FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. The annual report of the New Zealand Rugby Union states, amongst other things, that, during the past Are long years, the game has certainly been carried on, and—making allowances for difficulties and limitations imposed by the abnormal conditions—it may almost be said, successfully carrried on. 'At any rats the boys under military age have - conserved for them facilities and opportunities for indulgence in the healthy recreation provided by our national game, and, it may safely be assertod, have benefited physically, mentally, and morally by our, organisation. "In Us wider operations, however," says .the report, "the game has undoubtedly been severely hampered. Lack -of senior players and lack of funds has Imposed a considerable handicap upon every uuiou in the Dominion, and it Is to their very great credit that, in the face of unexampled difficulties, they have still 'carried on.' "Last season's operations were again limited in scope. Satisfactory developments were, however, increased public intere.-it in the majority of the larger centres, and in some instances improved financial results. Tho prospects for the coming season are of the brightest. ■ Tho ranks of active players will be considerably augmented by the rcluni of our gallant soldiers, and co-incidentally with this increase of strength the possibilities are that in-ter-union matches will be resumed, and the pre-war popularity of the game will be fully restored. Because of its bearing on the future of the game it is interesting to notß the important fact that amongst tho 'boys' at the front Rugby Union football lias unmistakably asserted Its pre-eminence over all rival codes. Throughout the war period it has been universally favored l.y the military authorities, and haa become the generally recognised test in international athletics. In view of the foregoing facts It appears to your committee thai, in the Interests of New Zealand football, 't would be most unwise to take any steps calculated to upset or interfere with the existing international uniformity." A motion to be moved by the Auckland dele gato is as follows: —"That Northern Union players who have been on active service, or who have -never received monetary payment for playing football, shall be eligible for reinstatement ; but no player over the age of eighteen years last birthday who lakes part in the Northern Union game subsequent to the 31st of tho month immediately following that <n which the annual general meeting of the N.Z.R.F.U. Is held shall be eligible for reinstatement." In regard to the Laws of the game, consideration is to bo given to the following notlc-s of motion—adjourned from the special meeting on January 30, 1019: Abolition of the wing-forward—Free-kicks by way of penalties shall be awarded (a) If any player not in a scrummage advances beyond a line drawn through the back of his own scrummage parallel with the goal-line before the ball comes out of such scrummage, and (b) if any player In a scrummage breaks away before the ball comes out of such scrummage. •Absolute free-kicks and kicks at goal from penalties and tries—All such kicks to be absolutely free from a charge. Any player to be allowed to place or kick the ball. The placer and kicker need not necessarily be the same player. Referee to put the ball Into scrum—The referee Is to put the ball Into the scrum on all occasions. Modification of the law governing kicking into touch, otherwise than from a "kick-off" or "drop-out" already provided for—lf the ball drops directly Into touch from a kick, except in the case of a penalty kick, and except he be withlu his own "twenty-five," It shall bo brought back, and a "line-out" formed from touch «t a point opposite the place where the player was at the time he kicked the ball. Advantage rule to apply to "line-out" play —This in effect will mean: (1) If a player throws the ball out so as not to alight at rlgHt angles to the touch-line, or (2) if tho ball Is "knocked-on" and the opposing side gain the advantage, in either case, from immediate succeeding play, the game goes on.