IRB approves ten ELVs
The International Rugby Board Council has approved 10 of the 13 Experimental Law Variations for adoption into the laws of the game.
The International Rugby Board Council has approved 10 of the 13 Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) for adoption into the laws of the game.
The recommendations were unanimously approved and the integrated set of laws will be implemented globally from May 23 or from the start of the next domestic season where competitions transcend the implementation date.
In addition to the suite of global ELVs, three Union-specific ELVs were also approved for integration into Law. These include the ability for a union to implement a maximum 15-minute half-time in matches under its jurisdiction.
“One of the recommendations of the ELV Conference held in London at the end of March was the universal application of one set of laws that govern the game as soon as possible after council,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
“This was recommended by stakeholders from the international game, including some of the world's top coaches, referees and administrators,” .
“The implementation date approved by the IRB Council achieves that goal and represents the most suitable application date.
“All international matches from May 23 onwards will be captured, while domestic and regional competitions played across the implementation date will be played under the current ELVs until their conclusion.
“Today's announcement brings to an end the extensive global ELV consultation and evaluation process which began with the conference on the game in Auckland in January 2004.
“The IRB would like to sincerely thank its Member Unions for their participation in what has been an unprecedented review of the Laws of the Game.”
It now remains to be seen how SANZAR react to the news. They have continued with some other of the ELVs through their tournaments this season in spite of the global trial, including the controversial 'Sanctions ELV' which awards free-kicks instead of penalties for all offences bar offside and dangerous/foul play – although referees are allowed to upgrade free-kicks to penalties at their discretion.
ARU Chief Executive John O'Neill has been particularly outspoken in his view that this makes for a more exciting and fast-paced game and has warned of a north-south rift over the issue.
The following ELVs are to be adopted into law:
Law 6 – Assistant Referees able to assist Referees in any way the Referee requires.
Law 19 – If a team puts the ball back in their own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch there is no gain in ground.
Law 19 – A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team's goal line.
Law 19 – The receiver at the line-out must be two metres back away from the line-out.
Law 19 – The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball must stand in the area between the five metre line and touch line and must be two metres from the line of touch and at least two metres from the line-out.
Law 19 – Line-out players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in.
Law 19 – The lifting of line-out jumpers is permitted.
Law 20 – Introduction of an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum.
Law 20 – Scrum-half offside line at the scrum.
Law 20 – The corner posts are no longer considered to be touch in goal except when the ball is grounded against the post.
Union-specific ELVs approved by council:
Unions may implement rolling substitutions at defined levels of the game.
A Union having jurisdiction over a game may implement a half-time interval of not more than 15 minutes, but not at international level.
A Union may implement the U19 Scrum Law Variation at a defined level of the game under its jurisdiction.