RUGBY RULES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 931, 26 March 1930, Page 13

RUGBY RULES

SHOULD AUCKLAND FALL IN LINE? DOMINION STANDARD That the Auckland Rugby Union should adopt the rules of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and observed by all other fotball unions throughout the Dominion was the text 3 gates to the Auckland Rugby Union i last evening. The motion was defeated by 3s votes to 16. Air. Belcher said he was not advocating old or international rules, but merely wished to see the Auckland Union in line with other Rugby football unions throughout the Dominion. The present scrum rule was not being interpreted as had been intended. It had been intended to suppress the wing-forward to some extent, but the activities of all the forwards had been curtailed. The Auckland secondary schools had asked that they be allowed to play under the same rules as the rest J of New Zealand secondary schools. | If Auckland was iii entire agreement ! with other centres in the matter of j rules, the local delegates would have | a better chance of getting a hearing at | the approaching New Zealand conference in the matter of the proposed adoption of international rules, not merely for the season, but for ever in New Zealand. He would like to .see , delegates in a position to oppose this j latter movement, more especially as it j was so strong in Wellington, and as 1 the whole of the South Island, with the j exception of Canterbury and the West i Coast, would favour the adoption of | international rules. Other speakers supported Mr. Belj cher. ! It was stated that Auckland teams I playing outside the district were at a j disadvantage as the rules were differj cnt. The Secondary Schools’ Associa- ! Lion had asked permission of the Auckland Union to adopt the rules played at oilier places, to abolish' the handicap felt. The present Auckland rules also handicapped referees severely when outside the province. In any case, the Auckland Union expected loyalty from its clubs, and it should, in turn, be loyal to the New Zealand U nion. Mr. W. A. Gray suggested that the three-two-three game should be adopted. The wing-forward game as played in New Zealand was considered unfair by other countries. BETTER IF UNITED Mr. F. E. Sutherland said it would bo better if New Zealand unions were united in their ideas, as a British team was coming out this year. There would then be more chance of having their proposals recognised at Home. The “imaginary line” was a mystery to many young players, who were more concerned with a good game of football. In addition, the selector was handicapped in his work because Auck- ! land players would have to learn and play rules with which they were not I familiar. “If wo had been playing New i Zealand rules the Ranfurly Shield | would be in Auckland today,” said j Mr. Sutherland. Air. H. Frost, chairman of the Alan- 1 agement Committee, opposed the suggestion, and said that one of the prin- | eipal objects of introducing the amendments to the game had been tu free it from rough play. This had beer done to a very great extent. Air. A. A. Buckley said that the juniors had never played under the old j rules, and if the present ones were changed there would be a danger of many of the primary and secondary school players going over to the other codes. The motion was then decided by ballot. A vote of appreciation of the work of Mr. V. R. Meredith as selector was carried by acclamation. As Air. Meredith did not wish to act as selector again this season, Air. G. Nicholson was appointed to the position. Tho election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Bledisloe; president, Air. J. Arneil; vice-presidents, Sir James Gunson, Messrs. T. Aitken, P. R. Fraser, Al. J. Sheahan, F. J. Ohlson, A. Twiname; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. J. Billington; management committee, Messrs. H. Frost, A. St. C. Belcher, C. T. Keegan, J. PI. M. Aluir, D. J. Wright, G. Nicholson, R. H. Cooper, A. A. Baker; sole selector, Air. G. Nicholson; hon auditors, Alessrs. A. Bayliss and A. A. Lucas; hon. solicitor, Air. J. L. (lonian; resident delegate to New Zealand Rugby Union, Air. J. Roache. The elections of the official country adviser and the honorary surgeons were left ‘ in the hands of the committee.

AUCKLAND UNION’S CELEBRATION

ARRANGEMENTS NOW BEGUN The first move to celebi'ate the jubilee oi the Auckland Rugby Union, which will fall in four years’ time, was made at the annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union last evening. Air. H. Frost, chairman of the Management Committee, said it was time that arrangements in connection with the jubilee were put in hand, and on his motion the incoming committee was recommended to make suitable arrangements for the preliminary work in connection with the jubilee.