PLAYERS ON FIELD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 232, 23 May 1932, Page 7

PLAYERS ON FIELD

WELLINGTON UNION DECIDES TO ADHERE TO OLD PRACTICE. THE ENGLISH LAWS.. , The change-Over to the rules as laid dowSt by the Ifcternatiorial Rugby Board coritinuSs to cause soriie heartbtirning among local adfllinistratdrs of the game. .The management committee of the Wellington Rugby Union at its last meeting received a notification from the NeW Zealand Union ; that the rule f orbidding player.s to leave the field at half-time without ; the consent of the referee niust be strictly enforced in future/ and the committee, after an animated discussiori, decided to reply that the Referees's Association had been advised that it waa the wish of the Wellington union that the practice obtaining in the past of pla'yerS leaving the field at half-time Should be continued. ' "It has been brought to noti'ce that some unions have given a ruling that players_may leave the field at halftime," wrote the New Zealand Union. "In this connection, unioniX • are reminded that at the annual general meeting of delegates held in 1931 a resolution to adopt the laws of the game as laid down by the International Board was cafried urianimously, iand at the annual meeting held this -year the delegates reaffirmed that deCisiori. Therefore, beeause it is a law of the game, the section of ■ law 10 which refers to players leaving the field at half-time must be observed." Absurdity of Rule. Th'e chairmari, Mr. Jl FrendeVille, said he could not see why the Wellington union should depart froiri tfie practice it had always followed" of allowing players to- retire to the dress-ing-rooms at half-time. "Last Saturday," he said, "at least three persons went on to the pjaying field, one of them being a member of the New Zealand Union. If players ar& not allowed to leave the field, other persons should not he permitted to eriter it. This only shows the absurdity "of the rule." Major T. J. King said it was clearly and defmitely stated at'the* arinual meeting of th'e New Zealand Union when it was agreed to adopt ihe rules of the International Board that such rules as those affecting the' replacement of injured players and not 'leaving the field at half-time wo'uld not matter. "This rule has nothing to do with the playing of the game," said Mr. Prendeville, "and it seems to me that to bring it forward in this way sa- , vours of pin-pricking." Mr. A. J. Griffiths: We want to get a definite understanding on this point. 11s it the wish of this uniori that players should be allowed to leave the field at half-time if they so desire. Mr. H. D. Morgan^ It is purely a matter for players themselves. ' They need not leave the field unle'ss they wish to. It was decided to advlse the New Zealand Union that th'e atterition of the Referees' Association has been : drawn to the rule, but that: the Re- : fereeS' Association had been advised that it was the wish of the Wellington Union that the practice of the past should be continued. It was also ftecided to draw the New Zealand ! Union's attention to the statement made at the annual meeting of delegates in 1931, by the chairriian of ihe ! riianagement committee, to th'e effeet that the laws with regard to leaving the field at half-time and the replacement of injured players Would not matter.