IRB pushes for worldwide ELVs

Point of View: Robbie Deans has spoken out in favour of the ELVs

Rugby's Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) may receive worldwide trials earlier than expected.

The much-debated ELVs have returned to the International Rugby Board (IRB) council's agenda for its meeting on May 1.

This comes after having received positive feedback from Super 14 coaches, including Robbie Deans of the Crusaders and Dick Muir of the Sharks who were at a meeting of the IRB's Laws Project Group (LPG) in late March which was attended by representatives of all the Six Nations unions in London.

Currently on trial in the Super 14, the ELVs had not been due for discussion by IRB until November.

If the IRB council votes in favour of a global trial at its meeting in May, it is possible that the start of the European club season will see the ELVs appear in the Northern hemisphere.

This would open the way for them to be used in the Tri-Nations and the 2011 World Cup.

"Because of the two-year law moratorium before the World Cup, if we were going to bring in the ELVs, the worldwide trial had to happen sooner rather than later," IRB head of communications Greg Thomas told The Australian newspaper.

"As a result, a decision on the ELVs has been added to a special meeting of the IRB council on May 1."

According to Thomas, the new laws might be used in the Tri-Nations.

"It won't happen in the June tests because the northern hemisphere has had no opportunity to play under the ELVs," he said.

The IRB recently came out in defence of the widely criticised law variations in a statement that reminded member unions of the fact that the experiments came about at their insistence.

"One of the key messages delivered by the LPG to the Six Nations representatives on the ELVs is that the basic fabric of the game has remained unchanged, " read a statement released by Thomas.

"The data collected clearly shows that the set piece and contest for the ball, which define the game, remain important elements. Indeed, there is a greater contest for the ball and a better chance to force turnovers.

"One often asked question is, 'Why is the IRB reviewing the Laws of the Game?'

"It is certainly not for the sake of it. Rugby like many other sports is evolving.

"Rugby must take into account the changing needs of players, coaches and fans and stay relevant as the sporting environment changes with time.

"The simple answer is: because the member unions themselves requested that the IRB look into the Laws of the Game.

"It must not be forgotten that the genesis of the ELV programme was the Conference on the Playing of the Game that was hosted by the IRB in January 2004 in Auckland following RWC 2003.

"It was attended principally by the national team coaches from participating teams at RWC 2003 and the best rugby minds from around the world."

Deans and Muir agreed with data released by the governing body that said the game remained fundamentally the same; matches had similar numbers of set-pieces; the scrum remained an important element and contest for possession increased.

The stats also revealed that the ball was in play longer; more tries were being scored and noted that there had been positive feedback from players and referees indicating how much they enjoyed playing under the ELVs.

"I believe the ELVs are great for rugby and will make the game easier, more enjoyable to play and simpler," said Deans.

"The game should cater for all shapes and sizes and the ELVs do this. They will also mean that players will influence the results of matches more so than referees.

"I am right behind the new law changes that are being used in this year's Super 14."

The key laws not being trialled in the Super 14 are the use of hands in the rucks, the variation in numbers in the line-out and sacking the maul.

"The law project group believes there should be a holistic approach and that the whole raft of laws be trialled," said Thomas.

"But I have to emphasise that there is no guarantee the IRB will write the ELVs into law on a permanent basis after the year-long global trial period.

"The IRB could decide to introduce all of the laws, some of the laws or none of the laws."