RUGBY RULES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1932, Page 4

RUGBY RULES

LETTER TO ENGLISH UNION AUCKLAND, October l.v “We have great hopes that before ‘the start of the next season a letter which the New Zealand Rugby Union addressed to the English Union will have borne fruit. Our maim hope is that the parent body will allow us to interpret iV ny rules .that are open ’to different interpretations in . the same way as we have done in the past.” This statement was made to-day by Mr G. H. Pownall, president of the New Zeaalnd Union. He made it clear that New Zealand was not at variance with the controlling authorities in England. * “We are abiding by the laws laid down at Home, even though we may not be in favour of all of them,” he said. He was now convinced that the rule .prohibiting players leaving the field at the interval was a good one. Others who. had thought otherwise had * also changed their opinions. . Concerning;.' replacements, he said: “We ask that the English Union should try our arrangement for one season and see how it works.” Mr Pownall believes that replacements should be allowed.- • Another interesting remark - in the course of a lengthy general; statement. was: “I really do admire the way Auckland has observed the English rulings. Yoli have tt critical pub ll lie here, hut while some other unions .have demurred, Auckland has fallen into line. Comparisons are odious, but I am afraid that in the South some unions hove almost encouraged the players to growl,” . In conclusion he said, “The fundamental weakness in New -Zealand Rugby to-day lies with' the inside backs. There is too much, kicking by them. Cooke made spectacular use of the kick, although it- cannot he said that he overdid it, but Cooke was a genius and the trouble has come about through all the other inside backs thinking they can do the same as he did.”