RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1931, Page 19

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE AMENDED RULES

NEW ZEALAND'S PpSITJON . hi :'.,.■ ; \'l '■.;*:■,, .",/.> . ■■:;■ ' }■ :. ;'■",, ;i ~.' Latest advices' frbnr:'England : indicate that the numerous amendments- to the laws/of RugbylfootbalLtiro' being .brought into force iv, the present season. There isi rio^woi'dAhoweveiv as to' how-far the Internatioual Rugby. Board- went in., confirming the alterations^ but "it . appears to be certain that' the main amendments, particularly with regard to scrummage, hove been sanctioned by the board. It is, reported, too,-that the board has agreed to the!elimination of the short kick from; a iinai;k or free-kick. . , ' ■! " The vnew scrummage rule has. been framed in.such a way that its application in New Zealand would be .farcical with tho-2-3-2 formation. The New Zealand Ruaby Union's Management Committee, however, has drawn the English Union's attention >tp."the effect of this amended rule on the! game as played in this country, and is now awaiting information..as to the result of its representations. It,has ibetn > advised vihati the. Home authorities I w'isVe going ;.' into the question in an endeavour to meet the position. A sub-committee of tho New Zealand ':' Union—Messrs; :§;?S; ■'■ Dean, Ail.Ci'', Kitto, and T. A. Fletcher—has been looking into the amended rules, forwarded in a report from tM e English Union/i .but- nothing definite c«n be" done utttil^ information |scbme». to hand regarding "the, recmest for |;aoi;amendnient to,the rules:'to meet the 2-3-2 scrummage formation. A report to this effect was made at a meeting of the i New Zealand Rugby Union's Managemen.t i ;G6'mmitteei,Jast, night; ; , •:■ ; ; ~ ; % :A 'letter received f^biri'Mi;. Palmer,,the, acting-manager, i.qf: the, "Australian;. Ru.gby'l team which visited New Zealand recently, stated- "Your union has been a real frieiid indeed, and we Australians will '.'never bo able to.lrep.ajrj.tlie 'debt we-towe lyoii/ The k .'kindne6S,3 p'dnsid^'ation.-.'f^and 'help "given vs1 by'the^different.members o£ your Management Committee who toured with,us,was Wonderful. Our match record [has' aot> bicen1' what w,e ,'Would have-.liked, and naiurally we are •disappbintedy but we will 'feel-repaid if \ve gd back .knowin? we have done something to help j,cement the spirit of goodwill and friendliness that exists between your union and ■ours.. We have had a marvellous trip right through New Zealand, and the hospif&lity and sincerity of the New Zealand people has greatly impressed us." by tho following for .■reinstatement were granted: T. B. Howsoii, J; H. Savage, and T. M. Savage, all of ,Buller. . •■■" . ■ "''.'■■■■■ ■";.'■.' ,-■/■;