Dr-p-oiif already provided for.-If tke ball drops directly into touch from a kick, except in the case, of a penalty kick, and except he be within his own twenty-five, it shall be bro-ight 'back and a line-out formed from touch at a> point opposite the place where the player was at the time he kicked the ball. . ' 5. \drant?.g6 Rule to apply to Line-out Play.—This in effect will' moan—(l) If a plaver throws the ball out so as not to alight at right angles to the touch-line, or (2) if the ball is "knocked-on" and the opposing side gain the advantage, in either ease, from immediate succeeding play, the game goes on. The following motion also is set down for consideration :-"That Northern Union players who have been on active service, or who have never received monetary payment for playing football, shall be eligible, for reinstatement, but no player over the age of 18 years last birthday who takes part in the Northern Union game subsequent to December 31, 1918, shall be eligible for reinstatement."

WELLINGTON UNION'S ATTITUDE. At a meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Hugby Union last evening notification was received o£ the a'bove-ineutioned special meeting of thu council. In opening the matter for discussion, the chairman, Mi , . G. Howe, stated that it had not been the practice to tie the hands of the delegates to.the New Zealand Union on any matter—they had had a free hand , absolutely. He desired to know whether it was the intention of the meeting to discuss the proposed new rules 'and amendments. Members agreed that they had .not had an opportunity to go fully into the matter, and it was considered that the Wellington delegates on the New Zealand Council should 'be asked to support a resolution postponing discussion en the proposed amendments till the annual meeting of the New; Zealand.Union. During the discussion which followed it. was pointed out that the Auckland Union desired certain of the new rules for the reason that they would stimulate interest ill"-the amateur game and would encourage players lo reaiain with itnateur football. 'In regard to the matter of amending Rule 42 to read: "New Zealand Kngby Football UnbV instead if "the Rugby Football Union m fcngUuid " several members held the opinion, that the New Zealand Union should not break away from the English Union. It was decided to circularise the clubs regarding the proposed alterations to the rules one month before the local union's annual meeting, in order that delegates will be prepared to discuss the matter fully; and it was further decided to ask the delegates to the New Zealand Kugby Union to support a motion to have the discussion on the proposed amendments postponed till the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union.. Mr W W. Cooke was. elected a fifth delegate on the New Zealand Kugby it°"was announced that the union's corrugated iron dressing shed at Miramar has been disposed of by Under for a sum of i 32. . ~ In connection with the death of Uie union's late chairman, Mr. D. 3. AVeir, letters conveying resolutions of sympathy were received from the Auckland, Bay of Plentv, and Canterbury unions, and the Wellington Football Association. It TOS Wcided to convey the contents of these letters to tho relatives of the late lit. Weir.