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Rugby Union

IRB approves global trial for rugby union ELVs

02/05/2008

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has approved a 12-month trial period for the introduction of experimental law variations (ELVs) in rugby union.

The proposals, which include converting several current penalty offences into free-kicks and allowing greater freedom to legally collapse rolling mauls, will be instituted on August 1st.

Despite opposition among several bodies, including the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and at grassroots level in this country, the IRB has approved the move, which is largely backed in the southern hemisphere.

The majority of the proposed new laws will be trialled worldwide, and in the first instance in the southern hemisphere's Super 14 club competition.

Others will be introduced into a selected competition in northern hemisphere rugby next season, expected to be the European Challenge Cup.

IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said the changes "represent an important milestone for the future of the game" and revealed representatives on the council were unanimous in their decision to trial the ELVs across the globe.

"Not one of the council representatives was against the global implementation of an ELV programme of some description," Lapasset continued.

"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."

He added: "In November 2009 the council will review all the ELVs that will undergo global trial, along with the sanctions ELVs that will undergo approved trials in specific competitions.

"The council will then decide at this meeting if all or any of the ELVs should be accepted into full law."

It is hoped the changes will encourage more running rugby and less reliance on goalkicking, although critics have argued this will change the core of union as a code to make it more like rugby league as it exists today.