ELV trials set to continue
Fri, 02 May 2008 11:05
The IRB Council has announced that a global trial for experimental law variations (ELVs) will commence for a 12-month period starting on 1 August 2008.
The trial at all levels of the game will involve 13 of the 23 ELVs that have been undergoing experimentation in approved tournaments around the world over the last two years. The following ELVs are currently being trialled in the Super 14 and have been approved as part of the global trial.
Assistant Referees
- Assistant Referees can assist referees in any manner required when appointed by a match organiser.
Posts and flags around the field.
- The corner posts are no longer considered to be in touch in-goal except when a ball is grounded against the post.
Lineout and throw
- 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.
- Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in.
- The lifting of lineout jumpers is permitted.
Scrum
- Introduction of an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum.
- Halfback offside lines (must be in close proximity to the scrum as present Law or must retreat five metres).
The following ELVs are not being trialled in the Super 14 but have been approved by the IRB Council and will be part of the global trial.
Lineout and throw
- 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 two 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 five metre line and touchline but must be two metres away from
the lineout.
Maul
- Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down.
- The head and shoulders can now be lower than your hips.
The IRB has also decided that three ELVs currently being trialled in the Super 14, while not part of the overall global trial, can still be trialled by SANZAR Unions in their domestic competitions until the end of the global trial next year. Therefore, New Zealand's domestic competitions will be played under the 13 ELVs above plus the three below:
Sanctions
- For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate and Law 10 Foul Play, the sanction is a free kick.
Tackle and ruck
- Reduction of sanctions to free kicks from penalty kicks where possible.
Maul
- If a maul becomes unplayable, the team not in possession at the start of the maul receives a free kick.
The Air New Zealand Cup, which kicks off on 31 July, as well as the Heartland Championship (starts 23 August), Men's B competition (starts 30 August) and Women's competition (starts 23 August) will be played under the 16 ELVs. The implementation and flow-on effects of the 1 August global trial commencement date on all domestic rugby competitions will be discussed with Provincial Unions and other key stakeholders over the next few weeks.
As previously announced, the three Tests between the All Blacks and Ireland and England in June will not be played under the ELVs as Northern Hemisphere players have not had the chance to play under them.
A decision on whether the Tri-Nations will be played under the ELVs is yet to be made by SANZAR. A decision will be announced shortly.
