FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1922, Page 1

FOOTBALL

NEW RUGBY RULES. fay TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] [ WELLINGTON, September 7. Important recommendations for alterations to Rugby football rules in the Dominion have been formulated by Mr Doan, Manager of the All Blacks Australian visit. He was present at a meeting of the Alanagcment Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night. Air Dean stated the New Zealanders were handicapped in Sydney owing to a different interpretation of the rules, in New South Wales, particularly in regard to the wing-for-ward, who, according to the refoies' ruling, was invariably off-side when his team secured possession in the scrummage. In order to get over the difficulty, in the last test, the New Zealand team had been compelled to play what was tantamount to an imaginary line through the back of tlie scrum. After making various recommendations, including one for an interchange of referees, to bring about uniformity, Air Dean said lie was not favourably inclined to Itlie pnesent-dsy wing forward, and lie suggested his entire abolition, so as to fall into line with other Rugby-playing countries. He also advocated the thrpe-two-three scrummage. Such alterations, he said, would brighten the game, and would tend to eliminate playing the man.

He also recommended that New Zealand should take steps for the uniform adoption of.a rule allowing an absolute free kick.

Discussion on the report was deferred till next meeting.