“Importantly, everything that is being trialled relates to the game’s Playing Charter that recognises Rugby as being a game for all shapes and sizes and that the contest for possession is of paramount importance. The IRB has no desire to change the very fabric of the Game, but recognises the need to continually look at the Laws to ensure that Rugby is as easy as possible to play, referee and understand,” added Lapasset.

Trials conducted in South Africa will relate to the breakdown (tackle and post tackle area), the maul, the lineout, sanctions, kicking from inside the 22 metre line and the act of scoring in relation to the corner posts. The trials will also enable the IRB to conduct an in-depth injury surveillance audit of 20 clubs and schools, while extensive qualitative feedback will be obtained from players, coaches and referees.

The ELV project is being managed by the IRB under the auspices of the IRB Laws Project Group (LPG). To date the ELVs have been successfully trialled (either specific ELVs or in their entirety) in the Stellenbosch University Hostel League, Scottish Super Cup, English Country Championship, Australian Rugby Championship, Sydney and Brisbane club competitions and Division B of the New Zealand National Provincial Championship.

The IRB LPG includes IRB Scottish Council Member Bill Nolan (Chairman), IRB Vice Chairman Bill Beaumont, former France player and coach Pierre Villepreux, former World Cup winning Australia coach Rod MacQueen, former South Africa Coach Ian McIntosh, former Scotland coach Richie Dixon, IRB Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien, IRB Medical Officer Dr Mick Molloy and IRB Development Manager Bruce Cook.

Specific ELVs will also be trialled during the 2008 Super 14 competition which kicks-off in February. Variations adopted by SANZAR relate to the corner posts, lineout, offside at the breakdown, scrum, sanctions and kicking from inside the 22 metre line.

“The IRB is extremely appreciative of the positive attitude that all the participating Unions have taken in assisting this important project. It is crucial that we continue to trial these ELVs in different conditions and environments. The implementation of the full inventory of ELVs in South Africa, including the Currie Cup, is a big step in the right direction and will ensure that we obtain further extensive data for analysis,” said IRB Laws Project Group Chairman Bill Nolan.

“Currently all member Unions have been sent information on the ELVs including analysis of the previous trails and the merits of each law variation. The Unions’ feedback along with a comprehensive report including recommendations from the LPG on the ELVs will then be presented to the IRB Council in November. Council will then decide at the meeting whether to accept all or some of the ELVs or to amend them. If it votes to accept all or some of them they will be implemented worldwide for a period of 12 months, before the ELVs can be accepted fully into Law at the end of this trial period in 2009,” added Nolan.

ELVs to be trialled in South Africa

General

• Penalty kicks will only be given for offside, foul play and deliberate or persistent infringements. All other kicks will be free kicks

• Corner posts are no longer considered to be touch in-goal – players may place the ball for a try if in the air

• When a defending player passes or takes ball back into 22 if the ball is then kicked directly into touch the lineout is in line with where the ball was kicked, but if a tackle/ruck/maul is subsequently formed and the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is where the ball crossed the touchline

Tackle/Post tackle area

• The introduction of the offside line at the tackle to protect the ball when players play the ball outside of contact

• Players entering the tackle/post tackle area must do so through the gate

• If the ball is unplayable the side that did not take the ball into contact will receive a tap kick

• The ball may be played with feet or hands provided the player is on his feet

• Only two penalty offences: offside for not coming through gate; offside where defenders are in front of the last man on their side of the tackle/post tackle or deliberate or persistent infringements

• All free kicks have option of scrum or any type of kick

Maul

• Defending players can pull down the maul

• Players joining maul must do so through the gate which is in current law but needed to be emphasised.

Lineout

• A quick throw can be thrown straight or backwards towards the defenders goal line, but not forward

• Receiver must stand two metres from the lineout

• Non-throwing hooker does not have to stand between the 5-metre line and touch line. He must conform to law wherever he stands

• No maximum number of players in lineout but must be minimum of two

• No team determines number in the lineout