ELVs to stay for one more year at least

ELVs to stay for one more year at least

Phil Wilkins | November 22, 2008


The Australian Rugby Union will continue the worldwide trialling of the Experimental Law Variations at all levels next year following the International Rugby Board's decision to prolong its analysis of the laws introduced to make rugby more appealing without damaging its traditions.

In so doing, the IRB stared down opposition from some European nations, who claimed the more expansive running game, with its multitude of short-arm free kicks, would damage rugby, sound the death knell for scrummaging and eliminate big men from a sport which has always prided itself on catering for players of all shapes and sizes.

The decision essentially brings to a close uncertainty about which rules apply at what level, at least in the short term. The ELVs will be played next winter, after which the IRB will make a final decision about their introduction to laws of the game and played universally until after the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

There was widespread confusion before last season's Super 14 tournament, with a number of ELVs implemented - not all, but some of the proposals of the so-called Stellenbosch laws committee, of which Australia's World Cup-wining coach Rod MacQueen is a member.

Premier rugby competitions at first- and reserve-grade level within NSW, Queensland, the ACT and Western Australia were played under the ELVs, while the remainder of Australia's players from third grade down in metropolitan areas, all country and suburban players, all social and women players - the vast majority of non-representative footballers - continued under existing laws with the under-19 juniors having their own set of laws.

For more than three years and more than 1000 games, the ELVs were trialled with data and medical evidence accumulated for IRB scrutiny. Despite this crucial material, bureaucratic interference occurred at the highest level, limiting experimentation and removing radical but welcome recommendations such as acceptance of "hands in the ruck", a proposal which saw fierce battles for possession of the ball in the now abandoned Australian Rugby Championship, but which made for faster play and simpler refereeing at the breakdown.

Despite northern hemisphere resistance, there has been widespread acceptance of some of the ELVs, including lifting in the lineout and making illegal propelling the ball back into a team's 22 and kicking it into touch.

Likewise, a player may take a quick lineout, throwing backwards or straight; unlimited numbers of players may take part in a lineout for either team; and players may pre-grip, support and lift a jumper in the lineout - all commonsense laws to speed up the game. At the tackle and ruck, a player on his feet can play the ball.

If unplayable at the tackle, ruck or maul, the team not in possession receives a free kick.

In a move to counteract the short-range lineout and rolling maul to the line tactic, the ELVs permitted players in defence to bring down the maul. Under-19 players will still be barred from the practice until more research is completed.

To separate back lines and open up the game, an offside line was introduced five metres behind the hindmost feet of the last player in each team in the scrum. The ARU has been a driving force in the acceptance of the ELVs and its decision will be received with widespread approval.

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...770748259.html