Some ELVs to go on global trial

NEWS:IT WAS the authorisation that many rugby people in the Northern Hemisphere feared would come to pass but the full adoption of the ELVs as they current exist in the Southern Hemisphere haven't been approved en masse for the purposes of a one year global trial.

At a meeting in Dublin the International Rugby Board Council (IRB) has sanctioned a global trial of Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) but not the ELV sanctions for a 12-month period starting on August 1st, 2008.

The ELVs will be employed at all levels of the game involving 13 of the 23 variations that have been trialled in approved tournaments around the world over the last two years. The generally articulated view outside of IRB chambers is that there would be fewer supporters for the ELVs than there would people who oppose change to the existing laws.

It's now a redundant debate thanks to yesterday's ruling. It had been suggested that Ireland, England and Wales would oppose the adoption of the ELVs in the Northern Hemisphere.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset contended: "Not one of the council representatives was against the global implementation of an ELV programme of some description. Many of the ELVs received unanimous approval as they had clearly shown potential to be beneficial to the game thus meriting a further trial at all levels around the world.

"The council's decision represents an important milestone for the future of the game. It vindicates the process that was adopted by council in 2004 for future law amendments. It was also agreed that the sanctions ELVs (reduction of sanctions to free kicks from penalty kicks where possible) that were not approved for global trials would be further trialled in a selected elite Northern Hemisphere competition (not specified) in the 2008/09 season."

The Southern Hemisphere will continue to implement the existing ELVs rather than the pared down version that will pertain to their Northern sibling. The LPG had recommended that the ELV programme be adopted globally but in this respect some council members refused to sanction certain changes to some aspects of refereeing the tackle, ruck, sanctions and offside.

Some of the main ELVs to be trialled worldwide are:.
• The corner posts are no longer considered to be in touch in-goal except when a ball is grounded against the post
• If a team puts the ball back into their own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch there is no gain of ground
• A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team's own goal line
• There is no restriction on the number of players who can participate in the lineout from either side (minimum of two)
• The receiver in a lineout must stand 2 metres back from the lineout
• The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball may stand in the area between the 5 metre line and touch line but must be 2 metres away from the lineout
• Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in
• The lifting of lineout jumpers is permitted
• Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down
• Introduction of an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum
• Scrum half offside lines (must be in close proximity to the scrum as present law or must retreat five metres).